07 Blues Cruise - New Musicians Added to Lineup
By JOSEPH SITARZ, ACCENT/FEATURES EDITOR
Index-Journal
The South Carolina Festival of Discovery isn't feeling the blues as it heads into the three-day event July 12-14. Instead, organizers of the Blues Cruise portion of the Festival of Discovery are talkin' up the blues and feelin' good about it.
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"We're very excited," said Angie Jones, Uptown Greenwood Development Corporation executive director. "It's going to be neat."
The Blues Cruise features past favorites mixed with a handful of new acts as the Festival of Discovery prepares for its seventh year. Activities open July 12 with a Live After Five performance by Wanda Johnson and Shrimp City Slim. |
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Johnson and Shrimp City Slim, aka Gary Erwin, have been a part of the Festival of Discovery since it started. Erwin, of Charleston, books the performers for the Blues Cruise, which offers free entertainment at different spots around Uptown.
Other repeat acts are Shane Pruitt and Drink Small.
"Those are some of the one's everyone likes. They're real crowd pleasers," Jones said, noting all show are free, whether they're indoors or outdoors.
New to the Blues Cruise are South Carolinians J. Michael King, Congaree, Chocolate Thunder, Freddie Vanderford and New Orleans/North Carolina's Pat "Mother Blues" Cohen (note: due to a scheduling conflict Pat Cohen has been replaced by Russ Wilson & His Mighty-Mighty Men). The Blues Cruise takes on an international flavor with the addition of Australia’s Geoff Achison and the Souldiggers. "We have a contract with Gary," Jones said. "He recommends and then books all the groups."
The Blues Cruise increases by one venue with the addition of jon holloway's studio at 132 Maxwell Avenue in Uptown.
"We're very pleased to announce that," said Jones. "Jon's having his grand opening to coincide with the Festival of Discovery."
Vanderford performs for the studio opening 8 to 11 p.m. July 14. Blues, Americana, and Southern rock fans may remember Vanderford from his days with Brandon Turner in New Legacy Duo or as a member of Shades.
Jones said she was very impressed with Holloway's studio and his ideas.
"It's amazing the way his mind works," she said.
With interest from new acts and potential performance sites, Jones is pleased with the progress of the Blues Cruise.
"It's getting bigger and better every year," she said. "We're looking at using more venues in the Uptown. It's something we're looking at, but we're not able to do it this year. We hope to do it in the future."
Music host sites, besides holloway's studio, are Inn on the Square, Jimary Java, Frankglens, Uptown Sushi Bar & Cafe, and T W Boon's.
The Festival of Discovery is a weekend of food, music and fun wrapped around the history of the Greenwood area, the Upstate of South Carolina and the entire state. Visitors can learn about history, traditions, folklore, arts and crafts, music and dance and culture.
Last year about 10,000 people attended the three-day festival.
The Blues Cruise has already created a rich history of well-known, as well as up-and-coming, performers. Past performers have included the WIYOs, Delta Moon, Bob Margolin, the King Bees, Bryan Lee, "The Braille Blues Daddy," MacArnold, Nappy Brown, and Dave Mackenzie.
The Festival of Discovery has become a major player in the world of barbeque. Carolina barbeque and traditional Black Kettle Hash have made the festival a tasty stop for local and national barbeque competitors. The barbeque event is a Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned and South Carolina State Championship cook-off event.
Last year nearly 50 teams from seven states competed in Greenwood. This year, Jones said, there have been inquires from Arizona, Illinios, and Iowa.
The Festival of Discovery has become the talk of many Internet barbeque blogs.
There are activities starting Friday evening, including an "Anything Goes" competition to help get everyone in the spirit of the weekend.
"People have a chance to meet and greet the teams," Jones said. "There are outside performances for the entire family."