Labor Day Weekend Blue Wing Blues Festival features Kenny Neal, Rick Estrin
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – After a hot and smoky summer, the 12th annual Blue Wing Blues Festival is back and offering a weekend of great music and food, and room to dance and relax.
The Kenny Neal Family Band from Louisiana was to have been the featured attraction at the festival’s August dates, cancelled when the town of Upper Lake had to be evacuated due to the Ranch fire.
When Kenny learned about the disruption to life caused by the fires in Lake County, he volunteered to bring the band back out from Baton Rouge to do two make-up dates over the Labor Day weekend, Saturday Sept. 1, and Sunday, Sept. 2.
“We already had the great Rick Estrin and the Nightcats scheduled for the Labor Day Monday September 3,” said Blue Wing owner Bernie Butcher, “so when Kenny offered to come back that weekend, it was a no-brainer for us!”
Starting at 6:15 p.m. each day (gates open at 5:30), these top blues musicians plus opening bands will perform on the veranda of the Hotel with the audience gathered in the intimate garden between the Hotel and Restaurant. The ticket price of $50 plus tax includes a barbeque dinner.
Acclaimed entertainer brings Louisiana blues to Lake County
Kenny Neal is one of the legends of the Louisiana blues scene, an acclaimed multi-instrumentalist widely renowned as a swamp-blues master.
He learned music at an early age from his father, the singer and blues harmonica player Raful Neal.
Kenny Neal tours the country with members of his famous family, two of whom (Darnell and Frederick) will be with him at the Blue Wing.
“We got to know Kenny when he lived in the Bay Area before moving back to Baton Rouge,” said Butcher. “He brought down the house at our Festival in 2012 and subsequently did a great show at the Soper-Reese. When in the area I try to get him back, and very much appreciate the special effort he’s making this time.”
Opening for Neal will be two exceptional local bands. On Saturday, Sept. 1, it will be the master blues guitarist Howard Reggie Dockens and his band, consisting of Lynn Bryant on keyboards, Robert Watson on bass and Billy Johnson on drums.
The opener on Sunday, Sept. 2, will be one of the most accomplished Lake County bands, “Clean Sweep,” led by blues harp virtuoso Pat Gleeson.
Other band members are Mike Gymnaites (guitar), Keith Crossan (sax), Joanie Lane (vocals), Dave Falco (bass) and John Sheridan (drums). Sitting in for David Neft on keyboards will be the one-and-only Queen of Boogie Woogie, Wendy DeWitt.
Harmonica and fiery guitar
Rick Estrin and the Nightcats top the bill on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 3. Estrin ranks among the very best harmonica players, singers and songwriters in the blues world today.
His quick wit and signature look – coiffed hair, pencil-thin mustache and sharp attire – add even more color to his performances.
The fiery guitarist Kid Anderson leads the other Nightcats consisting of Lorenzo Farrell on bass and keys and J. Hansen on percussion.
Opening for the Nightcats on Labor Day will be Red’s Blues Band from Sacramento, an accomplished trio consisting of Dave Earl on guitar and harmonica, R. W. Grigsby on bass and vocalist Beth Reid-Grigsby.
“I’d like to thank the many excellent local businesses that have continued to sponsor the Festival through this difficult time,” said Butcher. “I think they all see the expanded Labor Day weekend event and another example of ‘Lake County Strong’.”
Full sponsors of the festival this year include local wineries Brassfield, Chacewater, Dancing Crow, Fults Family, Six Sigma and Steele plus Bicoastal Media (KNTI and KXBX), Kelseyville Lumber and Joy Swetnam.
Also sponsoring are Bill and Patti Brunetti, Blues Express Records, Gregory Graham Wines, Jonas Heating and Cooling, Judy Conard, Lake County Record-Bee, Lincoln-Leavitt Insurance, Mark Prichard, Mary Heare Amodio, Obsidian Ridge Wines, O’Meara Brothers Brewery, Perkowski Custom Apparel, R Vineyards, RB Pest Control, Shannon Ridge Wines, Sysco Foods, TFI Plaza Lakeport and UCC Rentals.
Tickets at $50 plus tax include a BBQ dinner and are limited to 100 each evening.
They may be purchased directly at the Tallman Hotel, located on Main St. in Upper Lake, or by calling the hotel reception desk at 707-275-2244, Extension 0.