If it’s Summertime in Colorado, that can only mean one thing for blues lovers in the know: The 16th Annual Blues from The Top Festival is right around the corner! Taking place Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24 this year, Blues From The Top (or BFTT as it’s commonly referred to) is jam-packed with great artists both days: guitar ace Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, harp great Rick Estrin And The Nightcats, hot new Memphis soul/blues band Southern Avenue and more (June 23); and on June 24, the North Mississippi All-Stars, popular L.A.-based guitar-powered R&B band Vintage Trouble; Nick Moss Band with harp virtuoso Dennis Grueling, all in the picturesque setting of Hideaway Park in Winter Park, CO, and presented by the Grand County Blues Society.
Blues-E-News recently did a ‘5 Quick Questions’ segment with Maria Chavez, President of the Blues from The Top Festival and Director of Blues in The Schools, which provides musical instruments for cancer-stricken and terminally ill children throughout Colorado.
Maria Chavez (l) pictured with the late John Catt, Founder of Blue Star Connection, a Colorado-based organization which provides musical instruments for cancer-stricken and terminally-ill children.
BEN: Now in its sixteenth year, how has the Blues From The Top Festival grown and evolved throughout the years?
MC: Until recently, Blues From The Top primarily has been straight-up blues music. However, we realized that if we want the festival to grow and diversify and to also reach a younger audience, we needed to add more blues “roots” music into the mix – indie blues, blues rock, rock and funk. This includes bands such as Little Hurricane, North Mississippi Allstars and Vintage Trouble that help break down what “blues” music is. Blues is the seed, creating roots and watching other musical forms grow from these musical blues roots.
BEN: Let’s discuss this year’s lineup, who are you excited about presenting to your Festival concertgoers for the first time?
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD
MC: Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, North Mississippi Allstars, Vintage Trouble, Rick Estrin and the Nightcats, Nick Moss Band feat. Dennis Gruenling, Southern Avenue, Honey Island Swamp Band, Kara Grainger, Dragondeer, Fuse Worship, Kate Moss & The Catt Pack. Love all these artists, but I’m really looking forward to Vintage Trouble who are going to blow peoples’ mind, not only through their music but for their high-energy performance. Their moves are so tight, it makes James Brown move! (laughs).
BEN: How do you and your staff keep the local (Winter Park, CO) blues fan base engaged during the off-season in anticipation of BFTT?
MC: Throughout the year, the Grand County Blues Society partners with different venues around town, bringing in great artists to keep the blues music vibe. This last year for example, we brought in Poppy Chubby, Mike Zito, Felix y Los Gatos and Too Slim and the Taildraggers. And closer to the festival we do our annual volunteer and membership drive that keeps everyone pumped. With a Grand County Blues Society membership, members receive two General Admission tickets to get into the festival, keeping the buzz of the blues alive.
BEN: We’d be remiss if some mention of John Catt was not included in discussing BFFT. How has his influence remained a part of what makes BFTT so special?
MC: John Catt was something special. His passion and commitment to the Grand County Blues Society and all its programs was unprecedented and has rubbed off on all of us. As volunteers, we continued the drive of commitment not only to the festival, but for all our programs. John expressed right before his passing, that he was proud of us to keep on the mission of the blues. He said he understood we had to broaden our music base to keep the organization alive and thriving in a literally dying blues world. We now call ourselves with his blessing, GCBS – Level 2.0. John continues to resonate in all of us, even the musicians who play with the love and creativity that John did. Once you come to this year’s festival, you’ll have to check out the “Catt”-inspired band – Kate Moss and the Catt Pack (Johnny O, Andy Irvine and Scotty Rivera), all who love and admire John and the blues as a whole.
BEN: Any other parting thoughts about this year’s Blues From The Festival you’d like to share with us?
MC: Come to the best grassroots festival in Colorado. Who doesn’t want to be surrounded by the panoramic views of the Continental Divide while listening to the best blues, rock music there is. You do!
(The 16th Annual Blues from The Top Festival, Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24, Hideaway Park, in Winter Park, CO. Tickets/Info: www.bluesfromthetop.org).
