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News Article:
Blues Music Meets Blue Skies, 5-9-04
By Lanita Withers, Staff Writer
News & Record

GREENSBORO -- After a tour in Tanglewood and last year's soggy conditions, the Carolina Blues Festival returned to where it all began: downtown Greensboro.

Organizers estimate about 2,200 people attended the 18th annual Carolina Blues Festival Saturday afternoon in the new Center City Park at the corner of Elm Street and Friendly Avenue.

For Mamie Johnson, who has attended at least three festivals, downtown was the perfect place. "It's convenient, people can get here, and it gives us a reason for coming downtown," she said.

John Amberg, president of the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society, which organized the festival, said that with the push for downtown revitalization, the event was a good fit. And he was thankful for Saturday's clear skies and 80-degree temperatures. "They said the weather would be great, and it is," he said.

For Carol Basile, who moved to the Triad from Cleveland, the Blues Festival gives Greensboro some flair. "Being here only two and a half years, there's not a lot of big-town things that you can come to," said Basile, 46. "This makes it feel like a big town."

After three years at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, the event was moved downtown by Preservation Society members last year to reconnect with the festival's roots. But recent festivals have been hurt by bad weather, with a washout last year, chilly temperatures in 2002 and a thunderstorm in 2000.

This year, the scent of roasted corn and smoked hickory hung in the air as some attendees escaped the sun under an oversized tent.

Clusters of couples danced in the aisles to a set of Mississippi blues from Big Jack Johnson at the festival's midway point.

Audiences also heard Chicago blues from Ronnie Baker Brooks, Texas blues from W.C. Clark, Delta and Piedmont blues from Waymon "Buttermilk" Meeks and a mixture of styles from Cyril Lance.

"It's always a good time and always good music," said Tim Swiggett, 45, of Greensboro. Kellie Boseman, 36, of Thomasville, said the atmosphere made the festival enjoyable. "It's very relaxing, and I like to see the people dancing," she said, as she lazed on a patchwork quilt to listen to the music.

Her only complaint was that the party didn't last longer. The festival wrapped up around 8 p.m.

Review:
Blues festival strikes a chord with audience, 5-11-04
By Brian Clarey
Special to the News & Record

"The Blues Fest is officially a success."

The announcement came over the PA just after Carrboro bluesman Cyril Lance's set at the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society's annual festival, held this year in Greensboro's newly constructed Center City Park in the heart of downtown Saturday.

And although no hard numbers have been released, the amount of warm bodies enjoying the music that day easily eclipsed anything the festival has been able to draw over the past several years. For the past few years, the Carolina Blues Festival has been plagued by inclement weather and resulting poor attendance. But this year the sun shone brightly through a few sparse clouds that drifted past the peaks of downtown Greensboro's skyline.

"We won't have the final tally for several days," said John Amberg, president of the Society, "but I can say that advance ticket sales were much stronger this year than in years past."

The crowd eventually grew to fill the park, which occupies one city block.

Lance's blistering set with his Outskirts of Infinity Arkestra featured extended versions of cuts from his 2001 CD "Stranger in My House," including the title track, which brought the crowd to its feet.

It followed a performance by Waymon "Buttermilk" Meeks, winner of the society's 2003 Talent Showcase. Meeks took the stage alone to kick off the party with a steel guitar over one knee and delivered a fine acoustic performance that set the tone for the entire day.

WC Clark, a guitar legend out of Austin, was third on the bill, and with his band he showed the swelling crowd why he has won so many Handy awards.

Next up was Big Jack Johnson, veteran of the deep south Chitlin Circuit where he honed his chops for many, many years. Johnson's performance enticed many of the crowd, seated in sophisticated lawn chairs under the big tent, to stand up and shake.

The final set belonged to Ronnie Baker Brooks, son of Chicago guitarist Lonnie Brooks. He came out in a crisp white suit and black hat and with his take on modern electric blues. Though the seasonably warm day and cooled off a bit by then, the sounds from Brooks' guitar raised the temperature noticeably.

New to the festival this year was an extra large tent, donated by festival sponsor Hauser Rentals, and a kids' area with live music by Logie Meachum, books, crafts and balloons.

Also new this year was a PA system built by Sound Guy Productions. Saturday was its trial run and attendees who know about such things agreed that the sound was exceptional for an outdoor production.

It was the festival's inaugural performance at the site, Center City Park, which is in the first phase of its evolution. But concertgoers seemed pleased with the open spaces, lush lawns and urban feel of the venue.

"I'm glad the festival is back in Greensboro," said Bill "The Kid" Hunt, a member of the society and past Talent Showcase coordinator. "And as long as this park will hold us," he continued, "I believe it should stay (here)."