Gloucester Blues Festival - Worth the Day Trip

Gloucester, MA – Saturday August 10, 2019 one of the finest blues festivals of the year takes place. The case for making a day-trip to Stage Fort Park in Gloucester for this event comes with great facility. The festival site is bordered by ocean views. The opposite side of the festival site will be lined with wonderful food trucks and vendors. This festival has been thoughtfully booked by blues impresario, Paul Benjamin; therefore the talent presented on stage is the primary attraction. Mr. Benjamin possesses a resume that includes the production of the North Atlantic Blues Festival and he has served on the board of the Blues Foundation in various capacities. A few years ago, Benjamin took over the Gloucester Festival when its original producer retired to Florida. Festival Website: https://gloucesterbluesfestival.com/2019-gloucester-blues-festival/

Musically the Gloucester festival serves up a multitude of blues styles from artists that approach the genre from unique and exciting perspectives. The young lions on the bill should not be missed. Marquis Knox plays with great authority, tone and attack as he pays homage to the blues greats that influence most young players. https://youtu.be/4wv4UTMMnkY Winner of Best New Artist at the most recent Blues Awards is Amanda Fish and Newton, MA native Tyler Morris, who was a special guest on Amanda’s latest release. Amanda’s vocal power is reminiscent of Janice Joplin or Shemekia Copeland. Tyler Morris joined Amanda on some recent tour dates and the result was this blazing rendition of the Allman Brothers’, “One Way Out”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxaeZp5P8tU Damon Fowler and Chris Beard represent the artists on the bill that are at the height of their powers. Damon rocks the blues with southern flavor. Damon with Butch Trucks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUUFIy_AuhY . Chris Beard, son of blues legend Joe Beard, delivers both vocally and on the guitar. Beard grew up in a home where blues greats visited often especially his dad’s childhood friend Matt “Guitar” Murphy. Chris most assuredly will take a walk out into the crowd and show the folks of Gloucester how it’s done up close and personal. Chris Beard live in Ontario, Canada https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esjj_sIMkN4 . Festival headliners Darrell Nulisch and Johnny Rawls are among the best soul singers alive today. North Shore resident Nulisch spent time working with James Cotton, Ronnie Earl, David Maxwell and many other blues greats. Darrell’s singing ability is so extraordinary that one can overlook the fact that he is a world class harp player as well. Nulisch at Johnny Ds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jc08VsmvoQ . Johnny Rawls represents the best of the chitlin circuit soul blues. Rawls learned his craft at the side of O.V. Wright, enough said! Look out for Johnny pulling up in his Red Cadillac because that’s when the party kicks into high gear. Johnny Rawls performs Red Cadillac https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFc4nAbxTls .

There’s no fluff or filler on this festival so arrive early and claim a good spot near the ocean and the stage. Advance tickets are only $30 available online and in person at the Gloucester Chamber of Commerce. Day of show tickets are still a bargain at $40. https://shared9.mainehost.net/~gloucest/buytickets.html .

Mr. Carty produced and hosted blues, jazz and American roots radio shows in Boston and Pittsburgh. He booked legendary acts such as Jay Geils, Big Jack Johnson, Alvin "Youngblood" Hart, Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin to name a few. As a concert producer he has worked with members of the Allman Brothers, Guns and Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bad Company, Chuck Berry, Alice Cooper, Kiss and many others. Jim was proudly tapped as the host of the Centennial Celebration of the Blues at Tanglewood. He spent several years as an Old Lyme resident in his youth and he has recently returned home to the Connecticut Shoreline. Contact at: jcbc93@gmail.com