Blues Festivals: Part 3

July 10, 2011 by DaleR
Filed under: Blues History

The last Blues Festival I atteded in St. Louis was a major disappointment, in my opinion. I thought is was poorly organized and poorly planned. To start, the main stage was set up in an vacant area across from the new football stadium. They were using the area for parking and there was a football game going on. The ball game lasted well past the time the festival was scheduled to start. People with paid tickets were required to stand around and wait for the people at the game to just sort of amble out and move their vehicles as they felt like it.

Secondly the headliners for this festival were Wilson Pickett and Percy Sledge. Now, I like both of these performers but they do not sing or play The Blues and I went to a Blues Festival. I think that a lot of people who go to the festivals in the large cities are not Blues fans. I think they attend because it is something to do and they enjoy music. I do hope that some of the real Blues performers created some Blues fans. Also, I am glad that I got to see Wilson Pickett and Percy Sledge. I just wish it had been under other conditions

As I write this, I remeber that Etta James was also a performer at this festival. Her age and her weught were beginning to have considerable effects on her physically. She had to be assisted onto the stage and she sat for her entire set. She was still one of the sexiest women that I had ever seen and she did sing the Blues.

I believe this was the last year they had the Blues Festival on the St. Louis Riverfront. I think they actually tried to have two festivals the following year. A festival of some type on the riverfront and some sembence of a Blues Festival somewhere in St. Louis County. I moved out of the area and I do hope that there is a viable Blues Festival in St. Louis. It is a great Blues town,