Slideshow

Slide Show: Beaucoup of Blues

July 8, 2009

The people came prepared! Blankets and umbrellas covered the ground as far as the eye could see. Later on, due to the overwhelming size of the crowd, the fire marshal made an appearance in attempt to regulate attendance.

Photography by Heather Zinger

Griffin (left) and Ivy-Wyllie booked their rooms at the Marriott last January in order to experience the Blues Fest the way they wanted to: up close and personal. Hailing from Salem, they came to see Etta James (who unfortunately canceled) and Johnny

Photography by Heather Zinger

Polly O’Keary (bass/vocals) and Tim Langford (guitar/vocals) from Too Slim and the Taildraggers work the crowd.

Photography by Heather Zinger

Dave Fling and Claire Warings (left) and Angel Cobb and Catherine Christ get into the swing of things in front of the A&E Stage.

Photography by Heather Zinger

This couple came out to see Johnny Winter and stayed for the zydeco. Obviously keeping cool was a priority.

Photography by Heather Zinger

The real trick at the blues fest was trying to find a place to hunker among the crowd, which numbered around 30,000 people per day.

Photography by Heather Zinger

These blues hounds from Shelton, WA, have been coming to festival every year since 1992. They were keen to see Johnny Winter and Too Slim and the Taildraggers.

Photography by Heather Zinger

Blues belter and raunch-rock poster gal Candye Kane does Wonder Woman proud during her set at the Safeway Waterfront Blues Fest.

Photography by Heather Zinger

A tasty assortment of tunes drift over miles of eager ears.

Photography by Heather Zinger

What’s a festival without balloon animals?

Photography by Heather Zinger

A comely lass shows off her gams while dancing onstage with Pete Peterson (right) and the Porkpie Septet.

Photography by Heather Zinger

Merlin may look serious but looks can be deceiving. A 22-year veteran of the blues fest, he not only sports a passel of beads, he also throws them at the crowds. Merlin’s necklaces come direct from New Orleans and people react to his bead throwi

Photography by Heather Zinger

Evan Caleb drums up some support for his beloved mother, the iconic Candye Kane.

Photography by Heather Zinger

’Scuse me while I kiss the sky. Classically trained chef Ritchie Rodgers has been cruising the blues fest decked out as Jimi Hendrix for the last 3 years. “I always looked like Jimi in the ’60s and ’70s,” he says. For a nominal fee,

Photography by Heather Zinger

A little more than a week ago the very busy Storm Large canceled her blues fest appearance with Pete Peterson and the Porkpie Septet due to fatigue, so local showbiz veteran Ellen Whyte (right) stepped in. "This is not a bad thing," says Tom

Photography by Heather Zinger

Zydeco star Gino Delafose and his band French Rockin’ Boogie compel feet to move. Resistance is futile.

Photography by Heather Zinger

The 22nd Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival (July 2–5) began with a bang–a scintillating set by Robert Johnson acolyte ‘Keb ‘Mo. The rest of the performers were as hot as the 90 degree weather; the sultry testifying of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Johnny Winter’s Hendrix-like rendition of “Red House,” and the irresistible rhythmic pull of Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie were among the fest’s more memorable moments. The four-day soiree saw nearly 30 performances...

Show Comments