Headliners, local bands, and all the other acts at this year’s on the Waterfront left little to complain about for Blues and music lovers!  The blues got a great treatment at the Left Bank Stage and in other venues around the festival.  Three days of music, great weather, food, beverages and were enjoyed by all!

Friday night saw the Left Bank Stage headlined by Sonny Landreth.  This Cajun bluesman was phenomenal- the blues fans who saw him were all in awe.  His style of play is almost indescribable; slightly distorted, blending zydeco, Cajun, blues, funk, rock and some jazz, and all just sooooo good.

Blues and other acts our CBS member went to that were leading up to Sonny on Friday night were Dan Voll and Combo Loco at the Ethnic Stage, Randy Sabien & the Fiddlehead Blues Band at the Left Bank, Pistol Pete and the Sci Fi Warriors at the Patio Stage and the Lee Boys Sacred Steel at the Ethnic Stage.  Many members were there grooving to the music of these bands.  OTW was off to a fantastic start, and it would only get better and better as the festival and weekend progressed.

Saturday saw local favorites Steve Ditzell and the Blue Lightening Band opening for Robert Cray at the Left Bank Stage. Susan Werner was on before them with her folk acoustic guitar.  Ditzell was in great form and the crowd appreciated the efforts.  Bob Levis joined Steve for part of the set and our two local guitar greats did not disappoint.  Robert Cray and his band headlined the evening with his unique brand of funk, R&B and pure blues.  He was smooth and exciting.

As Saturday waned into Sunday, many CBS members wondered how Sunday at OTW could begin to compare to Saturdays’ effort.  They did not have to wait long.  Sunday began with the energizing music of Johnny Clegg and his band from South Africa.  A nice start, and then the local Ernie and Po Boys came on the Left Bank.  It was a great effort by our local guys, and they whet our appetites for great blues.  Ernie and his band were in great form.  The final headliners at the Left Bank were Lonnie Brooks and the Brooks Family Reunion.  How could they top what we had already heard?  Well, somehow they did.  Wayne Baker and backup band jammed first.  Ronnie Baker came out next and did some solo numbers and then got down with the backup band.  Father Lonnie came out with son Wayne in tow and the three of them and the band went wild.  The crowd was in awe and they played and played well past the scheduled end time.  Lonnie asked long-time pal, band mate and CBS member Bob Levis to come up and play with him.  Bob held his own with Lonnie and the men exuded respect and love as they traded licks.  Lonnie then went out into the crowd and played with his fans for a long jam and then left to a huge ovation.  He did an encore, and then Wayne and Ronnie did their own encore, bringing wives, children and friends on stage with them.  It was a huge reunion and a huge music event, by far the top act of the festival!  Father and Sons were truly outstanding alone and together.  At one point Lonnie started playing Waynes’ guitar, and then Ronnie came and played his Dads’s guitar.  It was actually and inspiring and fulfilling event.  Members who attended this night left emotionally spent.  It was a great, great festival.