Samantha Fish; coming to New England Blues Summit
John Hall, known for producing blues festivals at the Marshfield Fair these last 21 years, will present the New England Blues Summit at Cape Cod’s Resort And Conference Center in Hyannis, Massachusetts on May 13, May 14, and May 15. Judging by the activities and artists lined up, this could be the year’s biggest blues event in our six state region.
Hall’s idea to produce this new Blues Summit came to him after his Marshfield blues festival sound man told him about an Irish music festival at the resort. “I went down there and checked it out and he said ‘You could do the same thing for a blue weekend.’”
Hall thought that with so many baby boomers looking for day time activities now, it would be attractive to people in his age group.
“You can just park the car and enjoy the whole weekend,” Hall said. “We made sure we got activities going on. There’s something going on all the time. When one thing ends, something else is beginning. We’re going to go from the reception to dinner to the night show to the jam. In the morning, brunch, to the afternoon IBC showcase. We’re having a panel discussion with booking agents and the Youth Showcase at five.” The event will end with a farewell party on Sunday.
Hall said he settled on the Cape for the Blues Summit location because it’s been named the number one vacation destination in New England. “I think there’s more people who visit the Cape than any place else in New England.” Hall’s favorite aspect to setting up was checking out the different bands he had lined up for the weekend.
“I checked out the Juke Rocket Blues Band up in Maine,” Hall said. “Organizing a festival like that, there’s a lot of logistics. But it’s kind of like going on a trip. Half the fun is getting there, interacting with the artist and everything else.”
Hall loves all blues events, not just his own. He said the cornerstone is the music. His first was one he saw as a high school student. He had to travel to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst from his South Shore home.
“It was a phenomenal experience when I was 19 years old,” he said. “Look at how Woodstock happened. I’m not comparing our thing to Woodstock, but the festival atmosphere in general. One of the biggest things I love about Marshfield, and I really saw at some of the other festivals, is the vibe that’s going on. Everybody’s in such a great mood, and that’s a really spirit of camaraderie.”
Hall had some different criteria for the artists performing. He has selected national acts like Samantha Fish, John Nemeth, Joe Louis Walker, and Sugar Ray And The Bluetones. Hall praised Ms. Fish regarding “how professional she is, how talented she is. I’ve seen her a couple of times. I’ve seen her up in Maine. She reminds me of Ana Popovic. How could you not say that? They’re two beautiful women playing guitar.”
Regarding John Nemeth. “His name is pronounced just like Joe Namath. When he writes his name, he puts a little hyphen mark over the first “e.” So, you pronounce it Namath. “He’s a real soul guy. He headlined my festival one year. I’ve always liked him. He played Marshfield.”
John Hall, blues booker, to host New England Blues Summit
On Joe Louis Walker Hall said “He’s a great guy, authentic blues guitarist.” Hall also has Boston’s national band Sugar Ray Blues Band. “They’re my favorite blues band, and they’re a real authentic band. The sums are not greater than the parts. Ray is the star, but they’re all stars in their own right there.”
Including in the Blues Summit the various blues societies from New England was also important to Hall. So, he hired the bands who had won their blues challenges in their states before those bands headed to the International Blues Competition in Memphis last winter. Calling it the IBC Showcase, Hall will feature artists from Granite State Blue Society, Maine Blues Society, Connecticut Blues Society, and Boston Blues Society.
Attendees of the New England Blues Summit can look forward to IBC level performances from Connecticut’s Mighty Soul Drivers, Maine’s Juke Rockets, Massachusetts act Steve Morgan And The Kingfish, and New Hampshire’s Downtown Dave And The Deep Pockets. Deep Pockets’ front man, Dave Glannon, of Manchester, was ecstatic about being included in the Blues Summit.
“I love music, how it soothes my soul and can sometimes sooth the souls of others,” Glannon said. “I’m also excited because of the incredible, talented national acts that will be performing. Some of the best. Some great regional acts as well, representing some great areas of New England that have a passion for the blues. It’s going to be an honor, a privilege, and a fun time.”
There will also be a Youth Showcase later on in the day Saturday. This will feature Jimmy Bez, Ben Knight, Roni Lewis, Will Bart, and Nolan Leite. These youngsters are already making names for themselves. For example, Bez was the Boston Blues Society’s representative for the youth competition in Memphis.
Later in the day, a panel discussion will feature Paul Benjamin from Maine, Brad and Mike Betton from New Hampshire, Charley Able, George Tocci from The Bull Run in Shirley, Massachusetts, Kathy Fruze Spencer from Narrows Center for the arts in Fall River, Massachusetts, and Eddie Page from The Next Page Café in Weymouth, Massachusetts.
Dave Glannon; Downtown Dave And The Deep Pockets
“They’re all going to be in the panel discussion hosted by Holly Harris, discussing what it’s like to book festivals and clubs,” Hall said. “That’s going to go on from 2:00 until 3:30.”
It’s sure to be a busy weekend when the New England Blues Summit runs from May 13 to May 14th to May 15th. It’s an event that host and organizer John Hall is excited about, and he feels other blues fans will share his excitement during the upcoming event.
“The first NEBS promises be a memorable experience,” Hall exclaimed “Be the one to tell your friends about your incredible weekend instead of them telling you.”
http://www.newenglandbluessummit.com/
