Feeling the Blues

By CHANSE WATSON

Managing Editor

WALLACE — There are few music festivals in our region that are quite like the Wallace Blues Fest.

In a town where it’s perfectly OK to walk the streets with your favorite alcoholic beverage, throwing in some soul-soothing tunes can cause some serious cases of dancing and cheering.

Put on by the Historic Wallace Arts Council and Too Far North Productions, this most recent edition of the Wallace Blues Festival really pulled out all the stops and boasted a lineup of some of the most talented blues musicians in the country.

There were several newcomers to the event that included Slow Cookin’, The C.D. Woodbury Trio, The Randy Oxford Band, Gary Winston & The Real Deal, Bryan Warhall, the Zach Cooper Band, and master slide guitarist Roy Rogers with The Delta Rhythm Kings.

Returning artists included Nikki Hill, Polly O’Keary & The Rhythm Method, Robin Barrett & The Coyote Kings, Pat Coast, John Kelley & the Atomic Blues Band, Doghouse Boyz & Laffin’ Bones, and crowd favorite Sammy Eubanks & The All Star Jam.

Things kicked off Friday afternoon when John Kelly began playing at the Fainting Goat around 5 p.m. From there, performances would kick up at the Red Light Garage from C.D. Woodbury and Sammy Eubanks, and also on the Cedar Street stage from Slow Cookin’ and Laffin’ Bones.

Another part of this particular event that makes it unique is the many venues that host musical talent throughout the days. This makes those who attend feel like there is literally music around every corner, so it’s common for many to wander from stage-to-stage.

Much of this wandering occurred on Saturday when the festival really took off.

There were several points from noon to 8 p.m. where four or five different artists were playing at different locations across town all at the same time.

The two larger stages positioned on both ends of Cedar Street would take turns on who had an act up. When one performer finished their set, it would signal a mass migration of thirsty audience members to head to the other stage (and allow time to visit some of the many local watering holes).

The main stage near City Hall was where the big name talent was shown off.

Blues Fest veterans such as Nikki Hill, Polly O’Keary & The Rhythm Method, and Sammy Eubanks enamored crowds with their familiar tunes. Eubanks, who closed for the festival last year as well, was especially well received.

Not to be outdone, those who were new to the festival were also welcomed onto the big stage and did not disappoint. Performances by The C.D. Woodbury Trio, The Randy Oxford Band, and Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings were all met with exuberant fanfare.

Rogers in particular showed the crowd exactly why Rolling Stone called him “an exceptionally articulate slide guitarist” and “One of the rare guitar heroes who values feeling over flash.

During the heat of the day, firefighters with Shoshone Fire District No. 1 continued their new tradition of spraying water on the crowd in front of the main stage from the top of the old Wallace fire house.

Wallace Chamber of Commerce Coordinator Dave Copelan believes that this year’s Blues Fest was one for the books, due to its success both on the stage and off.

“As far as the music goes, (it was) incredible,” he said. “The musicians and concert goers seem to love Wallace’s welcoming small town vibe, right in the heart of these beautiful forested canyons. It makes for a concert atmosphere you just don’t find anymore. As one concert goer from Seattle told us, ‘it’s magic.”

“As far as an economic impact, the festival was an unqualified success, with robust business in restaurants, full occupancy in rooms and overflow camping — which was felt all over the Silver Valley. But that’s just the money end,” he added.

Although the numbers are still being counted as of Monday afternoon, preliminary estimates show that this could have been the most well-attended Blues Festival in Wallace to date.