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MARIA MELCHIORRE
Special to The Leader
Eleven local blues bands, one big shot headliner, a dozen different venues and one small village reverberating with blues music just about sums up the Red, White and Blues Festival. The annual two-day music festival, which blocked off a section of Water Street on Saturday, experienced a little bit of a water obstacle this year.
“The weather really put a damper on things, but I think they still got a pretty good turnout,” said a Chautauqua County native and fourth-year attendee.
“There’s just usually more people out,” added her husband.
Without covered patios or tents, the outdoor “street party” was more of an indoor event. Patrons of participating bars on Water Street were able to take their drinks outside during the event, but the chilly rain was not attractive to most.
Friday evening’s festivities began with “Big Tone” perfoming at Liberty Food and Spirits on Prospect Street. With only a slight drizzle overhead, the humble crowd was able to enjoy some impressive harmonica stylings before heading indoors up the street at the Beaver Club to hear “Hooman.”
The outdoor music at Liberty could be heard from a good distance, but the crowd contained mostly locals.
“I don’t think a lot of kids know about this place,” said Wyatt Anderson, a math education graduate student, referring to Liberty Food and Spirits. “It’s kind of a hidden gem.”
The festivities began early on Saturday, with “Take Two,” a blues duet piece, performing at Old Main Inn. The crowd got off to a slow start, though the few present clearly enjoyed themselves.
Next up was “The Electras,” a six-piece ensemble of old-timers, complete with saxophone and keyboard. The Electras played for an hour at a jam-packed Coughlan’s Pub, where a few couples danced happily in the middle of the floor while others sat or leaned on the bar, feet tapping to the beat.
The music continued for hours, with “Harvey & the Hurricanes” at Fred’s Grille, the “Mark Wencek Band” at Lil Magill’s, “Dr. Z and the Blues” at DeJohns, the “Tommy Z Band” at The White Inn and the “JT Blues Band” at Tully’s.
Particularly memorable was a set by the “Jony James Band” at Ellicottville Brewing Company West. The band is a three-piece from Buffalo featuring Jony James, who shreds on guitar and vocals, Mike Wagner who impressed the crowd on his seven-string bass and Kent Leech, who impressively delivered deep blues vocals while banging the drums.
The band played well into the night, far past their specified set time, and EBC was full to the brim with craving ears and restless knees.
Meanwhile, in Valentine’s, mere silhouettes were visible through the thick haze and colored lights, as “Off the Rails” turned out a flawless rendition of Alannah Myles “Black Velvet,” as the closing number to this year’s Red, White and Blues Festival.