For the past 27 years the city of Norwich, New York, has been hosting the Chenango Blues Fest.
Norwich : Home to one of the longest running Blues shows in America, is just 25 minutes from our home.
We first attended this music festival 20 years ago, and we have made every show since.
If you like Blues, this concert is 2nd to none.
Every year, the musicians that grace our senses are renowned artists from all over the country.
With rain in the forecast, we arrived to an ominous looking sky.
We usually spend a little time in the field where the cars are parked, and listen to some music while we get our party face on.
Just as we broke out the lawn chairs, cracked a couple of cold ones, and started to get in the groove, the skies opened up.
With soaking wet feet, a few members of our group went barefoot.
Mom made sure our little princess stayed dry.
This will be Payton's second Blues Festival.
This is a picture of her attending last year's festival.
Bingo anyone? Only in this neck of the woods will you see a game like this!
You may be wondering what Cow Chip Bingo is. Simple game, if a cow pie lands in your box, you win.
After purchasing four tickets at $5.00 each, this young lady was nice enough to display the tickets I had just purchased.
I guess I didn't win, as I have yet to be notified.
The rain had stopped on our walk to the gates of the festival, but things were not looking too good minutes later.
Hunkering down under our canopy, we were hoping the weather would change. With thunder and lightning joining the rain, the main stage was closed down. Until the weather changed, all of the shows would take place on the second stage which is covered by a huge tent.
Before long, Mother Nature had decided to let the show go on,
and decided to put on a show of her own.
The start of a double rainbow, seen on the left side of this pick, never materialized.
The first act we caught was Pokey LaFarge.
This dude could pick that 6 string Banjo guitar, also known as a Banjitar.
One of the things that I enjoy the most about this venue is that you can get up close to the artists. You want to dance, you dance, you want to sit you sit.
Pokey's repertoire includes Americana, Early Jazz, Ragtime Blues, and Country Blues.
A few of his albums include Riverboat Soul, Marmalade, and Beat, Move, and Shake.
The next group was the Downchild Blues Band.
This band is considered the most popular, long lived Blues Band, North of the border.
Yes, they are from Canada.
Just wondering 
They have been around since 1969, and still going strong.
This is the leader of the band, Donnie "Mister Downchild" Walsh. He is considered the father of Canadian Blues.
Talk about making music, this dude played the harmonica like he was born with it between his lips.
My favorite instrument, not too many people can blow a sax like this guy. He had the crowd on their feet, clapping, stomping, and dancing.
Their Boogie Woogie, and Jump Style Blues drew the attention of fellow Canadian Dan Aykroyd.
The Downchild Blues Band became the inspiration for the Blues Brothers.
Dan Aykroyd said, "There would be no Blues Brothers if it weren't for Downchild"
They have released over 25 albums, including Can You Hear the Music, Gone Fishing, and Come On In.
Food glorious food, you want they got it.
Many of the local businesses set up shop at the festival.
While grooving to the music, hooting, and hollering one builds up an appetite.
Lets start here, at this award winning barbecue stand, or
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maybe just some ice-cream.
Lets not forget about the adult beverages. I have been attending this festival for 20 years now, and not once have I ever seen any real inhospitable behavior. The crowd had to reach over 6,000 people, and not a bit of nonsense.
There is no police presence, except one NY State Trooper who sits in his car at the gate.
There are not many events of this size that could lay claim to such an affable crowd.
Lets get back to the next band we heard.
This group's name is Mississippi Heat, and appearing with them was Lurrie Bell.
Lurrie Bell, pictured here, is a renowned Blues Guitarist and singer.
He battled emotional problems and drug abuse for years.
His comeback was marked with the production of his album, Mercurial Son.
Nominated for a Grammy in 2016 for his album, Can't Shake This Feeling.
Pierre Lacocque is the band's leader, and harmonic player.
Mississippi Heat is a world class Chicago Blues Band, which has performed all over the world.
Lacocque was born in Israel.
I'm not sure how I missed getting a shot of him, must have been too rapped up in the moment.
Here is a picture of the artist.
https://images.search.yahoo.com
The great Muddy Waters, seen in this picture , had a major influence on Mr. Lacocque.
https://images.search.yahoo.com
Just a few of the albums they have recorded would include: Blues Had A Baby, Cutting Heads, Let's Talk About Love, and The Devil Ain't Got No Music.
This cool cat playing the keyboards for Mississippi Heat, and put on a show all by himself.
Stand up Base, you don't see a lot of Stand Up Base players in Blues bands.
Every good band needs a drummer.
The first show that would appear on the main stage was Tab Beniot, a 3x Grammy nominated Blues Artist, and 4x Blues Music Awards winner. Up to this point all of the performances were situated under the canopied stage. Usually one performance follows the next, switching back and forth between stages. With the weather making it impossible to follow suit, many of the shows were pushed back as the canopied stage had to be set up for each artist.
Tab Benoit's performance started around 8:30, and my Granddaughter Peyton was hanging in there like a champ.
Knowing that it was getting late for the little one, this would be the last performance we would catch.
Sorry for such a poor picture, its hard to Boogie and take a picture at the same time.
Mr. Benoit is a renowned guitarist, singer, and accomplished drummer.
With this being the first act on the main stage, hundreds of folks made their way to the area in front of the stage to see this man put on one hell of a show.
Just a few of Tab Benoit's albums include, Night Train To Nashville, Medicine, and Brother Of The blues.
During a solo part in one of the songs, this fellow had the place going nuts.
Despite the very inclement weather, we had a wonderful day. Great music, all kinds of different food, a couple of adult drinks, and the Ace in the hole, spending such a wonderful day with family and friends. With that combination, how can you go wrong.
Hope you enjoyed, I sure did!!!!!