blue sky Bradenton Blues

The first Saturday in December has brought Bradenton the Blues for the last five years - in the form of the Blues Festival.  This was the first year the headliner was not a female and I don't think I would be the only one who had the opinion that this was not a positive thing.  The order from first year through last was Ruthie Foster, Shemekia Copeland, Marcia Ball, and Janiva Magness... this year the women were sorely missed in the line up.

We arrived about 2:30 in time for the gender bending Jason Ricci- whose harmonica was virtuoso - and had a guitar like depth of sound...

 
The next act was Victor Wainwright- our favorite of the day - just an all around good performer- piano and vocals---

weren't crazy about the next one- nothing horrible just not inspiring-

the headliner- had a mean blues guitar but there was something quite flat about the whole afternoon- maybe because there were no named acts who were female- just a thought...

 2012

 2013

 2014

 

2015

 the venue is right along the Riverwalk in downtown Bradenton-

so not the best line up we have seen but - who knows what 2017 will bring... the day was beautiful- sunny and blue skies and in the high 70s... a perfect day to sit by the river... tomorrow we are off on a getaway vacay... so I will be off for a week (roughly) but will be back with reports on the changes in Cartagena since I was last there in 2012..... stay tuned...