Vinoy Park has served as the scenic waterside setting of innumerable festivals over the years, and among its longer-lived events is the Tampa Bay Blues Fest, a spring music tradition since 1995. Organizers of the 2011 edition are testing out a few fresh themes, including "Best of the Fest" lineups on Friday and Saturday that feature performers who've appeared at TBBF over the last decade and were selected as favorites in an informal survey of local blues fans, musicians, promoters and other music scene folks.
For Sunday's festivities, the focus shifts to the Crescent City with a "Celebrate New Orleans" showcase that pays homage to NOLA musical traditions old, new and somewhere in between, culminating in an all-star jam headed by Tab Benoit himself.
This mini-guide includes fest highlights along with the complete fest schedule and info about related events and after-parties, too, to help you navigate the weekend.
FRI. APRIL 8
SPOTLIGHT ON: Janiva Magness
Janiva Magness is only the second woman to ever win the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award. After the release of 2010's The Devil Is An Angel Too — her ninth album and second on respected blues label Alligator Records — the LA-based R&B songstress is a nominee once again, not to mention a contender in three other categories as well with her potent, low-slung soul and hip-swiveling blues. Magness is a captivating performer known for electrifying live shows and as a powerhouse singer whose rich and resonant earthy-sultry vocals have earned her comparisons to anyone from Etta James to Janis Joplin. Her band includes multi-instrumentalist husband Jeff Turmes, who plays acoustic and electric bass and guitars, and baritone and tenor saxophones.
Fri. schedule: Mike Zito (12:30 p.m.), Michael Burks (2:30 p.m.), Janiva Magness (4:30 p.m.), Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers (6:30 p.m.), The Robert Cray Band (8:30 p.m.)
SAT. APRIL 9
SPOTLIGHT ON: James Hunter
British retro revival artist James Hunter is a blue-eyed soulful R&B singer-songwriter and guitarist with a lightly-sanded croon or finely-tuned howl depending on the groove. Hunter originally caught a break in the '90s singing backup for Van Morrison, but didn't find success as a solo artist in his own right until his 2006 third LP and U.S. debut, People Gonna Talk, earned all-around rave reviews and a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Blues Album of the Year. It also reached No. 1 on the Billboard Blues charts, as did his fourth and most recent album, 2008's The Hard Way, which was produced by Liam Watson (White Stripes) and is marked by tight rhythms and lush string and horn arrangements, among other sophisticated instrumental embellishments.
Sat. schedule: The Lee Boys (12:30 p.m.), Curtis Salgado (2:30 p.m.), Tommy Castro (4:30 p.m.), James Hunter (6:30 p.m.), Jonny Lang (8:30 p.m.)
SUN. APRIL 10
SPOTLIGHT ON: Trombone Shorty &
Orleans Avenue
One thing you can always count on with Trombone Shorty: a blues rockin', hip-hoppin', funk-jazz party in a set, with the effervescent performer bounding from one side of the stage to the other as he delivers rhymes, sings verses and wails on trombone all throughout. While we may see him around these parts fairly regularly — once or twice a year — his appearances are always a welcome (and guaranteed) good time.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Tab Benoit & the Voice of the Wetlands Allstars
Cajun blues singer-guitarist Benoit formed the nonprofit Voice of the Wetlands to raise awareness about Louisiana's coastal and cultural erosion. He's released two albums in support of the cause with his Wetlands Allstars, a group made up of prominent NOLA musicians who released their second recording, Box of Pictures. The current lineup — which includes percussionist/singer Cyril Neville (the Meters), harmonica player/accordionist Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, guitarist Anders Osborne, and vocalist Big Chief Monk Boudreaux — closes out the Sunday night festivities.
Sun. schedule: Eric Lindell (1 p.m.), Jon Cleary (2:30 p.m.), Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue (4:30 p.m.), Irma Thomas (6:30 p.m.), Tab Benoit & The Voice of the Wetlands Allstars (8:30 p.m.)
More blues in St. Pete:
Tampa Bay Blues Fest Pre-Party with Walker Smith Group, Lee Pons, Frankie Roberts and The Boxcar Tourist, Woody and The Wood Tones Thurs., April 7, 7 p.m. doors, The Local 662, St. Petersburg, $5 (all ages).
Blues Fest After Show with Damon Fowler Group Fri., April 8-Sat., April 9, 9 p.m., Ringside Cafe, St Petersburg, $5.
Tampa Bay Blues Fest Official After Shows Fri., April 8, Janiva Magness (10:30-11:30 p.m.), Mike Zito (11:45-12:45 a.m.) and Michael Burks (1-2 a.m.); and Sat., April 9, Curtis Salgado (10:30-11:30 p.m.), Tommy Castro (11:45-12:45 a.m.) and The Lee Boys(1-2 a.m.), Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, $20 per show.
J Roddy Walston and the Business with Lambasters Sat., April 9, 9 p.m. doors, Dave's Aqua Lounge, St. Petersburg, $8.
This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2011.