A Guide to Cincy Blues Fest 2007

Once again it is almost time for Cincinnati's annual blues festival at the beautiful park, Sawyer Point, located on the banks of the Ohio River. 2007's Cincy Blues Fest, 'Once in a Blues Moon' takes place the first weekend of August, according to www.cincyblues.org.

Admission is $7 on Friday August 3, $10 on Saturday August 4, and $15 for a 2-day pass. The festival website, cincyblues.org/2007tickets, offers advance ticket sales for the $15 2-day pass via PayPal before July 31. Conveniently, the Cincy Blues Society will then mail the passes to you for free. Members of the Cincy Blues Society get the best deal as admission is free with a membership card.

Sawyer Point can be mapped using the address 720 E. Pete Rose Way Cincinnati, OH 45202. Parking is available within the park, at Bicentennial Commons, as well as at many nearby parking lots off of Eggleston or Gilbert Avenues. To avoid the hassle of a car, Cincinnati Metro buses numbers 1 and 28 travel to Sawyer Point / Bicentennial Commons.

Cincy Blues Fest guests can bring their own chairs, but no coolers, cans, or bottles. The festival also does not allow audio or visual equipment, nor does it permit dogs.

Here is the schedule for the diverse R&B, jazz, and blues music played on multiple stages.

Friday August 3, 2007

Main Stage
3:45-4:30 Ricky Nye - Cincy Blues Challenge Solo/Duo Winner
4:45-5:15 Blues in the Schools (BITS) Band
5:30-6:45 Steve Tracy and the Crawling Kingsnakes
7:00-8:15 Bruce Katz Band
8:30-10:00 Big George Brock
10:15-11:45 Walter Trout & the Radicals

Local Stage
5:30-6:30 Jimmy D Rogers
6:45-7:45 The Sonny Moorman Group
8:00-9:00 Them Bones
9:15-10:15 Dick & The Roadmasters
10:30 Miss Lissa & Company

King Records Tribute Stage
6:30-7:30 Elliott Ruther Trio
7:45-8:30 Bekah Williams
8:45-11:45 King Records Tribute featuring a King Records tribute band The King's Men. They will be joined by Ice House Horns and artists who recorded at King such as Piney Brown, Philip Paul, Otis Williams & His Charms and Bootsy Collins.

Saturday August 4, 2007

Before the music begins on Saturday afternoon, fans can enjoy a special backstage and onstage experience at 3pm on the Main Stage. Cincinnati local power blues guitarist Sonny Moorman (http://www.sonnymoorman.com/) will play at a small jam session as guests witness and learn about the production necessary to stage a live music event such as Cincy Blues fest.

Main Stage
3:45-4:30 Ricky Nye - Cincy Blues Challenge Solo/Duo Winner
4:45-5:15 Blues in the Schools (BITS) Band
5:30-6:45 Steve Tracy and the Crawling Kingsnakes
7:00-8:15 Bruce Katz Band
8:30-10:00 Big George Brock
10:15-11:45 Walter Trout & the Radicals

Gospel Stage with Master of Ceremony Howard Riley
3:15 Devotion
3:30-4:35 Dedicated Souls, Cincinnati, OH
4:50-5:50 The Lyric Supremes, Columbus, OH
6:05-7:15 The Gospel Creators, Atlanta, GA
7:30-8:35 The "Original" Goldenaires, Cincinnati, OH
8:50-10:00 Fred Byers & Blessed, Cincinnati, OH
10:15-11:30 The Gospel Four - Memphis, TN

Local Stage
3:15-4:15 The Bluebirds
4:30-5:30 American Standard
5:45-6:45 The Conrail Saints
7:00-8:00 Blumanchu
8:15-9:15 Tempted Souls
9:30-10:30 G. Miles and the Hitmen
10:45-Midnight Blues Jam w/ hosts Paul Van Risseghem, Joe Gorman, Phil Blank, Aron Levin. Harp players tribute - Lanky Frank, Phil Blank, Gravy Williams, Brad Hatfield and more yet to be announced

Arches Boogie Woogie Piano Stage
3:30 Todd Hepburn
4:00 Liz Pennock and Dr. Blues
4:40 Ricky Nye
5:20 Bruce Katz
6:00 Chase Garrett
6:40 Mark Braun
7:20 David Maxwell
8:00 Mac Potts
8:40 Mitch Woods
9:30 Bob Seeley
9:30 Bob Baldori
10:20 Lluis Coloma
11:10 Axel Zwingenberger
11:50 Grand Finale

'Keeping the Blues Alive' is the Cincy Blues Society's motto. The Queen City's 15th Annual Cincy Blues Fest will certainly keep the American tradition of blues music alive the first weekend of August 2007 at Sawyer Point.