Forget the winter blahs and blues — I love getting the blues in Maine in the summer. I know, when you think of summer in Maine, you think scenic coastal views and lobster dinners. What’s there to be blue about?

Set against the backdrop of blue water and blue skies, the annual North Atlantic Blues Festival reminds me that “life is good,” and live music is great. There really is no reason to have the blues, but there are plenty of reasons to trek to Rockland to hear the blues.

10. The nearby bars and restaurants.

Of course you can get lobsters dinners in Rockland. It is after all also the home of the annual Maine Lobster Festival. You can also find Mediterranean, Japanese, and Italian fare, along with primo pizza and steak establishments. The Trade Winds and Time Out Pub are just a couple of places that host dozens of live acts the Friday night before the festival starts and then again on Saturday night for the festival’s club crawl.

9. Trinket shopping.

Once you’re in the gate, take a stroll around the grounds and you’ll find unique, interesting, and sometimes just weird stuff. I’ve come home with ankle charms and other jewelry, various items of clothing, and a few stories from the vendors themselves.

8. Food booths.

Every year, my husband heads straight to the booth selling the monster burritos, and I make my way to the smell of shaved lamb at the gyro stand. Indian curries, fried onions, icy gelato, crispy clam strips — a smorgasbord for the senses.

7. The view.

The stage sits in front of one of the prettiest harbors in Maine. The backdrop of sailboats, kayaks, ocean horizon, and wispy clouds that drift into forever belongs on a postcard. Actually I’m pretty sure it is on a postcard.

6. The organization.

If you’ve ever gone to any kind of festival, you can appreciate how important organization is. Nothing spoils fun faster than parking chaos, bathroom issues, and people without a clue. No worries for this festival. Event producers Jamie Isaacson and Paul Benjamin have been doing this for 19 years and they have this figured out. At this blues fest, clean grounds and friendly people immediately greet you and give you confidence that this is a smooth operation. Local nonprofit groups provide parking within walking distance without charging gouging prices. Everyone wins. A quick look at the festival website will tell you everything you need to know such as when gates open, what to bring and not to bring, weather related info, and a guide to surrounding businesses.

5. The stage and seating arrangement.

I love outdoor venues. Once you plant your blanket or lawn chair, you can roam and return. The stage sits high enough for good sight lines wherever you’re sitting, and the sound will carry you away. Most of the time the weather is the perfect sea-breeze cool and summer-sun warm. But I’ve been there in downpours and blazing sun too, and it’s still fun. People still get up and dance, they still cheer on the artists, and the artists will even give it something extra to commiserate with the fans. If you don’t know by now, the blues is all about taking the negative and turning it into a party.

4. Fellow blues fans.

Everyone is a friend here. Young and old; Mainers and tourists. People who share a love for music, especially blues, can talk to anyone. People behave themselves, respect each other’s space, and give off a vibe that everyone belongs.

3. The atmosphere.

What can I say? It’s a party.

2. Big names.

The festival in the past have drawn artists such as Robert Cray, Shemekia Copeland, Koko Taylor, Keb Mo, Eric Bibb, and the list goes on and on. This year’s headliner is none other than Mavis Staples. She sang as a young girl with her famous gospel family, The Staple Singers, as a young woman on the stage with The Band in The Last Waltz, and won a Grammy last year for her album “You Are Not Alone,” produced by Jeff Tweedy. Tweedy also produced her recently released CD, called “One True Vine.” Included in this year’s lineup of 11 different acts are The Lee Boys, Popa Chubby and The Holmes Brothers.

1. Live music.

When you turn on the radio, download a song, or pop in a CD, you may hear what a musician wants to communicate. But when you see and hear an artist live, you feel the message. There’s an interaction between performer and audience that comes from spontaneity, from mutual appreciation, and from shared excitement that can’t be recorded or duplicated. Probably more true than for other genres, the blues seems to produce artists that just want to play or sing their music regardless of fame, contracts and royalties. These performers are true blue to their art.

What: North Atlantic Blues Festival

When: Saturday, July 13, Sunday July 14. Music starts 11 a.m. both days.

Where: Public Landing, 275 Main St., Rockland

Tickets: Advance tickets $25 for one day; $50 for weekend pass. Advance ticket sales end July 9. $35 one day at the gate; $70 weekend pass at the gate. No credit cards at gate.

FMI: www.northatlanticbluesfestival.com

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