Maine Blues Festival

showcases local talent

The annual Maine Blues Festival has one purpose: to showcase the blues talents of the Mainers, by the Mainers, and for the Mainers.

For the ninth year, about 50 homegrown blues acts will converge on the scenic shores of Sebago Lake in Naples for three days to prove that Maine has plenty of talent and plenty of fans.

“Maine does not need to import talent,” said festival co-founder Kevin Kimball. “And people here buy into that idea. With all due respect to the likes of B.B. King, he’s just the tip of the iceberg. You get a headliner for a day, but the guys who play the other 364 days of the year are who you’re going to see at the Maine Blues Festival.”

Kimball is adamant that this festival steers clear from headliners and stage billing hierarchies.

“We deliberately do not do headliners,” said Kimball. “These are all extremely talented artists. In a nutshell, we are trying to put as many Maine blues artist in front of as many Maine residents as possible.”

The festival line-up features veterans to newcomers, traditionalists to boundary-pushers, and folky acoustic to hard-driving electric. Several of the bands have represented the state in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN over the years. The band Memphis Lighting is made up of Grammy-nominated drummer Darren “Big Red” Thiboutot and Road to Memphis winner Rick “Slow Driver” McLennan on bass.

“We’ve got the preservationists and we’ve got some younger bands taking a different twist with the blues,” said Kimball. “Case in point, there’s a band called The Blues Mafia. They’ve got a gal who plays the electric violin, and she sizzles.”

Then there’s New Blues Revue with veterans Denny Breau, Krister Rollins, John Donahoe, and BJ Leblanc. Poor Howard Stith has opened for John Hammond and Emmie Lou Harris. And with all due respect to Kimball, Mark Miller has opened for headliners B.B. King, Taj Mahal, and Peter Wolf, which doesn’t look bad on the bio sheet.

“The blues is the most egalitarian and accessible art form,” said Kimball. “And it is absolutely art, but it is art within the reach of the common man to either perform or to appreciate. It goes to the heart.”

Kimball’s passionate belief in the blues reverberates in this year’s festival theme: “Blues begins in the neighborhood.”

Not only is the festival committed to local blues artists, but it is truly committed to the greater Maine “neighborhood.” Part of the proceeds from the festival goes to support the Maine Blues Festival Scholarship.

“We are very proud of this,” said Kimball. “It isn’t necessarily for a kid who’s going into music, although that’s a plus. But we want to help our local kids with education.”

And the neighborhood of Naples has been an accommodating host to the festival. Kimball acknowledges that without town officials, business owners, and an army of volunteers, the traditional Father’s Day weekend event would not have enjoyed the success it has.

Every year, more people come — even from away. Kimball said that a couple of Arizona recently bought tickets to the event. Every year, more artists hope to get a spot. Kimball said he reluctantly has to turn away some Maine artists just because there isn’t enough room. However, he has no problem turning away performers from out of state.

Although the festival has grown, organizers and volunteers have learned a few things over the years to make logistics a little smoother and the atmosphere a little more pleasant. Most of the performing venues and food vendors are located in the pedestrian friendly downtown area with parking at either ends of the strip and free shuttle buses running at frequent intervals.

Kids are welcomed during the family friendly daytime events and performers. However, Kimball encourages people to leave their pets at home so that they don’t have to contend with heat, crowds, or sitting in parked cars. Kimball called the evening performances adult friendly but noted that this festival is relaxed and accessible for blues lovers of all ages and backgrounds. Is a festival for all the Mainers.

If you go

What: Maine Blues Festival

Where: Naples, Maine

When: June 13-15

Tickets: Required Saturday only; $12 until June 12 at www.mainebluesfestival.com or at Bull Moose and Naples performance venues; $16 day of festival