Blues festival slated for Aug. 16

Following last year's successful premiere, the Great Basin Blues Festival returns to Mountain Home on Aug. 16 at Optimist Park with gates opening at 11:30 a.m. and the event beginning at 1 p.m.

The festival showcases the best blues artists in the world, including legends Cedric Burnside, T-Model Ford (who taught U2's front man Bono the blues), Cadillac John, Bill Abel, local Mountain Home artist Sirah Storm and a new addition to this year's bill, Idaho favorite Laura Price.

"She's (Price) got a great voice, and for her to have a voice at such a young age is uncanny," said Mark Bryant, president of the Great Basin Blues Festival and owner of Marc Anthony's Purveyor of Fine Cigars.

"She's the real deal performer and I am just glad that we were able to get her for the show," added Bryant.

Another new act to this year's event is the Love and Abiding Christian Church performing an a capella Holler Response.

"Most of the great blues artists get their roots from gospel," said Bryant.

Two notable acts from last year's event, Rosalund Jenkins and The Road Skollars, will not be featured at this year's event.

The act that will open this year's event is local musicians Carl Holmes and B-3 Sides, famous for their soulful jazz style. Bryant said of their rendition of Ray Charles' classic, 'Georgia', "It'll make you cry."

As to the artists on the bill, Bryant praised their talent. "These guys have experienced things in their life that others haven't. When these guys sing the blues, they know the blues."

Bill Abel is famous for playing a one-string guitar. Last year, Bryant noted that the audiences watching Abel's performance were in awe over the amount of sound Abel could create from such a musical marvel.

Joining the nine-artist bill are returning artists Malcolm Lightning and Cedric Burnside, who have just come off opening for Jimmy Buffett and played for crowds of 50,000 people.

Bryant is looking forward to this year's event.

"This event is unlike any event in Mountain Home, it gives you a chance to meet the artist, get their autographs, blend in with the artists and learn about their style of music. You don't get a chance like that often."

"Bringing entertainment of this caliber is something I have dreamed of for a long time," said blues enthusiast and Idaho photographer Andy Anderson, who came up with the idea for the Great Basin Blues Festival with Bryant.

Organizers of the event hope to double the attendance from the previous year. "Our goal is to grow Idaho's art community and awareness," added Anderson.

For tickets and more information, log on to the event web site www.gbluesfestival.org.