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There’s no better cure for the November blues than the blues, and Berks Arts’ fifth Reading Blues Fest is the perfect prescription.
Beginning Thursday with a community kickoff concert at the Reading Liederkrange and continuing Friday through next Sunday in the comfortable, friendly atmosphere of the Hilton Hotel, Reading’s DoubleTree, the festival will feature top performances by some of the most exciting and accomplished blues acts. Artists of the country.
Thursday night’s concert will begin with the Busker Incognito Trio hosting the Crossroads Blues Jam, followed by a performance by Scranton-based blues guitarist Clarence Spady and The Electric City Band, featuring The Barks Horns.
Friday will officially kick off the festival, with a kickoff lunch at the Peanut Bar with The Bluemasters — bassist Benny Sims, keyboardist Cliff Starkey and saxophonist/vocalist Eric Kavala.
Friday’s opening concert at 8pm in the Doubletree Grand Ballroom will feature the “rock, stomp and swamp” sound of singer/guitarist Tab Benoit from Baton Rouge, La., who has been compared to Albert King, Albert Collins and Jimi Hendrix. He’ll be joined by the New Orleans-based Dirty Dozen Brass Band and cutting-edge Mississippi bluesman Lightning Malcolm.
Fans can wake up to the blues with veteran blues guitarist Benny Turner (younger brother of Freddie King) and the “Piano Prince of New Orleans,” pianist/singer Davell Crawford, at Doubletree Amphitheater on Saturday at 10 a.m. in a free concert sponsored by NOLA. Lancaster’s Blue Records.
At 1 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom, Texas-born singer-songwriter Sugar Rayford — the 2019 and 2020 Blues Music Awards Soul Blues Artist of the Year — will perform with her band. Also on the bill is saxophonist/singer-songwriter Vanessa Collier, who recently won a BMA for Blues Female Artist of the Year.
That night at 8 p.m., left-handed guitarist and singer-songwriter Eric Gales, winner of two BMAs for Blues Rock Artist of the Year in 2019 and 2020, will bring his Memphis style to Reading with Montreal-based singer-songwriter Don Tyler Watson, who recently won Blues Rock Artist of the Year. Won Canada’s Maple Blues Awards for Best Songwriter and Best Album/Producer. He won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2017.
On Sunday at 10:30 a.m., patrons can enjoy a blues brunch, followed by a concert at noon by Gulf Coast Records artists The Blood Brothers: Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia.
Zito, a five-time BMA winner, is a contemporary blues guitarist/vocalist; He’s teaming up with guitarist/vocalist Castiglia, who won the BMA for 2020 Album of the Year for his “Masterpiece.” Each band will perform separately in this grand finale of the festival, and then join forces to raise the rafters.
Fest General Manager John Ernesto said, “We are fortunate to have a star-studded lineup for the fest. “The artists represent 24 BMA Awards, including three BB King Entertainer of the Year honors – Benoit in 2007 and 2012 and Rayford in 2020.”
Other events at the Doubletree and Peanut Bar include BC (vocalist Bev Conklin) and guitarist Joe Mack, both part of BC Blue, a four-piece band that will also perform; blue-eyed soul phenom Dave Keller and his trio; Dave Kiss; and the Dave Male Blues Band.
“We look forward to bringing thousands of visitors to downtown Reading for the benefit and enjoyment of the entire community,” said Justin Heimbecker, executive director of Berks Arts.
Tickets are still available for Reading Blues Fest — single concerts and weekend packages For more information, including artist bios, visit www.readingbluesfest.com.
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