Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/10148
By: Daniel Albert D oheny State Beach in Dana Point will be host to a two-day convergence of soul shakers, folk rock legends and blues masters on Saturday May 22 and Sunday May 23. This weekend of rhythm and soul is the DOHENY BLUES FESTIVAL, now a dazzling and increasingly popular music event. In its 13th year, this Festival has grown into a main music attraction in South Orange County. This awesome event will feature everything from 26 acts on 3 stages of Blues, Rock & Soul music, a waterfront grass park with two main stages at opposite ends of the venue, The Backporch Stage, where fans can enjoy acoustic performances in an intimate lawn area, a large Vendor Village with tons of cool stuff, an International Food Court with authentic restaurants and tasty beverages, an on-site music store where fans can meet the performers and buy new music, and even a Kidz EcoZone featuring fun and music filled activities for the kids, as well as their own "Beach Shack" stage. Blues music is an oxymoron of sorts. It was traditionally sung by early 20th Century African-Americans of the South's Delta region as a transformative method of alchemical healing. They believed that expressing heartache fills the heart with joy and creates community, especially when set to toe-tapping, bass heavy, guitar laden and drum beat-sharp music." If you start off singing the blues, you end up fulfilled." The Doheny Blues Festival welcomes you to its "Blues on the Beach" where relaxing next to the refreshing blue ocean and listening to legendary performers will awaken those musical memories. Even before the front gate opens at 11AM for general admission, there will be music and coffee for early bird rockers outside the gate during the breakfast set. The headliners for the weekend are the legendary three-part harmony virtuosos Crosby, Stills and Nash. The music of David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash is a cornerstone of rock 'n roll. As Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN), this trio of legendary singer-songwriters has been actively collaborating since 1969, when they took the stage in front of 500,000 people at Woodstock as rock's first "supergroup." Also, The Black Crowes, who in their 20 years together, have sold over 20 million records with an adventurous brew of rock, blues, country, soul and gospel. Hits including: "She Talks to Angels", "Hard to Handle", "Remedy", "Twice As Hard", "Thorn In My Pride", and more, will also be sharing the title of Headliner. Taj Mahal, one of the most prominent and influential figures in late 20th century blues and roots music began his career more than four decades ago with American blues, and has broadened his artistic scope over the years to include music representing virtually every corner of the world – west Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the Hawaiian islands and so much more. Along with the Phantom Blues Band he will join the festival and is sure to be a crowd favorite. Also, Award winning Bettye LaVette, who was discovered at the age of just 16 by the legendary Motor City music raconteur Johnnie Mae Matthews, will share her stirring, husky timbre with festival- goers as she performs her own set. Fronted by the multi-talented Robert Cray, an artist of considerable scope considered to be one of the most expressive vocalists and impressive guitarists on the contemporary rhythm and Blues scene, Robert Cray draws R&B, rock, pop, and jazz with equal insight and authority and will perform with his band Robert and will definitely jam your alligator boots off. Topping off the list of performers are The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Booker T. Jones, Brazilian guitarist Igor Prado, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, and Jackie green along with many other regional artists! On Saturday, along with The Black Crowes, Taj Mahal, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Eric Lindell and Black Joe Lewis, is singer-songwriter Jackie Greene, a California native who croons a commentary on relationship and society set to slow-tempo guitar and keyboard folk rock. Also on Saturday is Big Sam's Funky Nation, a horn-powered New Orleans style funk band that'll get you dancing. On Sunday will be CSN, The Robert Cray Band, Otis Taylor, Bettye LaVette and Grammy winning writer/singer/producer Booker T. Jones. 14 LIVEMAGS.NET MAY>>10