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Chase the blues away
By Noah Buchan
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, Nov 16, 2007, Page 14
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The Blues Society on Taiwan has the perfect antidote to the blues: Blues Bash 4 at the Dream Community.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE BLUES SOCIETY ON TAIWAN
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Taiwan's annual Blues Bash began three years ago as a one-day concert featuring six acts in Taichung. That same year, there was a second jam at Breeze Center (微風廣場) that featured as many musicians.
At this year's event, which will take place tomorrow and Sunday, 15 groups from around the globe will play a variety of blues styles - from Chicago to Delta to good old jug blues - at the Dream Community (夢想社區).
DC Rapier, the festival's organizer, has worked hard to increase public interest in the event: this year's lineup is better and bigger than ever.
Tomorrow night's headliners hardly require an introduction for blues fans. Ben Hernandez and Nathan James' eclectic collection of instruments (including a large ceramic whisky jug and a coffee can) won them the 2007 International Blues Challenge. Their music is a combination of delta, gospel, string band and jug band country blues.
Mitch Woods, a boogie-woogie piano maestro from Brooklyn, will headline Sunday night with his band, Rocket 88's, pulling standards and originals from his repertoire of great tunes. Woods' piano licks and energetic stage persona will be accompanied by Rocket 88's "swingin' horns, thumpin' bass, rockin' guitar and jungle drums," according to the Blues Bash Web site.
| Event notes |
| What: Blues Bash 4
When: Tomorrow and Sunday 3:30pm to 9:30pm
Where: Dream Community (夢想社區) 95, Minzu 2nd St, Sijhih City, Taipei County (台北縣汐止市民族二街95號)
Admission: Free
On the Net: www.bsot-bluesbash.info |
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Besides the headliners, expect some of the best blues groups that Taiwan has to offer along with acts from Japan, Thailand and the US.
The festival is gaining an international following - at least with musicians. Rapier says he receives, on average, two e-mail messages every week from overseas players interested in coming to Taiwan to perform. "Taiwan is an exotic locale and a chance to come to Asia really appeals to a lot of people," he said.
| Tomorrow's lineup |
| 15:30~15:40 – Welcome statements
15:40~16:10 – Barrelhouse Fire
16:10~16:20 – Raffle 1
16:20~16:50 – Three Day Bender
16:50~17:00 – Raffle 2
17:00~17:30 – Blues Vibrations
17:30~17:40 – Raffle 3
17:40~18:10 – Boogie Chillin'
18:10~18:20 – Raffle 4
18:20~18:50 – BoPoMoFo
18:50~19:00 – Raffle 5
19:00~19:40 – Tommy Chung
19:40~19:50 – Raffle 6
19:50~20:35 – Ken "the Snowman" Minahan
20:35~20:45 – Raffle 7
20:45~21:45 – Ben and Nathan |
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The festival will include a barbecue whipped up by chefs from Capone's and there'll be raffles for CDs, T-shirts and more. For transport information visit www.bsot-bluesbash.info.
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