We’ve got the swamp blues
The baton rouge blues festival takes over downtown this month with a hefty lineup that will permeate the Galvez Plaza area with plenty of guitar licks and grooves honoring our local musical heritage. Festival chair Chris Brooks says 2012’s event was a banner year with thousands in attendance, and organizers are continuing to expand the offerings to make it a premier festival in the South. “Lafayette has zydeco, New Orleans has jazz, but here in Baton Rouge, we can hang our hat on swamp blues,” Brooks says. Here’s what you should know about the Baton Rouge Blues Festival:
Saturday, April 13. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Galvez Plaza, North Boulevard Town Square and basically everywhere nearby.
On the Galvez Stage: Bobby Rush, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, CC Adcock & the Lafayette Marquis, Blind Boy Paxton, and Baby Bee
On the Swamp Blues Stage (Lafayette Street in front of the Shaw Center): Henry Gray & the Cats, Lavelle White, Bryan Lee, Rudy Richard, and Mr. Hinson & the Blisters
After-party begins at 9 p.m. at Hartley/Vey Theatre with the duo Baby Bee, bringing more of their stripped-down rock ‘n’ roll and blues to festivalgoers.
Inside the Old State Capitol Senate chambers, take a break from the sun with the “Back Stage at the Blues Fest” series of interviews and informal performances with some of the musical acts, including Bobby Rush, Blind Boy Paxton and CC Adcock. The 45-minute sessions start at 12:30 p.m. and end about 5:15 p.m.
An arts market featuring artists who take inspiration from music (think artwork made out of guitar strings), vendors selling some great Southern food, soft drinks and beer, an interactive music installation outside the Old State Capitol and much more. If you’re planning to cycle into downtown, Bike Baton Rouge is providing a safe and secure bike corral.
