Downtown Reading gets the blues this weekend
Nov. 16—Berks Arts' sixth annual Reading Blues Fest runs today through Sunday, with the bulk of the events taking place in the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in downtown Reading.
"Berks Arts is thrilled to collaborate with our local business, hotel, and volunteer community to make Greater Reading an annual destination for blues lovers around the world," said Justin Heimbecker, Berks Arts executive director. "We look forward to an exciting, memorable weekend of music and fun for all in attendance."
Most of the festival events will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, where fans of the blues can enjoy concerts, lunches, brunches and late-night after parties at the hotel's Cheers American Bistro.
Cheers will host a blues party, featuring Dave Keyes, today at 6 p.m. to get things started
on the eve of the official Day 1 of the festival, and a "welcome party" by vocalist/guitarist/harmonica player Kevin Burt on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
The annual kickoff lunch at the Peanut Bar Restaurant at 11:30 a.m. Friday will feature The Bluesmasters (bassist Bennie Sims, pianist Cliff Starkey and saxophonist/vocalist Erich Cawalla).
The evening festivities begin at 8 with the Opening Night Celebration in the DoubleTree Grand Ballroom. Appearing in this event will be guitarist/keyboardist/singer Jimmy Vivino & Friends, best known as the leader of The Basic Cable Band (the house band for TBS' "Conan") and, as a member of the house bands for "The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien" and "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" on NBC.
In addition, guitar legend Arlen Roth and his band will perform a "Super Soul Session" featuring Hammond B3 artist Bruce Katz, vocalist Makamuri and The Berks Horns, completing an exciting evening of blues. Roth, who also plays slide guitar, lap steel and dobro, is considered one of the most influential musicians in the world and a pioneer in music education.
On Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom, Lil' Ed and The Blues Imperials will be led by Ed Williams, a fabulous slide guitarist/singer/songwriter. The Chicago Sun-Times called his band "the hottest purveyors of bottleneck boogie to come out of Chicago since Hound Dog Taylor." Also on hand for that concert will be guitarist/vocalist J.P. Soars in a "Gypsy Blue Revue," combining blues with Django-style Gypsy jazz, featuring violinist Anne Harris.
The big event on Saturday night at 8 in the Grand Ballroom will be the amazing singer/songwriter/guitarist Ruthie Foster, an eight-time BMA winner and three-time Grammy nominee, direct from Austin, Texas. Kevin Burt & Big Medicine will be sharing the stage with his distinctive style of blues.
On Sunday at 1 p.m., it will be back to the roots with Mr. Sipp and The True Believers, featuring the Fresh Wind Gospel Ensemble from Ferrum College in Virginia, along with Sunday brunch in the Grand Ballroom.
Castro Coleman (a.k.a. Mr. Sipp) was a gospel recording artist and producer for a quarter-century before starting a second career as a blues guitarist/singer/songwriter. He and his band won the 2013 International Blues Challenge, and his album, "The Mississippi Blues Child" won a BMA for Best New Artist Album in 2016. He and his band have recently returned to their gospel roots as The True Believers, and they plan to make the festival's grand finale extra-special.
In addition to the headliners, there will be concerts in more intimate venues by Steve Guyger and The Excellos, Dave Keyes, the Dave Keller Band, the Dave Mell Blues Band, the James Supra Trio and more.
And two special events will be held in the DoubleTree Amphitheater: a Reading Musical Foundation Guitar Workshop hosted by Dave Kline and Arlen Roth Saturday at 4:30 p.m., and "Meet the Artists," hosted by Michael Cloeren on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
"It's going to be a great five days of blues music," said John Ernesto, Reading Blues Fest artistic director. "The outstanding lineup of artists will showcase the various musical styles of the blues during their respective performances."
For information on this concert and for a complete schedule, ticket purchase and artist bios, visit www.readingbluesfest.com
