*Lawndale – The 6th Annual Lawndale Blues Festival and Charity Car Show was held on Saturday, September 15th, from 11:00am-5PM in Jane Addams Park on Firmona and Marine Avenue.
You were in the right place at the right time, if you were a fan of the blues, experiencing the blues, or had a need to sing the blues during this years’ addition of the Blues Festival.
The growing, awesome City sponsored events theme “Rockin’ Blues in Lawndale” didn’t offset your monthly budget, the festival was absolutely FREE!!!
The 2018 line-up consisted of Brooks Project featuring Gregg Wright, Awesome Blue, Lawndale Blues Boys, Electric Caravan and Moondogg.
Due to another engagement, I was only able to check out the opening act. Lucky for me and the festival attendees, Brooks Project Featuring Gregg Wright were making a return engagement after a fantastic closing act performance at last years show.
Rosie Lee Brooks and Brooks Project honored and remembered the early blues pioneers who laid down the foundation for others to follow. The band wasted no time in getting down with some good ole fashion down home blues. They opened their set with “Mother Nature” by Koko Taylor, followed by “Spoonful,” “Ask Me No Question,” by Albert King and “Smokin’ Gun,” by Robert Cray.
Phenomenal guitarist Gregg Wright came front and center to perform “Cry Myself a River,” and “Born Under a Bad Sign.” Gregg Wright’s fiery guitar licks were flaring throughout their set.
The band continued their crowd pleasing set with “I’ll Sing the Blues for You,” “I Just Wanna Make Love to You,” by Etta James with a few choruses of “Born to be Wild,” to close out their hour long set.
A fabulous showcase of classic cars from the 1920’s-1970’s added to everyone’s enjoyment of the festival. Each year the Lawndale Blues Festival is a great event to enjoy some good food, hear some great music with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and others from the greater Southern California blues community in a relaxing environment.
Ricky Richardson is a Southern California based writer, music reviewer and photographer. Contact him via: [email protected]
