PORT TOWNSEND –The word “festival” has diverse use, and can apply to anything from a series of acts in a municipal park to a group of half a million strong.
But two recent local gatherings, last week’s Jazz Port Townsend and this week’s Port Town send Acoustic Blues Festival, redefine the idea.
The Blues Festival is taking place at Fort Worden State Park.
“I don’t think there is anything like this anywhere else, where there is a combination of workshops, large concerts and club shows,” said Centrum Executive Director John MacElwee.
“This is unique.”
Workshops held first
The weeklong event begins with a series of workshops, where participants learn the tricks of the trade from the masters before opening to the public.
For the Blues Festival, the initial public event begins at 7:30 tonight with a dance/concert to take place at Littlefield Green just outside of McCurdy Pavilion.
Friday night’s headliner performance features David Bromberg, a guitar wizard who recorded with Bob Dylan and George Harrison before establishing a long career as an acoustic blues master.
“David Bromberg is perfect for us,” MacElwee said.
“He is recognizable and draws a lot of people in, and exposes them to the artists they haven’t heard of.”
Multiple venues this weekend
Like the Jazz Festival, the Blues People will take over the clubs this weekend, providing fans and participants to hop between seven different venues for a $25 charge that covers admission to all.
Those who attend all or part of both events will notice some differences.
The jazz events were precise and polite, with audiences listening quietly and attentively.
Jazz, which is known as an improvisational form, can operate within strict boundaries.
Blues is rowdier and less structured, and more of a participatory sport.
For instance, on Tuesday dozens of participants gathered on a porch and whipped through ragged versions of standards like “Come Into My Kitchen.”
The rules of admission were also different.
The Jazz Festival had an academic flavor, where those who wanted to learn from these particular masters.
This week, anyone could join who could pay the freight (although for a starving musician having to fork out $600 plus room and board to come out and play could give them the blues).
“I love coming to these gatherings,” said singer Lauren Sheehan, walking across the lawn carrying a guitar and a mandolin.
“It’s real immersion, I come here for a week and I’m inspired by the old sounds, and the new sounds.”
For more information go to http://www.centrum.org/blues.
Tickets are available by calling 800-746-1982
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
