CSULB gets the blues

Several thousand blues fans flocked to Cal State Long Beach's Athlet ic Field this weekend for the 15th annual Long Beach Blues Festival.

The crowd enjoyed sunshine, beer and soul food as performers lit up the stage with a thick mix of down-home and rocking blues. Saturday's crowd was wowed by the wicked licks of blues- guitar master Jeff Healey, 28. The blind guitarist has been playing since he was 3.

Healey often plays sitting down with the guitar on his lap and hands draped over the neck of his guitar, but on Saturday he stood up. With much enthusiasm , Healey jumped up and down for his encore, the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," picking wildly and playing with his feet.

Blues Hall of Fame member Buddy Guy stole Sunday's show, playing the crowd as well as he plays the blues. The blues veteran jammed with Healey, then left the stage during the finale to take his long-distance guitar jam into the crowd.

University Police made eight arrests and issued citations for illegal vending of unlicensed T-shirts, Lt. Ron Perron said, but t here were no other incidents reported.