Long live the Blues

Although the beautifully sunny weather and music-filled atmosphere made it hard to think blue, Cal State Long Beach successfully hosted the 21st Annual Long Beach Blues Festival this weekend.

Caroline Limuti/Daily Forty-Niner

Blues fans crowd Lower Campus athletic fields for 21st annual Blues Festival.

The variety of the festival's line-up brought together a mixed crowd, ranging from country lovers to rockers and, of course, the blues' fan, and although the festival lasted for three days, even that was too short for some.

"I have come for the past twenty-one years and it's not all blues anymore" said Long Beach resident Karen Butler, echoing the concerns of some of the more traditional blues' fans.

Lois Wright, above, dances to the music at her fourth Blues Festival. Bo Diddley, right, gives a cool performance.

Whatever genre it was from however, in no way was the festival's music the cause of anyone's blues.

Unexpectedly, the hit of Saturday's line-up was not Bo Diddley. Though he too did a great job, the undisputable king of the show was George Thorogood.

"Thorogood was hot. People were on their feet and dancing, even in the back," said Warren a country music fan from Santa Ana.

Jason Steinberg/Daily Forty-Niner

Bobby Womack grooves to his music.

Sunday's lineup featured Melvin Taylor and Carl Weathersby, as well as an audience dressed in hats and Marti Gras beads.

From the back of the crowd all that was visible on the stage was a red guitar on one side and a green one on the other, with a sea of people in between.

Though all of Sunday's performances were hot, Etta James, Sunday's headliner, brought down the house.

The festival was not just music, however ­ it had a little of everything.

The grass was hidden beneath blankets or tents and a barrage of booths with food, clothes and art covered the usually empty north athletic field.

Booths featured specialty southern cooking such as Louisiana catfish, lemonade, barbequed sweet corn and jambalaya, a New Orleans favorite.

The more traditional festival fare was also available ó teriyaki chicken, pretzels, Mexican grill, pastrami, pizza, Philly cheese steaks. And, of course, margaritas.

Editor's Note: This story was re-printed on Tuesday September 12, 2000