|
diversions
Chili
cook-off returns with good food, bands
By Miguel Lopez
Summer On-line Forty-Niner
For the last three
years the Long Beach Chili Cook-Off overtook the alias Beach
Fest, but for its 21st anniversary the festival is going back
to its original name and original format.
"People still
refer to it as 'Chili Cook-Off' not the Beach Fest so we decided
to go back to the cook-off name. Its not just a blues and
reggae festival, it's a chili cook-off," said event manager
Brent Walla.
The June 8 and
9 festival is going to be held at the Long Beach Marina Green
in Shoreline Village. The event will include performances
by rock, reggae, acid jazz and blues bands. Accompanying the
live music will be over 50 display booths of food and crafts
and a new competition, a buffalo wing contest. Annual favorites,
including the Salsa Challenge and Chili Contest return again
this year.
"World class
events need world class talents and that brings out the people,"
said Walla. This year the Chili Cook-Off has brought world
class bands ranging from rock band Soul Asylum to blues band
Booker T & the MG's.
Saturday's events
will start at 1 p.m. and end 10 p.m. Mama's Boys will be the
first band to take the Blues stage at 1:30 p.m. followed by
2000 LBS of Blues, Eric Sardinas, and The W. C. Handy All-stars
featuring Billy Boy Arnold, Maria Muldaur and Duke Robillard.
Booker T and the MG's will headline the blues stage.
The Rock stage
on Saturday opens with Five Foot Tuesday followed by The Kelly
Bowlin Band, The Mother Hips, Soul Asylum and headliner Bob
Mound, formerly of Husker Dü and Sugar. The Salsa Challenge
and the Buffalo Wing Contest, both take place Saturday.
Sunday's festivities
begin at noon and end at 9 p.m. Opening the Acid Jazz stage
will be the Groove Syndicate, Slapback, Particle, Robert Walters
20th Congress and closing act K.D.T.U. At the Reggae stage
on Sunday the lineup includes Four20, Nobody Cares, Common
Sense, Thee Itals, Don Carlos of Black Ihara with special
guests the Reggae Angels and headliner Michael Franti &
Spearhead.
The main event
of the festival, the Chili Challenge, also takes place on
Sunday. The contest will have several teams competing for
prizes in different categories such as Hottest Chile, Best
Chili and the Best Showmanship award. The chili contest is
open to all people with culinary talents ranging from novice
to professional.
Walla said he expects
over 40,000 people to attend the two-day music and food festival.
Tickets and general information about the Long Beach Chili
Cook - Off are available at www.lbcco.com.
|
