Hundreds boogie at Maytag Park for 25th annual Bowlful of Blues

From tales of ex-lovers to stories about a hard days work, many argue that blues is the most raw form of music in history.

Some say it’s their raison d’etre. Others just like the smooth sound of the style.

But many musicians and music-lovers alike know that blues ain’t just about the blues — it’s about so much more.

“The blues is just good music,” longtime blues lover, Jo Nichols said. “We couldn’t get any reception on a rental car. So we stopped at a truck stop and got the only blues cassette they had — Saffire — The Uppity Blues Women. That got us across the desert. We knew all the words by the time we got across.”

Sunday, hundreds of people filled the Fred Maytag Bowl at Maytag Park to rock out to some smooth jams, enjoy good food and share their love for the blues at the 25th annual Bowlful of Blues.

“I think the fact that we had great weather, and it being the 25th year just naturally converged to make this one probably one of the largest crowds that we have had,” South Skunk Blues Society president and event organizer Elaine Mattingly said. “A lot of people very worked hard through 25 years to keep the message out there that this is a destination festival.”

Featuring six bands with their own unique style, the all-day concert allowed patrons to enjoy all different shades of the blues. As the blues influenced a majority of today’s popular genres of music from R&B to country to rock-and-roll, the event organizers said Sunday’s concert featured a little something for everyone.

“Blues music is highly influential. We want to make sure we honor that and remember where it came from,” Mattingly said. “I wouldn’t say what you are hearing (at the concert) is pure blues. That is hard to pin down. Anyone who plays music will tell you they hate to be put in a category. The music is just so rich.”

Sunday’s concert opened with a smooth performance by Juliana and A Soul Purpose. The music-filled evening continued with soulful renditions from the Norman Jackson Band, a high-energy showcase by Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, deep-rooted jams from Indigenous and sweet tunes performed by Rob Lumbard. The evening closed out with a bang with the rockin’ Jane Lee Hooker.

“Juliana played with some heavy hitter, Iowa blues players to kick off the festival. She carried that blues soul torch at a young 20 year old,” Mattingly said. “She lives and breaths that music, like many people who are charmed by it.”

Despite the star-studded line-up, many of the concert-goers said Sunday’s event was not just about enjoying good music. Parents played catch with their kids. Longtime friends caught up with each other on a picnic blanket. Couples danced in front of the stage.

On the 25th year of the all-day concert series, many patrons said the annual event was the perfect place to create lifelong memories.

“I liked hugging the skunk (South Skunk Blues’ mascot),” said 9-year-old blues lover, Jaedyn Lynch. “We went out there and danced, and he came out and danced with us.”

Several of the attendees said they are excited to see what the concert series will offer next year. They said no matter what the line-up may be, they are just excited to enjoy another full-day of blues and share their love for the classic music genre with the community and future generations.

“My kids need to appreciate the real music so hopefully one day they will respect what good music really is,” Jaedyn’s mother, Amanda said. “I’m looking forward to someday, they are going to hear a song and they are going to say they heard it at a blues festival. That will be amazing.”

The South Skunk Blues Society is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Blues music around the area. For more information about the group, visit southskunkblues.org, call 641-840-0972 or find South Skunk Blues on Facebook.

Contact Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@newtondailynews.com.