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Blues 2001 Benefit/Festival The
Nevele Grande Resort, Ellenville, N.Y.
This was my first year at this fest, and i hope to be able to go every year. Our new friend, Mike Moss, is the organizer and producer of this show - and it's a weekend you won't soon forget. Three days of blues, almost around-the-clock. You can stay at the hotel where it's held, you can camp, or you can find a hotel nearby. The best part about this festival, besides the music and fun, is that it's held at a resort and hotel - the party comes inside if it rains. There is a weekend package which includes a whole bunch of stuff besides admission to all of the shows. And there's a sitter service and kid day camp thing, so bring the family.
you can't see it, but the little guy is waving his little flag This year's festival turned into a benefit festival, with a lot of the proceeds going into a fund for the victims of the world trade center tragedy. It was a much-needed getaway and an opportunity to donate to a worthy cause. There were moments of silence, lighting of candles, and a feeling that a weekend full of great blues, giving what we could to the cause, and hanging out with a bunch of really cool people was just the right medicine at just the right time. The benefit raised over $2500.
The entire festival has an atmosphere of "laid back and cool". You can hang out on the slope, sit on one of the hay bales placed around the field, hang out at a table under a tree, or just keep dancing and forget about the sitting part. The party began on Friday evening at 4:30 and went on til 4:30 a.m. Even Table 5 had to work at that one after the trip and all. and we gave it our best shot. There are a bunch of bars with stuff happening - bands, open mic and the bars themselves are neat. this is laid back
The next day is a full day - starting before noon, with a big, old-fashioned barbecue, and ending outside around 6:30, and then back into the nightclubs you go, and you go til around 2. And this is impressive - you are actually encouraged to bring your blanket, chair and cooler - that's right, cooler. I'm tired of going to festivals that don't allow you to bring a drink or food into their festivals because they sell food and refreshments. It's a pain going back to your car to do that, and a bigger pain when you have to pay $2.75 for a bottle of water at these other festivals every time you get thirsty on a hot day. Sunday starts off with a Gospel Brunch, more blues and open mic.
Be there next year, you'll have a great time. Here's
their website If you have a blues page, please Join the Blues webring Our other little field trips
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