Blues Festival at Wasaga Beach and Its Major Highlights
Blues originated in African-American communities in the "Deep South" of the United States around the end of the 19th century. The genre developed from roots in traditional African music, combined with elements of European-American folk music.
Blues musical styles, forms, melodies, and the blues scale have influenced many other genres of music, such as rock and roll, jazz, and popular music. Prominent jazz, folk or rock performers, such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and Bob Dylan have performed significant blues recordings. Blues in many ways, is a precursor to modern musical genres like hip hop. It is one of the few genres that have stood the test of time, and the crowds at blues festivals around the world attest to the fact.
Wasaga Beach has always been a home for blues artists, and the townspeople and visitors from near and far have always participated with great enthusiasm in these events. In 2016, the town is organising its biggest blues festival yet, the Wasaga Beach Blues on 17th and 18th September.
Last year, the fifth iteration of the festival honoured the great BB King. There was even a programme to introduce schoolchildren to the blues, which was well received. Festivities started several days early with Tributes to Elvis concerts, street shuffles, and radio shows.
The event saw performances by numerous bands, from international to local. All Night Mule, The Blues Bros, The Lisa Hutchinson Band, The Groove Project, The Mackenzie Blues Band, Tommy Fyfe and the Whiskey River Blues Band, Tamica Herod, The Oh Chays, The Sensations, and Jake Chisholm. This year is expected to draw an ever longer roster.
The festival’s organizers depend on their tireless team of volunteers, called the Blues Crew. Volunteer registration for the 2016 event is already underway, and this gives blues enthusiasts a great opportunity to enjoy great music and enjoy a beach holiday at the world’s longest freshwater beach. Clean, comfortable and affordable accommodation is readily available in Wasaga Beach’s many cottage inns. The venue is in the heart of town, no more than a few minutes’ walk. The beautiful properties are great places to relax and enjoy, and the beach is right across the road as well.
Every year more and more artists of Blues genre come to the Wasaga beach blues festival and add a new edition to their role in Blues music history.