Winthrop Blues Festival Review
Nestled in the Methow Valley, the foothills of the North Cascades mountain range, lies the town of Winthrop, Washington.
Themed entirely out of something from the Old West, Winthrop is also home to the annual Winthrop Blues Festival. A world-class 3-day rhythm and blues music festival attracting regional and national talent – for the past 23 straight years – this is clearly a jewel of an event.
The longest running blues festival in the state of Washington the Winthrop Blues Festival drew top acts, Little Feat, Buckwheat Zydaco, NW legend Curtis Salgado, Too Slim and the Taildraggers, and some definite surprises – a full 12-act line-up of quality bands in 2010.
The Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival treats it’s guests to plenty of on-site camping, food and craft vendors, comfy grass to enjoy the shows, a beer garden, and the Methow River to cool your soul anytime during the sun-drenched weekend.
The first night of the festival, Friday night, live music can be found in the Blues Ranch Beer Garden. (Make sure you bring your ID!) Music usually starts around 7pm and goes until 2am.
Saturday and Sunday music starts at 11:00AM. A full day of sun, music and good times. Smiles were in no short supply from both concert goers and the bands themselves. With live music and the beer garden flowing until 2:00am one would definitely have their fill of quality entertainment for 15 hours… both days.
Whether you travel the North Cascades Highway (20) from the west, or from the east out Hwy. 97 then up Hwy. 20, the drive to Winthrop is absolutely breathtaking. The value and pricing of Winthrop Rythym & Blues Festival tickets and camping for 3-days is hard to beat. 2010 was an exceptional year as have many that we’ve attended – and sure to return again in 2011, and beyond.
Winthrop Blues Festival Official Website: http://www.winthropbluesfestival.com/
Highlights from the 2010 Winthrop Blues Festival:
Spicy & Doug MacLeod
Doug MacLeod was a pure treat both Saturday and Sunday mornings. An acoustic bluesman who learned from the best. His songs were essentially witty stories, pieces of his life, and he told them with humor and a contagious smile that spread throughout the crowd.
Spicy & Paul Thorn
Paul Thorn and his Saturday afternoon stint was a feel-good surprise like no other. Adding humor to vintage Mississippi roots, a favorite story and song of the day: Joni the Jehovah’s Witness Stripper.
Spicy & Curtis Salgado
Following the soulful and amazing Curtis Salgado (see our interview with renowned Curtis HERE), Buckwheat Zydeco laid down some deep rooted blues.
Little Feat
Legendary band Little Feat headlined a Saturday diet of outstanding music concluding after midnight.
Left: Spicy, Too Slim & wife Middle: Polly O’Keary & band Right: Too Slim
Two Slim and the Taildraggers, featuring the amazing Polly O’Keary on bass (whom I’ve seen perform with her own band in the past), is always a treat. Amazing Rockabilly with an upbeat pace, catchy riffs and addicting stage presence. Fortunately they played both the first and last nights and the audience was still begging for more.
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