Suttons Bay Blues Festival

July 19, 2009

Damn Right
Suttons Bay
Got the Blues...

By Rick Coates 7/20/09

For years the Suttons Bay Jazz Festival has been a staple the last weekend
in July in this quaint Leelanau Peninsula village. But after last year’s
event, organizers announced they were heading in a different direction
with a smaller indoor version of the festival to take place in Traverse
City. That left Suttons Bay and the Leelanau Peninsula with an open
weekend to promote.
“We felt we needed to do something music-oriented because people had come
to expect music on that weekend,” said Sally Guzowski, executive director
of the Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. “But out of respect for
Piper and Harry Goldson (founders of the Suttons Bay Jazz Festival) we
didn’t want to duplicate what they had done. So we came up with the idea
of a blues festival, because the music has a big following and we thought
we might be able to draw a wider range of people.”
So far, advance tickets have been brisk and Guzowski attributes that to
their two headliners that are known internationally; blues guitar great
Sonny Landreth and harmonica/didgeridoo master Harper. Both have
followings and fans who drive from venue to venue to see their shows.
“It is amazing, but we have sold tickets to people all over the country,”
said Guzowski. “We even have four people flying in from England as they
follow Sonny Landreth all over.”

THUMBS UP
For blues aficionado Tim McLennan of Benzie County, he can’t wait.
“I bought my tickets the day they went on sale,” said McLennan. “We used
to have all sorts of great blues festivals and shows up here and they have
disappeared. I used to go and see all of the shows at Timber Ridge ski
lodge (at the base of the Leelanau Peninsula). Then the Turtle Creek
Casino put on a great three-day festival for about five years and it was
packed and then they dropped it. So this is awesome, and they are off to a
good start with Landreth and Harper on the bill. I hope that in the future
they will seek out some of the greats from Chicago and Memphis -- get some
of the legends up here.”
Guzowski says they are taking it one step at a time. “We are definitely
going to make this an annual event. We just want to get through this year
and then we will work to expand for next year.”
She also says the day is more than just music.
“It is in the same marina park location as the Jazzfest was. We have lots
of wine from the Leelanau Peninsula and H. Cox and Sons is coordinating
the beer. Plus we have several restaurants from the Leelanau Peninsula. We
also invited House of Doggs from Traverse City, something about their food
just seems like a must for a blues festival,” said Guzowski. “We are going
to start the day with a car parade and show at 11 a.m. through downtown
and the music will start at noon.”
The musical lineup includes Pete “Big Dog” Fetters, Sneaky Pete, and The
Regular Boys. Fetters will return with an electric set in the late
afternoon and will be followed by Harper with Sonny Landreth closing out
the festival, taking to the stage around 7:30 pm.
 
Sonny Landreth
Born in the South, guitarist Sonny Landreth has built a worldwide
following, but is only a household name with biggest of blues aficionados
along with some legendary musicians.
“I am a big fan,” said guitar great Eric Clapton. “Sonny is technically
the most advance guitarist on the planet.”
Clapton put his guitar where his mouth is and played on two tracks on
Landreth’s current CD, “From The Reach.” Joining Clapton on the CD is Mark
Knopfler (Dire Straits), Robben Ford, Vince Gill, Dr. John and Jimmy
Buffett.
Jimmy Buffett?
“Sonny has been with me as a member of my Coral Reefer Band since 2002,”
said Buffet. “He is not a full-time member but when our tours don’t
conflict he joins me on stage. He is among the best guitarists ever and it
was an honor to perform on his latest CD with Dr. John.”
The song is “Howlin’ Moon,” and Landreth didn’t even consider Buffet at
first.
“I had written that song some years ago and always had Dr. John in mind
for it,” said Landreth. “Jimmy joining us was just an added bonus and his
vocals work perfect for the song.”
So why did Landreth decide to bring in several special guests for his
ninth studio release?
“I had been thinking about this concept for awhile. I always wanted to
make an entire album that would feature my favorite guitarists and
musicians,” said Landreth. “Since I had become friends with all of them
over the years I was very pleased they all wanted to do it.”
The album climbed to number one of the Billboard Blues Charts. Landreth is
classified as blues but most critics put him in the
“not-sure-what-category-to-put-him-in category, so let’s put him blues.”
“I have many influences from blues, jazz, rock, Cajun and zydeco,” said
Landreth.
What Landreth is best known for is his unique guitar techniques. He
developed a slide guitar technique where he frets notes while playing
behind the slide. With the slide on his little finger, Landreth uses his
other fingers to fret behind the slide and his unique right-hand technique
includes tapping, slapping, and picking strings, using all of the fingers
on his right hand.
 
Harper
Blind Pig recording artist Harper has become an annual favorite in
Northern Michigan. Since his first appearance here in 1995 he has annually
trekked north playing Blissfest, the Alpena Blues Festival, and was the
closing night act at the Traverse City Film Festival a couple years back.
Known for his blues harp playing and sultry, smooth vocals, Harper is now
a master of the didgeridoo, an instrument native to the Aborigines of his
former homeland of Australia (he moved to Michigan a few years ago).
“It is a sound I grew up with, so it seemed natural to add it to my
songwriting, particularly when the lyrics related to the plight of the
Aborigines in Australia,” said Harper.  “When I added the didgeridoo to
the more traditional blues instruments, it worked. The deep woody
qualities and its haunting drone seemed to enhance the emotional quality
of my stories. The didgeridoo is a spiritual and healing instrument, and
it seemed blues music accepted it with open arms.”
Harper is in the midst of a world tour and is appearing at more than 30
major festivals, even headlining a few of them. But he is happy to return
to Northern Michigan.
“Northern Michigan has always been good to me so we can’t wait to get up
north again to perform,” said Harper. “After I am done with this tour I
will go into the studio and release a new album next spring.”
 
The Suttons Bay Blues Festival takes place Saturday July 25. To purchase
tickets check out leelanauchamber.com or call
(231) 271-9895.