The Fred Maytag Bowl
Maytag Park
Newton, Iowa
All photos by Phillip Smith; Sep 03, 2017
I don't think I could have picked a better place to spend the day before Labor Day, than being immersed in the blues at Maytag Park in Newton, Iowa. This was my first visit to the Bowlful of Blues Festival, and I hope to attend many more times in the future. Unfortunately, I missed the opening act, Juliana and a Soul Purpose, but I did arrive just in time to catch the spectacular ninety minute set from The Norman Jackson Band in its entirety. Having just reviewed his recent album, It's the Drummers Fault, I was most excited to see this band from Springfield, Missouri perform live. (click here to check out that review).
Keeping the momentum going between the main acts, Iowa Blues Hall of Fame member, Rob Lumbard entertained the audience on acoustic guitar with a treasure-trove of songs.
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers took the stage for a captivating performance, bringing a small taste of Mardi Gras to the middle of Iowa. Following them, the great Mato Nanji and Indigenous graced the stage and gobsmacked me with his guitar prowess. (click here to check out my 2013 review for Otis Taylor's My World is Gone album, which features Mato Nanji). Closing out the evening, was New York's Jane Lee Hooker, who played an amazing set of blues-rock. They were definitely a force to be reckoned with.
Keeping the momentum going between the main acts, Iowa Blues Hall of Fame member, Rob Lumbard entertained the audience on acoustic guitar with a treasure-trove of songs.
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers took the stage for a captivating performance, bringing a small taste of Mardi Gras to the middle of Iowa. Following them, the great Mato Nanji and Indigenous graced the stage and gobsmacked me with his guitar prowess. (click here to check out my 2013 review for Otis Taylor's My World is Gone album, which features Mato Nanji). Closing out the evening, was New York's Jane Lee Hooker, who played an amazing set of blues-rock. They were definitely a force to be reckoned with.
The Norman Jackson Band
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| Norman Jackson |
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| Norman Jackson, Danny Williams, and Rick Shortt |
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| Norman Jackson |
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| Rick Shortt |
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| Norman Jackson |
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| Danny Williams |
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| Norman Jackson and Rick Shortt |
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| Rick Shortt |
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| Norman Jackson, Rick Shortt, and Danny Williams |
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| Norman Jackson |
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| Rick Shortt |
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| Norman Jackson and Rick Shortt |
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| Rick Shortt |
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| Rick Shortt |
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| Norman Jackson and Rick Shortt |
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| Norman Jackson, Ron Brown, and Rick Shortt |
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| Ron Brown, Norman Jackson, Rick Shortt, and Danny Williams |
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| Ron Brown |
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| Ron Brown and Rick Shortt |
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| Norman Jackson |
Rob Lumbard
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| Rob Lumbard |
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| Rob Lumbard |
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| Rob Lumbard |
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers
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| Paul LaFleur and Dee Fleming |
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| Paul LaFleur , Dee Fleming and Dwayne Dopsie |
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| Dwayne Dopsie |
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| Dwayne Dopsie |
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| Dwayne Dopsie |
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| Dwayne Dopsie |
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| Paul LaFleur and Dwayne Dopsie |
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| Dee Fleming |
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| Dwayne Dopsie, Dion Pierre, and Damon Sonnier |
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| Michael Doherty |
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| Michael Doherty |
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| Damon Sonnier |
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| Dee Fleming |
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| Dwayne Dopsie |
Mato Nanji and Indigenious
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| Mato Nanji |
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| Douglas Platero |
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| Bronson Begay |
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| Mato Nanji |
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| Mato Nanji |
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| Douglas Platero |
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| Mato Nanji |
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| Mato Nanji |
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| Mato Nanji |
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| Mato Nanji |
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| Mato Nanji |
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| Mato Nanji |
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| Mato Nanji |
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| Douglas Platero |
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| Bronson Begay |
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| Mato Nanji and Douglas Platero |
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| Mato Nanji |
Jane Lee Hooker
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| Dana “Danger” Athens |
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| Tracy Hightop |
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| Dana “Danger” Athens |
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| Tina "T-Bone" Gorin |
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| Tracy Hightop |
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| Melissa "Cool Whip" Houston |
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| Hail Mary Z, Dana “Danger” Athens, and Tracy Hightop |
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| Dana “Danger” Athens, Melissa "Cool Whip" Houston and Tracy Hightop |
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| Jane Lee Hooker |
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| Dana “Danger” Athens and Tracy Hightop |
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| Tina "T-Bone" Gorin and Dana “Danger” Athens |
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| Tina "T-Bone Gorin |
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| Melissa "Cool Whip" Houston |
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| Tracy Hightop |
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| Tracy Hightop and Hail Mary Z |
