Monday, September 4, 2017

25th Annual Bowlful of Blues - Sep. 3, 2017


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.



The Norman Jackson Band


Norman Jackson

Norman Jackson, Danny Williams,
and Rick Shortt

Norman Jackson

Rick Shortt

Norman Jackson

Danny Williams

Norman Jackson and Rick Shortt

Rick Shortt

Norman Jackson, Rick Shortt, and
Danny Williams

Norman Jackson

Rick Shortt

Norman Jackson and Rick Shortt

Rick Shortt

Rick Shortt

Norman Jackson and Rick Shortt

Norman Jackson, Ron Brown, and
Rick Shortt

Ron Brown, Norman Jackson, Rick Shortt, and
Danny Williams

Ron Brown

Ron Brown and Rick Shortt

Norman Jackson

   

Rob Lumbard


Rob Lumbard

Rob Lumbard

Rob Lumbard


Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers


Paul LaFleur and Dee Fleming

Paul LaFleur , Dee Fleming
and Dwayne Dopsie

Dwayne Dopsie

Dwayne Dopsie

Dwayne Dopsie

Dwayne Dopsie

Paul LaFleur and Dwayne Dopsie

Dee Fleming

Dwayne Dopsie, Dion Pierre, and Damon Sonnier

Michael Doherty

Michael Doherty

Damon Sonnier

Dee Fleming

Dwayne Dopsie



Mato Nanji and Indigenious

Mato Nanji



Douglas Platero

Bronson Begay


Mato Nanji

Mato Nanji


Douglas Platero

Mato Nanji

Mato Nanji

Mato Nanji

Mato Nanji

Mato Nanji

Mato Nanji

Mato Nanji

Douglas Platero

Bronson Begay

Mato Nanji and Douglas Platero

Mato Nanji



Jane Lee Hooker


Dana “Danger” Athens

Tracy Hightop

Dana “Danger” Athens

Tina "T-Bone" Gorin

Tracy Hightop

Melissa "Cool Whip" Houston

Hail Mary Z,  Dana “Danger” Athens, and
Tracy Hightop

Dana “Danger” Athens, Melissa "Cool Whip" Houston
and Tracy Hightop

Jane Lee Hooker

Dana “Danger” Athens and Tracy Hightop

Tina "T-Bone" Gorin and Dana “Danger” Athens

Tina "T-Bone Gorin

Melissa "Cool Whip" Houston

Tracy Hightop

Tracy Hightop and Hail Mary Z