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1999 Hudson Valley Blues Festival Held at Opus 40, Saugerties, NY Sunday, June 6, 1999 Story by Kevin Robinson Photos by Steve Stiert

On Sunday June 6th, the hills around Opus 40 in Saugerties, NY were alive with the sound of music. Blues music, to be perfectly specific. It was the Annual Hudson Valley Blues Festival, and the weather, the location, and the dynamite line-up of bands made for as nice a day in the great outdoors as one could hope to find.

The festival honcho was Anders Thueson, president of the Hudson Valley Blues Society, and the on-stage host was Big Joe Fitz from WDST radio in Woodstock.

Anders Thueson, HV Blues Festival organizer and Hudson Valley Blues Society President.

Joe Fitzpatrick, host of WDST's Blues Break, introduces the acts.

A local folk/blues/comedy band named "Buffy, Fluffy, and Scruffy" kicked off the show with a light-hearted number called Enough, and wrapped up their eclectic set with the longest version of Shortin' Bread I've ever heard. more photos

more photos The second act was The Dallas Fisher Band. Up-and coming female blues singer, Dallas Fisher, was joined on stage by something of a Hudson Valley all-star band with Chris Vitarello on guitar, Buddy Allen on sax, Eric Perez on drums, and Doug Abramson on bass. Hiding offstage behind the PA speakers was yours truly on harps. The set list was a nearly-all original program of songs from her debut CD (Recently recorded at Lost River Studios in Wingdale, NY) called Love Waits, and she closed her set (with Sly Geralds guesting on bass) with a soulful rendition of People Get Ready. Mid-way through the set, Fisher invited 12-year-old blues guitar picker, Little Ricky Harnden up to do a number with the band. His mom told me afterwards that up 'till a year ago, Ricky was taking piano lessons. Who says the blues isn't a calling?

more photos The next band to take the stage was the Lonnie Shields Band. Lonnie Shields is an energetic blues singer/guitarist and JSP recording artist, and he carried tunes from his CDs Blues is on Fire, Portrait, and Tired of Waiting (Rooster Records) right up the grassy Opus 40 hillside and into the enthusiastic crowd. Hamming, jamming, and often spinning like a top as he danced back down to the stage, Shields is a natural showman, and the grateful crowd responded appropriately. Shields, by the way, hails from West Helena, Arkansas, home of another blues great, Sonny Boy Williamson.

more photos The featured closing act was Mighty Sam McClain. Along with a full compliment of horns, McClain (vocals) and clan powered through a set of blues, some from McClain's AudioQuest CD Journey. McClain has been around awhile. Well, up and down awhile might be more like it. The story goes that Mighty Sam's valleys included stretches of homelessness and dumpster diving, but the '90's have seen McClain come back strong, and he and his band closed the Opus 40 show with a powerful testimonial to starting over.