Sunday, October 10, 2010

The Happy BLUES ....


























Last weekend I went to Columbia for a FREE 2-day Blues Festival.

It was the 16th annual Saturday event but this was the first one with a Friday afternoon opening day.

Alexis P. Suter is a big woman with a big versatile voice - and she and her band dazzled the crowd.

Her booming contralto belted out blues rockers, spirituals and soothing ballads.

When you entered each day, your hand was stamped WOMP, initials for the promoters name Word Of Mouth Productions. They have a right to be proud!

The festival site is right next to Columbia's Five Points. Local musicians played for their fans and then welcomed regional and national acts to the stage.

Families spread blankets and set up chairs in Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park.

But this was a musical event and dancers popped up, unable to sit still, to move to the music.

The Holmes Brothers were the big act that highlighted the show.

Sherman Holmes plays bass, his brother Wendell on guitar and piano and brother-in-spirit Popsy Dixson on drums.


Their trademark 3-part harmony covered a blend of blues, gospel,soul, R&B, rock 'n roll and country.

The crowd seemed to enjoy the two days so I look forward to the expanded 17th annual show next year.

(Click - twice - on photo for more details. The link will let you hear some of the music.

I'm learning more on how to post these things! Thanks for stopping by.)

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posted by chucker @ 10:02 AM 3 Comments

Monday, September 20, 2010

The Pipes They Are A-Calling....

Yes. The 39th annual Scottish Games at Boone Hall.

Well, technically it's called the "Charleston Scottish Games & Highland Gathering."

But it's the place where each year you can get some haggis (the "other" other white meat?) and a Scottish Egg.

In Glasgow it's just called Egg.

My cousin Leslie in Camden is a ROSS so she has a clan table set up each year and invites me to come share some heritage.


Naturally I take my camera with me and caught some hammer-throwing action this year.

When you fling a boomerang, it comes flying back to you.

These do not!

In the Caber Toss I noticed again that it takes four strong people to lug the 20-foot long telephone pole to the contestant.

Then the burly fellow hoists it up so the small end rests in his palms and he staggers forward to gain momentum and gives it a mighty heave.

To win this contest the pole has to land on the bigger end, bounce forward and topple down so the small end points away from the thrower.

Landing at the "12 O'Clock" position is the ideal and one succeeded in doing that Saturday.

I had asked my cousin if I could bring lunch? I said I could stop at Burger King.

She answered she would have a lunch spread ready - and it was great - and added "doing it my way" would not be cool this year.

The featured group this year was Clan Donald. Mc and Mac means "son of."



(Click on the photos for more detail. Taken with my Canon S90) Thanks.

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posted by chucker @ 12:59 PM 0 Comments