Located in scenic Winter Park Colorado, Blues From The Top has grown to a premier event in the summer Blues Rock festival circuit for both fans and artists alike. It has been a spawning ground for young and up and coming blues artists since its inception in 2003. Before his Red Rocks debut in 2014, Joe Bonamassa played here on two occasions.
Samantha Fish played her first music festival and Danielle Nichole played her early post Trampled Under Foot work in this beautiful mountain setting within eyesight of the continental divide. The festival continues to promote young artists and feature some of the genre’s legends in its lineup. This year’s 22nd iteration was no different with a lineup that included 15-year-old Taj Farrant and 25-year-old Ally Venable along with legends like 80-year-old Charlie Musselwhite, Tommy Castro, and Woodstock alums Canned Heat.
How did this little Colorado mountain town become a Blues Mecca? It was all the vision of one passionate soul, John Catt. A drywaller by trade, Catt started the Grand County Blues Society in 2002. Under John’s stewardship the society presented and produced multiple shows and festivals, including the annual Blues From The Top festival in Winter Park.
Catt was also responsible for founding the Blue Star Connection in 2007, an amazing nonprofit that provides musical instruments for children with serious illnesses. Blue Star has reached thousands, mostly children, by donating musical instruments and gear to hospitals and mental health programs. He also initiated the Check Out the Music program that applied a public library concept to musical instruments and gear focusing on kids and teens who could not afford to purchase these things outright to further their pursuits.
Our genre and our species lost a great champion in 2017 when Catt passed away at the age of 68.
That year christened the beautiful new permanent stage structure at the park known as the Rendezvous Event Center at Hideaway Park. It also marked this Denver native’s first experience at Blues From The Top. I haven’t missed one since. There was a noticeable somber vibe that year with artists and staff alike following Catt’s passing, especially since he was largely responsible for the beautiful, reimagined venue making its debut. Another feature with Catt’s stamp all over it was ‘The Kids Stage’ supported by Bonamassa’s Keeping The Blues Alive foundation. Talented young artists play between acts on the main stage for 20-to-30-minute sets that are truly inspiring for those wondering where the future of “our music” is going. I’ve seen a 12-year-old girl belt out Koko Taylor and plenty of exceptionally talented guitarists. I’ve also seen a couple of ‘graduates’ play at other Colorado venues advancing their musical journey. Other festival features include a small selection of food trucks, a pair of beverage stations, plenty of arts and crafts booths and real restrooms! Though there are also port-o-pottys to manage the fan volume. There’s a playground for little ones next to the festival entrance and a skate park just outside of the kid’s stage. Blue Star had an impressive collection of autographed guitars for auction and of course a merchandise booth where most artists will hang out after their sets to sign purchases and take pictures with fans. Perhaps my favorite feature is there are stacks of complimentary folding camping chairs available for use. No more having to lug chairs around! Just grab what you need and return after the day’s shows.
Opening night featured an evening set with Eddie 9V followed by Colorado grown legends Big Head Todd and the Monsters. At 9000 feet in elevation, the temperatures drop with the sun and coupled with stormy weather tested to resolve of the blues faithful. It’s not surprising that most remained, through a pair of lighting delays and a brief downpour to witness a taste of what this festival is all about. Still, on the sunny side of 30, Eddie 9V is an artist on the rise with the latest album, 2023’s Capricorn reaching #1 on the Billboard Blues chart. Big Head Todd and the Monsters has a library that dates back over 30 years. Their set featured known favorites “Bittersweet”, “It’s Alright”, and “Broken Hearted Savior”, but it was their well fitted cover of “Brandy” by Looking Glass took us back to the glorious ’70s when blues rock dominated the air waves and would set the old – new vibe for the rest of the festival.
Saturday ushered in the first of two full afternoons of musical bliss. It also served as a reminder that at high altitude you are literally closer to the sun. Although the temperatures may be in the low ’70s sunblock needs to be applied liberally and often. The aforementioned teen Taj Farrant brought his own heat with sizzling guitar work that got the audience in full festival mode despite his 11am start time. In a set featuring mostly covers by legends like Stevie Ray Vaughan, he also got the crowd’s vocals loosened up as we sang along to an impressive instrumental rendition of Prince’s “Purple Rain.” Boston based GA-20 followed bringing their Beantown version of Chicago blues. Named after a vintage amplifier, the modified power trio featuring no bass player kept the groove train going with their mid-century windy city blues sound.
Ally Venable made her Winter Park debut confidently teasing the crowd “This is how we play the blues in Texas.” Venable has every reason to be confident. Charting albums as a teenager, her mentors and collaborators include the likes of Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Her “Tribute to SRV” (Stevie Ray Vaughan), an homage to her native Texan Blues inspiration thrilled the crowd. Yet it was her soulful rendition of 2018’s “Comfort In My Sorrows” that revealed Venable’s full arsenal of vocals and guitar with the promise of great things to come.
Harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite followed. A prominent figure in the 60’s Chicago blues scene, Musselwhite’s associations and history, are books needing writing. The crowd gathered closer to the stage to watch the maestro with his silver case of harmonicas and perfectly suited vocals deliver a terrific set of old school blues.
The kids’ stage was also active this day. Since he certainly qualified from an age perspective, Taj Farrant did a set following Musselwhite’s main stage set. Another talented group of youngsters, Candy Cigarette played earlier and would play again at one of the blues themed after hours shows around town. They’ve been playing blues since 2019 when they were ten years old! Saturday’s party would conclude with three-time Grammy winners, Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals. Harper has been playing guitar since his teen years in the ’80s with a particular interest in slide. Harper and Musselwhite teamed on Harper’s 2013 release Get Up! Harper’s style mixes blues, soul, some reggae, and a little gospel influence in this set with “Hallelujah” and “Amen Omen.” Harper made a special moment for a wedding party in attendance with “Forever” a heart stirring love song dedication to the newlyweds.
Sunday morning woke the nearby lodged faithful bright and early as Eric Gales’ sound check thumped through the still stirring Winter Park morning. There was still time to grab breakfast at one of the quality local dining options within walking distance of the venue. Chicago bluesman Toranzo Cannon opened with all original and often humorous tales of being a blues man like “Shut Up And Play” the title track to his most recent release. When he wasn’t entertaining us with his lyrics, the former CTA bus driver was ripping blues on his City of Chicago flagged guitar. Winner of the 2023 Billboard B.B. King entertainer of the year, Tommy Castro would then take the stage with his Northern California flavored soul and R&B blues. With a discography dating back 30 years Castro has worked with a veritable who’s who of name artists. About halfway through the set Tommy played the title track from his most recent release, Bluesman To Came to Town. Castro then called up Deana Bogart, an accomplished saxophonist, keyboardist, and singer in her own right. Bogart’s talents blended in perfectly as if they were married (lol) closing with Buddy Miles’ cover “Them Changes” featuring Bogart on sax.
I must admit I was cautiously optimistic when I initially saw Canned Heat on the bill. After all Woodstock was over 50 years ago! Like many bands that share a multi-decade history, Canned Heat has had its share of lineup iterations. Only drummer Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra remains from the Woodstock lineup. This grouping led a delightful Sunday afternoon set featuring well-known classics like “Going Up the Country”, “On the Road Again”, and “Let’s Work Together”. Eric Gales first raised my ear hairs with Picture of a Thousand Faces nearly twenty-five years ago. Gales, who plays a right-handed guitar upside down with his left hand (bass E string on the bottom) will immediately conjure images of Hendrix. His guitar style will cement it. Gales is nothing if not animated. He immediately engaged the audience moving closer and closer to the ‘rail’ separating fans from the stage until they were literally inches apart. All the while playing both hypnotizing melodies and blistering solos that tantalized all human nerve endings. His Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Hendrix mashup left us all in awe. One thing to expect from an Eric Gales performance is that he will take time to do a reality check or should I say a humanity check with his crowd. This set’s message is that as fans we should take caution in putting our beloved artists on a pedestal. They are flawed creatures struggling through this path of life just like us. It was a cheek wetting powerful message that makes you really love the man behind the guitar.
As we returned our complimentary camping chairs and wrapped up yet another Blues From the Top, a familiar obsession spoke to me “I will be back. I don’t care who plays.” I know the experience will be exceptional! Thank you up there Mr. Catt for everything you’ve done!
