Page 53 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2014

Blues campers perform at Buds on
Broadway club during the Saskatoon
Blues Festival Photo by Grant Romanica

Youth at Festivals

The Future of the Blues

By William J. Toll are sadly fading away and most bars are off limits. Nearly the only
place that they can see live blues music is at festivals.
aka “Sweet Willie Tea the OMB (One-Man-Band)”
One of the smartest things promoters can do to ensure the blues
One of the most rewarding things to see is young folk picking lives on is to provide opportunities for young people to experience
up the blues. The notion that the blues is an art form that is static, the magic first hand. A chance for kids to “see and do” the blues
stagnant and doomed to disappear when the last of the legends are is an important part of any modern festival’s programming. If the
gone, is disproved every day all over the world. Every chance a audience loves the blues and has children, they will take advantage
youngster gets to hear or see an artist performing live can provide of activities that help their kids understand the music. Youth-specific
the spark that makes them want to do it too. programming also serves the needs of festival-goers by keeping
Music that is served up to our children by commercial radio can’t their kids happy and occupied. Festivals are often multi-day events
compare to the power and deep emotion of live blues. Music offers and while adults may not mind sitting and waiting for the next act,
mental development that children need, and music education that kids need to stay engaged. Any parent will tell you “when the kids
was commonplace in schools is increasingly sidelined as budgets are happy, everybody’s happy.” Festival youth workshops may be
are cut. Kids need to hear and experience music that has feeling, grooming the next young Buddy Guy or Big Mama Thornton for the
meaning and power. Once they experience it, their inner creativity rest of us to someday enjoy.
can be switched on.
The future of blues lies in the hands and voices of youngsters. If you have ever had the opportunity to see the look on a
Remember that the artists who are today’s blues royalty were once kid’s face when they strap on a guitar, beat a drum, play
youngsters themselves sitting at the feet of the musicians who were a harmonica or sing, any doubt about the timelessness
their mentors. We owe it to kids to give them the chance to sit at the and the future of the blues will be put to rest.
feet of today’s mentors. The days of live music on every street corner

Blues Festival Guide 2014 51