Edmonton's LaBatt Blues Festival reflections- correspondent Bob Corritore

Edmonton's LaBatt Blues Festival reflections. Thanks to festival producers Cam Hayden and Carrol Deen for an amazing experience last weekend at Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival, in the Canadian province of Alberta. What makes this festival so special is the loving, knowledgeable lineup that Cam and Carrol book each year, combined with a great venue, stage, and sound system, an impeccable volunteer staff, and a warm and appreciative blues-loving audience. I had the privilege of playing 2 slots on 2 separate days at the festival: Saturday with the Dave Riley / Bob Corritore Juke Joint Blues Band bringing a rural Mississippi flavor to the proceedings, and on Sunday with the Delta Blues Harp Blast which boasted a top shelf lineup of Randy Chortkoff, Mitch Kashmar, Bob Corritore, and Big Pete plus Kirk Fletcher, Paris Slim, Rob Rio, Willie Campbell, and Jimi Bott. I was very proud of my contributions to the festival which also included being called up for a couple numbers on the set with Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy to perform songs from Diunna's new CD, Trying To Hold On. Other acts that performed at this 3 day blues extravaganza were David Gogo Reba Russell Band, Kim Wilson's All-Star Blues Band with Kim, Billy Flynn, Kid Ramos, Randy Bermudes, and Richard Innes, Duffy Bishop Band, Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band, John Nemeth Soul Revue, Nick Moss & The Flip Tops with special guest Guitar Shorty, David Vest, Sean Carney, and RJ Mischo with Mike Morgan & The Crawl, It was also great to see blues the many blues VIPs in attendance: Bill and Shelia Wax, Holger Petersen, Peter Dammann, and Squrl Curley. Thanks to Cam and Carrol and all the kind people of Edmonton for a really wonderful time and an amazing blues presentation.