Get ready for the blues; Hickory Smoked Music Festival celebrates 11 years of music

Get ready for the blues; Hickory Smoked Music Festival celebrates 11 years of music
July 25, 2011
By Wendy Post
TheDailyReview.com

TIOGA COUNTY, N.Y. - Get ready for some blues as the Tioga County Council on the Arts and Visions Federal Credit Union present to you the 11th Annual Hickory Smoked Music Festival on July 30.

With gates opening at 12:30 p.m., the show will kickoff with veteran performer Andrea McBride singing the National Anthem. McBride will be followed by seven acts set to take the stage in what is being dubbed as one of the best line-ups yet.

Scheduled to start things off is local band Hover. This young band has already seen many accolades to include their recent second place win in a national concert sponsored by VH1 and Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers. The band will also be performing at the New York State Fair this year on Aug. 27.

But Hover is just the opening of what is planned to be a day filled with top-notch entertainment as acts like Pete Panek and the Blue Cats, hailing out of Ithaca, N.Y.; Randy McStine and his band Meridian Voice out of New York City; and local favorite Hi-Way Fruit Market out of Apalachin, N.Y. take to the stage.

But in the essence of things "just coming together," Roosevelt Dean's Band will return to the festival with Carolyn Kelly. Coming from Syracuse, N.Y., Roosevelt Dean's band became a favorite in the area with previous performances at the music festival, as well as concerts held throughout the region such as the "Bridge Bash" that celebrated the opening of the new Court Street Bridge.

But in April of 2009, Roosevelt Dean lost his battle with cancer - ending his physical presence on the music scene. Less than 12 months prior to Dean's untimely death, he headlined the music festival, and was assisted on stage for what would be his final performance at this venue. Once the guitar was in his hands, during that performance, Dean transformed and played as if he never had a moment of illness in his life. The frail Dean played from his heart.

And also, prior to his death, Dean always talked of wanting to play on stage with Big Bill Morganfield, the son of the legendary Muddy Waters.

At this year's festival, and following a performance by Roosevelt Dean's band with Carolyn Kelly, the band members will take the stage with Big Bill Morganfield - and fulfill Dean's wishes, posthumously.

William "Big Bill" Morganfield, was born June 19, 1956 in Chicago. Raised by his grandmother, Verdell Clark in Southern Florida, Morganfield came to music later in life, having first worked as a teacher after earning bachelor's degrees in English from Tuskegee University and Communications from Auburn University.

Most notable, Morganfield is the son of McKinley Morganfield (Muddy Waters) and has emerged in the past few years as one of the top young blues talents in America.

Morganfield will be arriving in Owego, N.Y. on Saturday to perform live with members of Roosevelt Dean's band. Over the last several months, Roosevelt Dean's band members have been working with Morganfield to put together a live set that is sure to be a soulful, yet energetic performance.

Following Morganfield's performance, Michael Burks, hailing from Arkansas, will close out the evening. Burks, who performed at the music festival several years ago, is excited about returning to the Owego venue.

Recently returning from a tour in Europe, Burks is being described by the Chicago Sun-Times as a "flamethrower guitarist." "He is the complete bluesman: songwriter, singer, riff-master, bandleader, and showman... Savage fury and heartfelt tenderness," as quoted by the Chicago Sun-Times.

In his previous performance in Owego, as well as other performances nationally and internationally, Burks is known for taking his guitar out into the crowd while he plays. Described further, by Guitar Player, "Burks plays and sings with conviction, as he proves with each impassioned song."

Burks will take the stage at 7:30 p.m., and close out the show.

The festival is an all-day event with free parking. Gates open at 12:30 p.m. with opening ceremonies at 1 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the gate and children under 12 are free.

Tickets may be purchased at select Price Chopper locations, select Visions Federal Credit Union branches, select Chemung Canal Trust Co. locations, John's Fine Foods in Owego and the Tioga County Council on the Arts at 179 Front St. in Owego or online at tiogaartscouncil.org.

For more information, visit tiogaartscouncil.org or call (607) 687-0785.