Live Oak Music Festival 2010 by Casey Reagan

I knew from the minute I arrived at the campsite that this festival was going to be extraordinary, not that I was predisposed in any direction but after a leisurely drive up the coast from LA to Santa Barbara in the warm California sunshine it would have been difficult to feel anything but relaxed and ready for a good time when I rolled in.

I was greeted by my new buddy, Jenny Kurtz who made sure I got in and connected with all the right folks to keep my weekend running smoothly. Make no mistake about it, this is a weekend affair and won't be fully appreciated unless you commit the full three days and take in the entire event, so next year plan on stayin' a couple of nights, I know I will.

Having said that, I must confess that I, myself had to miss the entire first day of the event for a prior fathers day commitment and didn't get the full experience this year. I did however make up for it by having twice as much fun each of the final two days than is legal in most states. This event helps to sponsor KCBX Public Radio and is currently working with a group from Cal Poly to increase the festivals sustainability from a 'green' perspective and should be commended on the effort on both of these critical fronts.

Because of my tardiness by a full day I missed (among the others listed below) Barry Goldberg and the Chicago Blues Reunion and everyone I asked told me they were spectacular, the more I asked the more I missed seeing them. Here is the days line up from Friday:
Kids Stuff: Main Stage: Stage Too:
Climbing Wall Terri Hendrix w/ Lloyd Maines Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside
Outdoor Education Vasen
Craft Workshops Chicago Blues Reunion
Potters Wheel
Talent Show Tryouts
My dearest apologies go out to the artists I missed and a sincere promise to catch them next time around. Saturday was a different story, I rolled in just in time to hear Los Cenzontles [translation: The Mockingbirds] finishing their set on the main stage and even though Mexican roots music isn't really my bag, they sounded pretty darned good. Los Fabulocos showed up and showed us all how CaliMex is supposed to sound and with Kid Ramos out front they sounded better than I've ever heard them. There was a lot of art in every form on display and for sale at kiosks and booths from all over California and I spent most of the day Saturday cruising around the marketplace digging the distant and not so distant music from all three stages and checking out some really cool artwork, jewelry, pottery and clothing. The setting at Live Oak is picture perfect for a festival like this and with a group of happy campers like we had this fathers day weekend, fun just happened.

Speaking of three stages where one can enjoy music for three days almost continually, the Hot Licks Stage and Stage Too featured the following artists throughout the weekend:
Jamming Workshop w/ Rita Hosking & Cousin Jack
Sally Ford & The Sound Outside
Jade Jackson
Sparrows Gate
The Sweetback Sisters
The Roullard Family w/ Jan Grigsby and Nina Ryne
Frank Vignola's Hot Club
Los Cenzontles
John Batdorf
Cache Valley Drifters

The Main Stage is where I gravitated to instinctively and is where I met another of my newfound friends, Master of Ceremonies Joe Craven. Joe is a treasure in and of himself, a multi talented performer he can entertain and tease your mind while telling a story by playing the mandolin and all the while keeping everyone in tune with the program. This cat is all about peace and love and everything cool! M.C. Deluxe!

There was a multitude of talent on hand at the Live Oak main stage with Frank Vignola, The Sacred Shakers featuring Eilen Jewell, Baka Beyond and Nashville's own first class soul outfit 'The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker' all leading up to Sunday evening.
The main stage is also where the magic all came together for the finale Sunday night starting with Dr. Lonnie Smith, a master of the Hammond B-3 and winner of more awards than I have room to list. The Dr. was 'in' at Live Oak this year and this was one house call he was happy to make judging from his house rockin', smooth groovin' delivery and that contagious smile.


After the Dr. made his exit a guy I hadn't heard of before Josh Ritter backed by his Royal City Band stepped up in front of a giant crowd, many of whom were here to see him judging from the huge sing along response he received, I felt sort of like the odd man out because I didn't know the words, but, I faked it and nobody noticed. Josh's music sounded pretty cool, it's obvious the guy has talent and I'll predict now, bigger and better things lay ahead for this up and coming artist.


Before I get to the end I'd like to note the amazing job of coordination by the event coordinators, backstage managers, stage managers and the entire hospitality staff who treated everyone behind the scenes like absolute royalty, this festival is a smooth running machine and honestly, a fun time was had by all.

Finally, the lady I was waiting for days to hear, the 'Duchess Of Coolsville' Rickie Lee Jones walked on stage and it was truly magic, I've loved her voice since the first time I heard 'Chuck E.'s In Love' back when and I've kept track of her through the years, digging every nuance of that sweet voice through times of change. When she won a Grammy for one of my all time favorite songs 'Makin' Whoopee' to put next to her 'Best New Artist' Grammy from 1979 I was jazzed for her all over again.


I've seen her on the cover of Rolling Stone a couple of times through the years, she's hosted SNL and continues to dazzle live audiences everywhere she goes, her voice is pitch perfect and with songs like 'Chuck E', 'Last Chance Texaco', 'Satellites' and 'Danny's All-Star Joint' all of which she played this night among many others, Rickie Lee Jones is one of those artists who, once you've seen her, you won't ever want to miss her again.

We soaked in every ounce of Rickie Lee that we could squeeze out of her, she played for over an hour and a half, then we all said goodnight and goodbye to the Live Oak family and packed our gear till next year. I would like to thank everyone involved so much for making this a weekend that I'll remember for a long long time, from the artists to the volunteers at the festival to the vendors who provided all the great food and drink to the sponsors to the thousands of fans who came out and made this festival...You Rock! ...oh yeah...peace. love. dirt. ...and Thanks for the ride!
Casey Reagan for
American Blues News
All Rights Reserved 2010

The Simi Valley Cajun Creole Music Festival (with a BLUES infusion) By: Casey Reagan

The Simi Valley Cajun Creole Music Festival
(with a BLUES infusion) By: Casey Reagan
for American Blues News
Simi Valley, CA.
May 30-31, 2010


This festival is being (unofficially) re-named by me to: The 'Steamy' Valley Cajun Creole Music Festival because it
was hot, and I'm not just talkin' about the weather. Even though it was an unseasonably warm Sunday afternoon, that is, if there is such thing as seasonably warm, when it comes to the Simi Valley, but as May days go, this one was a gorgeous day by any standards, when I arrived at the Simi Valley Recreation Complex where this event is held annually. This wasn't my first time around for this festival, but for me, it was one of the best so far.
The festival is always well planned and nicely organized by a team of very cool people. The Cajun Creole Music Festival, as it is known, now in its 21st year, has evolved since it started out in 1988 as a New England Clambake fund-raiser for the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise. The 'Blues Infusion' portion of the event coming on board for the past 5 years and getting bigger each year, The biggest sponsor of the blues here were the guys in the Delta Groove tent where they had answers for all my music questions, very cool cats. (see photos below).
This year was no different, and with all the activities and sheer size of the event, having live Cajun, Zydeco and Blues entertainment on multiple stages, more than 150 food, beverage, craft and sponsor booths, and being attended by 15,000 people, that is surely saying something!
It was easy to remember it was Memorial Day weekend with the numerous American flags proudly flying and the centerpiece of the venue, reminding us of why we were there. 100% of the Festival profits are donated in support of charitable, educational and humanitarian causes. The Simi Valley Cajun Creole Music Festival has resulted in total charitable donations in excess of $1,000,000.

With 3 music stages this festival is harder for a photographer to cover than the Barnum and Bailey Circus, so I focused my attention on the Blues stage, where even there I got so involved with the backstage goings on I completely missed the live photo ops while the headliners The Mannish Boys and Elvin Bishop were on stage and by the time I made my way back around to the stage they were finished and I missed them back stage as well, soooooo how about those supporting acts eh?
BLUES STAGE Line-Up for both days:
Sat May 29th
The Insomniacs
Los Fabulocos Featuring Kid Ramos
Arthur Adams Band
Hollywood Blue Flames
Jackie Payne – Steve Edmonson Band
The Soul of John Black

Sun May 30th
Kirk Fletcher Band
Lynwood Slim / Igor Prado
Mike Zito
Candye Kane with Special Guest Bob Corritore
Elvin Bishop
The Mannish Boys

I wasn't around for Saturdays activities, I had another festival to cover the same weekend (link to santa clarita fest) but you can see my coverage of Kid Ramos with the 44's here: [link to 44's interview]
Candye Kane, Mike Zito and a host of others were on hand to warm up the crowd for my new old favorite Elvin Bishop, then The Mannish Boys who all sounded amazing by the way and are again on my radar as some of the top blues performers out there. I know, I know, it took me long enough. Gee, I wish I had pictures for you. Next time for sure.

This event is as much about the food as it is the music as evidenced by the variety and number of food tents and the unique food they were serving. You could get authentic Thai food and right next door... all the alligator you could eat, and I did! My 'girlish figure' will suffer but that's just one of the hazards of this job and a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

There were more things to see than I had time for but when I saw the 'Hat Guy's' from Shady Hut Hats I had to stop in and say hey. Mel, his wife Jeannie and son Steve are the west coast authority on everything hats, and Mel knows his craft (He's been at it for years) and sales too I might add, Mel sold me a new fedora to replace one I've been wearing to concerts for about 35 years and he made sure my new hat was brushed, stretched and custom fit before I walked away, talk about service!

I mentioned the three stages of music and I'll give you an idea of how much activity there was at this festival by omission and by only mentioning briefly the 'kids' stage where local teen bands performed, it was the Second Annual Kid’s Talent Show over in the Cajun Kids Area. Local children 17 years old and under showed off their talents then the audience picked the winner. Preliminary rounds were held Saturday and Final rounds were performed Sunday. I didn't get all the details but it looked like everyone was having fun. And the 'Zydeco' stage where the majority of the musical attention was focused this weekend as well as a bunch of sideline activities to entertain us between acts...

And all the accordion music you could ask for, if Zydeco is your thing, this is the festival for you. Here's the line up for both days:
2010 CAJUN CREOLE STAGE

Sat May 29th
Theo & the Zydeco Patrol
T-Lou and the Super Hot Zydeco Band
Lisa Haley and the Zydecats
Cajun Kids Parade
Cedric Watson
Pine Leaf Boys

Sun May 30th
Acadiana
Bonne Musique Zydeco
Cedric Watson
Cajun Kids Parade
Lisa Haley and the Zydecats
Rosie Ledet


Everywhere you turned there were a bunch of people having a good time enjoying their favorite music or food, or both. I walked past a herd of tuba players lugging their instruments toward the kids stage, so I'm guessing there was some jammin' going on over there too. It looked busy every time I glanced toward the kid zone and there were plenty of kids to enjoy the day, with rock climbing, those bungee bouncy thingys and every bounce house from SpongeBob to who knows who!

If you had the time to look around for something, chances are you'd be able to find it, from cell phones to sports gear to houseplants, there were vendors selling everything from clothes, purses, crafts and pottery, to jewelry, toys, posters and hats, homemade salsas and super hot hot sauce to salt water taffy... and people buying it too, I talked to bunches of them, buyers and sellers and found people to be spending a little and sharing a lot. I didn't hear of any trouble and I'd have to check with the organizers but I think its safe to say, everyone survived!

After a long day in the sun, I kicked my feet up and enjoyed some of the best live blues I've had the enjoyment of hearing in quite awhile. When it was all over, I packed my cameras, my new hat, my old hat, a ton of music paraphernalia, a plant I bought for my girlfriend and hiked back to the car, already having fond memories of a Sunday well spent. I'll be back next year Simi Valley, count on it, only next year I'm ridin' with this kid...