2010 Bear Creek Blues Festival

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Eric Crump/Democrat-News

The 2010 Bear Creek Blues Festival attracted a good crowd, great weather and "awesome" music, according to organizer Jill Murray. The opening act was a local group, Riverbend Band, and the headliner was Chicago bluesman Ronnie Baker Brooks. Between them, the audience saw a mix of styles, from the sizzling guitar work of Albert Castiglia; funky Salty Dawg's Cold Sweat, starring former Saline Countian Gary Coble; Steve Smith & the Sneakers; and the difficult-to-categorize harp & digeridoo virtuosity of Harper.

Bruce Arvizu of rural Marshall won the raffle for a guitar autographed by all the 2010 performers at the Bear Creek Blues Festival. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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The Ronnie Baker Brooks Blues Band. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Ronnie Baker Brooks. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Ronnie Baker Brooks. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Ronnie Baker Brooks. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Ronnie Baker Brooks. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Ronnie Baker Brooks, left, brought guitar whiz Albert Castiglia, right, onstage for the encore. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Ronnie Baker Brooks. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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A shot from behind the stage. The backdrop screen made it difficult to get a clear photo, so I added a little special effect just for fun. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Ronnie Baker Brooks Band's drummer. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Bass player prowls the stage. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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(Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Festival organizer and emcee Jill Murray, right, prepares to announce the winner of the Peavey Signature Blues EX guitar, displayed by her daughter, Mariah Pullen. The guitar was won by Bruce Arvizu of Marshall. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Albert Castiglia. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Albert Castiglia. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Albert Castiglia Band. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Albert Castiglia's bass player. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Mason, left, and Madalynn Fizer cross the festival grounds in style, pulled by their mother, Kelly Fizer of Slater. Mason was attending his first Bear Creek Blues Festival, but sister Madalynn is a veteran, attending her third festival. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Shadows begin to lengthen during the evening after a hot afternoon, saved by a helpful breeze -- though some concert-goers took a break from the shows to have a cool dip in the Slater pool across the street from the festival. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Bands got some help with entertaining the crowd as Devyn Monnig of Glasgow, daughter of Jeremiah and Heather Johnson, performed some acrobatic moves during afternoon shows. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Devyn Monnig. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Devyn Monnig. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Devyn Monnig. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Festival T-shirts dance in the breeze -- a breeze that helped make tolerable the steamy weather during the afternoon hours. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Although the field was not as swampy as it had been the previous two years, there was a corner adjacent to the stage that had standing water two days before the event, according to organizer Scott Murray. The problem was solved with a load of sand. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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The festival attracts a number of families. Two boys get up close to the stage during Harper's set. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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The guitarist for Harper. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Harper's drummer. In the foreground are three digeridoos waiting to be played. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Harper, from Australia, features the digeridoo on a number of songs. The unusual instrument was well-received by many festival-goers. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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In addition to playing the digeridoo, Harper is also a proficient blues harp player. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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Harper plays the early evening set during the Bear Creek Blues Festival. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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As always, the festival ended with a fireworks display. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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