10th annual event has best mix yet, director says

Though high temps and wildfire smoke might have caused a dip in attendance, the 10th annual Riverfront Blues Festival held in Libby last Friday and Saturday was successful, organizers and artists say.

“I think it was our best year yet as far as quality of entertainment and artists,” said festival director Johnette Watkins. “I just think that the music was a good blend of the different styles of the blues.”

Three bands performed Friday evening, while Saturday’s longer schedule made room for five bands followed by a jam session featuring those artists who were able to stick around before heading home or to the next gig.

Selection committee member Brent Shrum has said it isn’t unusual to sift through dozens of bands to choose the final eight. Part of the process is making sure the bands fit together well on the bill while representing a variety of styles, which Shrum likens to creating a mixtape. The committee also likes to find bands that haven’t yet performed in the region.

One such band this year was Shaw Davis and the Black Ties of Pompano Beach, Florida, who headlined the festival Saturday.

“We’re used to palm trees and the beach,” bassist Patrick Stevenson said Monday by cell phone while riding in a van to the band’s next gig in Wisconsin. “For us to be around the mountains is new and really cool.”

Band leader Davis, the guitarist and vocalist, said “it was a real honor to be the headlining act” and the first time they’ve headlined a festival of this caliber.

“We all really, really enjoyed the show,” Davis said. “The energy was great, it was very professionally run, the sound was great, Libby was great.”

Davis’ guitar chops belied his young age of 23. He channeled Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan — mixed with a little bit of Cream and a Guns and Roses lick — with a technical proficiency that wowed the crowd and caused Shrum to say Davis might have been one of the most talented musicians they’ve ever had.

Singer, songwriter and bassist Amanda Fish of Kansas City, Missouri, said via email she had a lot of fun.

“The audience was awesome,” she wrote. “[It was a] very groovy and responsive crowd that was up and dancing. My favorite moment was at the end of the night, getting to jam with all those exceptional musicians.”

Watkins, already with next year’s festival in mind, said they can always use additional volunteers but would especially welcome someone with lots of time to volunteer and experience managing large events of any kind. She said organizers meet year-round, once a month at first and then weekly in the months leading up to the festival.

Anyone interested in volunteering can email Watkins at watkinsjg1@gmail.com.