BBHF music lineup ready

Published 5:40 am Wednesday, May 10, 2017

The Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival has done it again. On Sept. 29-30, BBHF VI will bring the magic back to the “Magic City.” With Grammy-winning acts headlining the Blues Stage both nights, and a Louisiana Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member headlining the Heritage Stage on Saturday, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to be in the mix. And, because the folks who book the BBHF performers have been paying attention to who’s been playing with whom, organizers are hoping for some steaming hot jams.

Colin Lake, who moved from Seattle to New Orleans eight years ago because he felt he was being drawn to the city, will start things off on the Blues Stage on Friday evening. This very impressive performer has a passion and innate feel for roots and blues music that gives him a powerful vocal style and a soulful touch on his guitars.

Second up on Friday, the Big Chief Monk Boudreaux Band will grace the BBHF stage with its unique blend of music styles that include New Orleans funk, blues, and traditional Mardi Gras Indian music. It will be the second time Boudreaux, who is well known throughout the region as a great performer, will bring his signature style to Bogalusa.

Anders Osborne, a Grammy-winning songwriter, producer and performer who writes with remarkable eloquence and who has a voice so emotionally intense it feels like an explosion, will headline on Friday. Osborne has been called “the living definition of great art.”

First up on that stage on Saturday morning is Wes Lee, BBHF I alum, with his original roots and blues music that is traditional with a modern twist. Lee is a dynamic performer on his resonator guitar.

Second up is Erica Falls, a world-class talent destined for superstar status. Her vocal range and delivery, and the breadth of her musical repertoire are rare indeed. Falls delivers blues, jazz, funk and gospel with exquisite taste.

Victor Wainwright follows Falls, with his monster, barrelhouse, honky-tonk piano that will set the stage on fire. His style is reminiscent of Jerry Lee Lewis, with powerful vocals, and piano chops to spare.

Then Samantha Fish, an audience favorite from BBHF V, will again take the Blues Stage. Fish blew away the crowd last year with her blazing skills on guitar and vocals.

The North Mississippi All-Stars, a Grammy award-winning Southern rock blues band led by brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson, will headline the Blues Stage on Saturday. Numerous world-renowned artists have performed with the exciting group on their 19 albums and live, so who knows who might join this super group in Bogalusa. And Fish recently had her Wild Heart album produced by Luther Dickinson, who also played on the album. So we’re looking for extraordinary things to happen on the BBHF Blues Stage.

On Saturday, the BBHF Heritage Stage will be jumping as well.

The Franklinton High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Loyman Prestenbach, will start off the performances on that stage on Saturday morning. The FHS Jazz Band showcases a rich knowledge of jazz and funk, and the BBHF loves to encourage young artists to help keep the strong tradition of diverse music in Washington Parish alive and well.

Second up on the Heritage Stage will be music in motion with the Washington Parish Arts Program/Believe Music Camp, under the direction of Bruce Sampson. Sampson has touched many thousands of young people around the world in his 30-plus years as a musical performance producer and director. He will provide an opportunity for the BBHF to throw a spotlight on the youngest talent in the area.

Next, Tea Moore, a Varnado native who now lives in Houston, will take the stage with her classic mix of rhythm and blues, soul, and pop. Moore brought the house down when she performed on that stage in 2015, and she’ll keep you moving with her high-energy performance.

Travis Clark, a guitar playing performer and songwriter, will follow Moore. This Mississippi native has recently shared the stage with artists like Alabama, Brantley Gilbert, Blackberry Smoke and Kid Rock, and is currently working on a project in Nashville.

Louisiana’s LeRoux will be the Heritage Stage headliner, and the group has clear ties to Washington Parish. The Louisiana Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group’s biggest hit, “New Orleans Ladies,” was co-written by original BBHF board member Hoyt Garrick. Also, it was recorded at the Studio in the Country, just north of Bogalusa.

Louisiana’s LeRoux, considered a Louisiana music icon, will top off the evening on the BBHF Heritage Stage, and it’s a good bet that Garrick will be in attendance.