Blues Festival rocks St. John

Steve Simon’s 6th annual St. John Blues Festival rocked the ball field in Coral Bay Saturday night. 

As many as 1,500 people turned out for the five-day festival’s biggest show which featured featuring Cajun zydeco/blues legends like Sean Carney, Waylon Thibodeaux, and Chubby Carrier.  “We had folks from St. Thomas, St. Croix, Tortola, St. Barths, St. Martin, San Juan, Denmark, Canada, Norway, Venezuela, UK and of course … all over the US of A,” said the island’s impresario.  He estimated funds raised from the event generated as much as $20,000 which will be funneled to the Voice of the Wetlands, a nonprofit organization based in Louisiana.

Also on hand for the concert was Steve Simonsen, the island’s best-known photographer.  He shot a series of photos which will be available here. That’s one of his pictures, above – click on it for a larger version.

In advance of the big show, Festival musicians also appeared at several St. John bars. The Beach Bar on Wednesday night was “Slammed,” Simon said.  Aqua Bistro in Coral Bay was the place to be seen Thursday night, with turnout being the largest crowed since they open, Simon added.  Shipwreck Landing had its biggest Friday night ever. On Sunday night, the music was back at the Beach Bar where, the Blues Boss said, “There were so many people that you could barely see the ocean.”

“My favorite moment was when Tab Benoit got off the water taxi in Cruz Bay and some woman came running up to him and gave him a big hug and said, ‘I just wanted you to know that we came here all the way from Oregon just to see you perform, Larry.’ Tab was so cool……he gave her a kiss and thanked her.

You can hear dozens of tracks by the Festival’s headliners, free, at Rhapsody.com.

• Tab Benoit: http://www.rhapsody.com/tabbenoit
• Sean Carney: http://www.rhapsody.com/seancarney
• Waylon Thibodeaux: http://www.rhapsody.com/waylonthibodeaux
• Chubby Carrier: http://www.rhapsody.com/chubbycarrier