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PHOTO COURTESY OF TACOMA EVENTS COMMISSION

BLUE SKIES. Teddy Lee Hooker performs at the Swiss at 6 p. m. April 12.

After the Daffodil Parade, stay for the Gray Sky Blues Festival

By Matt Nagle

When the Daffodil Festival Grand Floral Parade moves through Tacoma April 12, the festivities will not stop when the last float goes by. In fact, Gray Sky Blues Music Festival will be just getting into full swing by that time in nearly a dozen venues throughout the greater Tacoma metropolitan area.

More than 15 Northwest musical artists are scheduled to perform at this first annual festival, which offers free admission so music lovers can sample food and beverage offerings at any of the event’s live venues beginning around noon: Harmon Brewery, Swiss Pub, Cutter’s Point Coffee, La Costa Mexican Restaurant, Indochine Restaurant, urbanXchange, Paddy Coyne’s Irish Pub, Varsity Grill, El Gaucho’s and The Vault. Children can get in on the fun with kid-friendly music and crafts at Learning Sprout.

The day’s events also include a classic Mustang car show, sponsored by Harmon Bicycle Club, across the street from the Harmon Brewery (1938 Pacific Ave.), and a classic Corvette and Harley Davidson show on Jefferson Street in front of the Swiss Pub (1904 Jefferson Ave.).

Gray Sky Blues Music Festival is being presented by Tacoma Events Commission, the non-profit group that produced Tall Ships Tacoma in 2005 and organizes three annual festivals for South Sound communities – the 4th of July festival Freedom Fair, Orting Pumpkin Fest in October and now, Gray Sky Blues Music Festival in April, formerly called Tacoma Jazz and Blues Fest, which will now be held May 23 and 24.

 “I tried to attract the best local and regional groups I could get,” said Gary Grape, entertainment manager for Tacoma Events Commission. He scored big by inviting Teddy Lee Hooker to headline the festival. He performs 6-7:30 p.m. at the Swiss. Hooker, who hails from Long Beach, Calif., was voted best blues artist of the year in 2005 at the South Bay Music Awards and he was a top-10 finalist at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis last year.

Grape is big fan. He met Hooker a year ago in Memphis when the bluesman was playing the Hard Rock Café. “I walked in and went, ‘holy mackerel,’” Grape said when he heard Hooker playing. “He’s a great musician and a great entertainer. He puts on a show you won’t forget.”

The rest of the festival line-up includes bands and performers blues lovers will want to see including two at the Swiss: Paul Green and Straight Shot playing blues, R&B and funk at 1 p.m. and Maia Santell and House Blend playing Chicago blues, jump blues and R&B at 4 p.m.

Fans will also want to check out blues and funk outfit Bump Kitchen playing at The Harmon at 4:30 p.m. then again 10 p.m. to midnight for an “After Festival Party” at Varsity Grill presented by Jambalaya Restaurant (tickets required, contact Talleen Roberts at (253) 539-3600 or e-mail citikitchen@att.net).

High school students interested in learning more about the blues can learn from award-winning blues guitarist and songwriter James Curley Cooke during the festival. Tacoma Events Commission is partnering with the non-profit Pacific Northwest Blues in the Schools to offer this free clinic from noon-3 p.m. at Tacoma School of the Arts Visual Arts and Science building, 1950 Pacific Ave. Seating is limited and on a first come, first served basis.

“We thought it was very important to get the educational aspect of (blues music) into the festival,” Grape explained. “Kids can come and not just see and hear the greats, but learn how to write, sing, the whole nine yards.” Grape said the clinic is for any high school aged student of music, whether a beginner or experienced.

For more information on Gray Sky Blues Festival and an up-to-the-minute schedule of performances, visit www.tacomaevents.com.

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