Russellville launched its annual salute to its own hometown girl made good, Mary Ann Fisher, “The Songbird of the Blues,” with the opening of the Mary Ann Fisher Summer Concert Series on June 15. Starting in June, there is a free concert each month of summer.
Known locally as the ‘Russellville Blues Festival,’ the free admission summer series of four concerts showcases blues talents from across the nation. Friday night’s guest performer, Ronnie Baker Brooks, King of Chicago Blues was waiting in the wings as Michael Gough and Lonzo Pennington entertained the gathered blues fans with an opening act performance of favorite blues tunes which got people in the mood and eager for the big show to follow.
The comfortable backyard setting of the show stage made for an easy atmosphere as people flowed in and took seats at the assembled tables. Local vendors were readily accessible with fresh snow cones, fish sandwiches, polish sausage, BBQ Ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries. The renown Russellville tamales were also available, along with soft drinks, chips and bottled water that rounded out the various food offerings.
Smiles abound among the crowd as Russellville Blues Festival launches its 2012 season
All this in the shadow of the West Kentucky African American Heritage Museum Village. With its free admission, the story of Russellville’s African American community resonates with the sounds of the blues tunes flowing upon the air from the show stage.
A Russellville resident joins Gough and Pennington in warming up the crowd
Gough has a pleasing blues voice and his bass playing skills give him ample chops as he moves from one song to the next with ease and expertise. Pennington gave several demonstration his mastery of the guitar which had earned him the title ‘thumpicker of the year’ on his 2011 album. They were joined by a local talent who proved himself well equipped by a fine vocal style. Late arrivals would think they are the main act but Gough soon dissuaded any such misconception.
As eager as the crowd was for this concert to have its run, the weather proved not inclined to being cooperative. A light drizzle came upon the village, forcing a brief pause as everyone hoped it would simply pass along and be gone. It did pass but fifteen minutes later a bigger, more ominous cloud system moved into the area. This time it was clear that this would be no brief shower. This cloud system held the potential for a serious downpour.
As big, heavy raindrops began to fall, the concert was called. The seven houses of the African American Heritage Museum opened their doors as refuge from the storm and many visitors took the opportunity to go inside and wait out the storm. Other
visitors retreated to the food vendors to sate their hunger while still others sought the merchant station to purchase a festival T-Shirt.
The final announcement of the evening was a notice that Ronnie Baker Brooks would be performing as headliner at Saturday’s Walter B. Hadley Blues Festival in Henderson. So while Russellville had struck out, the show was still possible in Henderson.
Now remember to come back to Russellville for the July 6th show with the Stacy Mitchhart Band.
[Photos by Turner McCullough Jr.]
