Reading Blues Fest: The perfect cure for the November blahs

Nov. 13—There's no better cure for the November blahs than the blues, and Berks Arts' fifth Reading Blues Fest is the perfect prescription.

Opening Thursday with a Community Kickoff Concert at the Reading Liederkranz, and continuing Friday through next Sunday in the cozy, friendly atmosphere of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, Reading, the festival will feature top-notch performances by some of the most exciting and accomplished blues artists in the country.

The Thursday night concert will start out with the Busker Incognito Trio hosting the Crossroads Blues Jam, ushering in a performance by Scranton-based blues guitarist Clarence Spady & The Electric City Band, featuring The Berks Horns.

Friday will be the official start of the festival, with a kickoff lunch at the Peanut Bar with The Bluesmasters — bassist Bennie Sims, keyboardist Cliff Starkey and saxophonist/vocalist Erich Cawalla.

The opening concert in the DoubleTree Grand Ballroom Friday at 8 p.m. will feature the sounds of "Rock, Stomp & Swamp" with singer/guitarist Tab Benoit, from Baton Rouge, La., who has been compared to Albert King, Albert Collins and Jimi Hendrix. The New Orleans-based Dirty Dozen Brass Band and cutting-edge Mississippi bluesman Lightnin Malcolm will join him.

Fans can wake up to the blues Saturday morning at 10 in the DoubleTree Amphitheater with veteran blues guitarist Benny Turner (Freddie King's younger brother) and the "Piano Prince of New Orleans," pianist/singer Davell Crawford, in a free concert sponsored by Nola Blue Records of Lancaster.

At 1 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom, Texas-born singer-songwriter Sugaray Rayford — the Blues Music Awards' Soul Blues Artist of the Year in 2019 and 2020 — will perform with his band. Also on the bill is saxophonist/singer-songwriter Vanessa Collier, who recently won a BMA for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year.

That night at 8, upside-down, left-handed guitarist and singer-songwriter Eric Gales, winner of two BMAs for Blues Rock Artist of the Year in 2019 and 2020, will bring his Memphis style to Reading, along with Montreal-based singer-songwriter Dawn Tyler Watson, who recently won Canada's Maple Blues awards for Songwriter of the Year and Best Album/Producer. She also won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2017.

Sunday at 10:30 a.m., patrons can enjoy a blues brunch, followed by a concert at noon by Gulf Coast Records artists The Blood Brothers: Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia.

Zito, a five-time BMA winner, is a contemporary blues guitarist/vocalist; he is teaming up with guitarist/vocalist Castiglia, who won the 2020 BMA for Album of the Year for his "Masterpiece." This grand finale to the festival will feature each band performing separately, and then joining forces to raise the rafters.

"We are fortunate to have a star-studded lineup for the fest," said John Ernesto, the fest general manager. "The artists represent 24 BMA awards, including three B.B. King Entertainer of the Year honors — Benoit in 2007 and 2012, and Rayford in 2020."

Other events at the DoubleTree and in the Peanut Bar will include performances by BC (vocalist Bev Conklin) and guitarist Joe Mac, both part of BC Blue, a four-piece band that will also perform; blue-eyed soul phenom Dave Keller and his trio; Dave Keyes; and the Dave Mell Blues Band.

"We are looking forward to having thousands of visitors to downtown Reading for the benefit and enjoyment of the entire community," said Justin Heimbecker, Berks Arts executive director.

Tickets are still available — single concert and weekend packages — for the Reading Blues Fest. For more information, including artist bios, visit www.readingbluesfest.com.