Traditional Acoustic Blues Music Festivals, Where Did They Go?

For fans of blues music, there was a real good couple of decades. Since the mid-1980s when the revival and restoration of blues music began, there were many more places where people can get to hear good blues music. growth of new Blues Societies and Blues festivals led clubs and bars to have the Blues as part of their entertainment.
an issue that has been developed with the growth of the bar / band and blues-oriented rock have so many places to be showcased to the traditional acoustic blues became less pronounced. Those Blues Society in 1980 began with such good intentions. They gathered blues acts from all different styles available and gave everyone a taste Blues in all forms. As festivals and society grew more and more people become involved who were not lifelong Blues lovers. Electric blues has more of these people a taste, and this is what has become prevalent on the festival stage. Acoustic and traditional blues became featured less and less and became almost non-existent in major blues festivals throughout the United States.
There are exceptions to this trend, of course. Some Blues Festival is still smaller acoustic stage or limited times during the day when the more traditional and acoustic music is featured. There are even a couple of mostly acoustic festivals scattered throughout the country. But, unless you have unlimited funds and all kinds of time travel you're going to have to look elsewhere for the music you love. Fortunately, there is a solution to your problem.
In recent years there has been tremendous growth in popularity of what is often called Roots and Americana music. This is largely a variation on what was once called folk music. They just changed the name to protect the innocent. It's still all about honest music with a strong foundation in traditional old time American music. The biggest thing about it is that young people are actually looking for the next cool thing and found it in the past.
of the festival has never really stopped happening. The main folk festivals like Newport and Philadelphia People's festivities have a long history. There are many people long running festivals going on in all parts of the United States. Add to this the many new Roots and Americana festivals that seem to be adding to their number a year, you have a lot of possible alternative opportunities to see music performed live.
How does this help the Blues lover? So the key word is "Roots". When you return to the roots of American music that we always find Blues. And, all these folk and roots festivals you can always find a certain amount of Blues. On May all be featured on it's own or part of the repertoire of performers who hold traditional musical styles as part of its law. But it is definitely there.
If you are inquiring about it, try to scan the festival web site and see who is there to perform. You might be surprised.
Just as an example, check out Merlefest. This is a great Americana festival held in North Carolina to go on for days and has 15 stages mostly acoustic music. There is always one of the main display and a large selection of traditional acoustic blues acts through the fest. On Saturday, at one stage devoted to nothing but the Blues and one of the only places you'll see Doc Watson Blues Band perform. Roy Book Binder, who acts as stage manager and MC on the blues scene, often says: "Merlefest has more hours of acoustic blues than any blues festival in the country. " It says a lot for something that many people consider Bluegrass Festival.
Just as an example, check out Merlefest. This is a great Americana festival held in North Carolina to go on for days and has 15 stages mostly acoustic music. There is always one of the main display and a large selection of traditional acoustic blues acts through the fest. On Saturday, at one stage devoted to nothing but the Blues and one of the only places you'll see Doc Watson Blues Band perform. Roy Book Binder, who acts as stage manager and MC on the blues scene, often says: "Merlefest has more hours of acoustic blues than any blues festival in the country. " It says a lot for something that many people consider Bluegrass Festival.
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