The blazing hot weather all day didn’t seem to deter several thousand music lovers last Sunday as they congregated at the former Victory Stadium site for the Down by the River Music Festival.
Six bands, most with local ties, and the headliner Derek Trucks-Susan Tedeschi Band provided close to ten hours of music, with acoustic musicians filling in at the Kids World tent between stage changes. There was a definite family atmosphere at the event, which was attended by people of all ages.
No, Ol’ Slowhand Eric Clapton didn’t show up, (a Twitter / Facebook stoked rumor that had people buzzing for hours), but Trucks, who played recently with Clapton, was more than impressive in his own right on lead guitar. His wife Susan Tedeschi hit all the right notes as the lead vocalist – sounding a bit like Bonnie Raitt on the more bluesy numbers.
Before Trucks-Tedeschi hit the stage, Southern Culture on the Skids played a lively set, a homecoming of sorts for bassist Mary Huff and drummer David Hartman, both Roanoke natives. “I was born in the hospital right there,” said Huff, motioning towards Carilion Roanoke Memorial off in the distance. At times Southern Culture sounded a bit like the B-52’s.
Lance Smith played guitar in the Kids World tent and then came outside to enjoy the main stage music. The lead singer and principal songwriter for the group, Sinking Creek said it was “great what [promoter] Gary Jackson has done with the area, with the old Victory Stadium site.”
Smith was glad to see music back where the stadium once stood, a venue where he saw bands like Three Dog Night and Blood, Sweat & Tears as a youngster. “Its just great. Maybe an amphitheater is not needed. Maybe we just do more stuff like this.”
He was also glad to see out of towners make their way to Roanoke for Down By The River; some were following the blues-rockin’ Trucks-Tedeschi band on their tour noted Smith. “I know there’s people trying to make this the Music City instead of the Star City, and I like it.”
Misting tents, awnings and cold beverages helped keep people somewhat cool until the sun went down, just as Trucks and Tedeschi took to the stage.
Net proceeds from Down By The River are earmarked for the Music Lab at the Jefferson Center, which is also supported by the Kirk Avenue Music Hall. That’s where promoter Gary Jackson does most of his work. Chris Stup, who oversees the Music Lab, said the amount donated “depends on the success of this show.”
The goal of the lab is “raising up young musicians here in Roanoke, equipping them with the skills necessary and furthering their development with whatever they are choosing to pursue in terms of music,” added Stup.
Several adult learning courses, coordinated through Virginia Western, are also taught at the Music Lab which can be rented (after local high school and middle school students go home) for recording sessions. Stup was pleased to see so many people turn out for Down By The River, “I don’t think there’s a better use for this space right here. The energy has been great.”
There is more music to come at Elmwood Park this Saturday (July 17, beginning at noon) when the 5th annual Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ Festival takes place. Matt “Guitar” Murphy of the Blues Brothers will headline, with his group the Nouveaux Honkies. Labron Lazenby and L.A. 3 and Sean Chambers will also perform, with the three groups taking to the stage after 6pm.
The Blue Ridge Blues Society will also hold its annual contest for upcoming blues groups, with the winner representing the organization at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis next year.
Festival founder, Kerry Hurley said, Guitar Murphy is also remembered “for all of the Chess Records that he was part of back in the day.” Lazenby’s band is “really incredible too.”
Hurley, also president of the Blue Ridge Blues Society, said he was “tickled to death,” about the growing popularity of the genre in Roanoke. “That’s part of our mission, to spread the word about how wonderful this music is.”
Hurley was selling tickets at a booth during Down By the River. Having more music festivals in the valley “helps all of us. The more stuff we can do like this …the powers that be will realize we need more of this stuff. It keeps people happy”
Tickets are $20 at the gate and $15 in advance (Jefferson Center, Fret Mill) for the Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ Festival; Henry’s Memphis Barbecue will supply the food.
By Gene Marrano [email protected]
