Local News

Annual Blues & Brews Festival draws large & happy crowd

Published

9 years ago

September 24, 2017

Above, making hay in the shade as Bugsy Cline and the Blue Devils entertain the mid-afternoon crowd … Photos/Roger Bianchini

With temperatures reaching toward the 90’s in the sun, many blues music fans sought the shade in Front Royal’s Village Commons as the entertainment, crafts, food and beverage options drew a large crowd on Saturday, September 23. Following are images from the noon to 7 p.m. festival – which also appeared to help local businesses along the East Main and Chester Street downtown axis add to their walk-in traffic.

In fact, over 80 members of the Indian Motorcycle Club based out of Fredericksburg, sporting riders from 11 states, took a lunch break at the Main Street Mill before checking out the outdoor festivities. Fortunately, the invading Indians scouted the location out previously and alerted management to the hungry numbers they would be bringing back with them festival day. One club member suggested the headline ‘Indians Invade Front Royal’ which we tweaked to ‘Indians Welcomed to Helltown’.

… and if the hot music and mid-to-upper 80’s temps got to you, there was the brews option end of the festival.

Hypnotic Willie helped get the day’s music off to a soulful start with their harp-guitar-and-voice-driven Blues.

Preaching the Blues – Bugsy Cline, aka Galen Himes, calls the Blues faithful forward as he and his Blue Devils rocked the mid-to-late afternoon crowd.

‘Train in Vain’ – both young and old festival goers enjoy waiting for an imaginary ride from The Front Royal Train Company.

Artie J. Hatfield of ‘Turn of the Century’ handcrafted, hardwood games displays chess pieces to interested customers – hmm, while he’s distracted – time for a game on the side, Artie???

There were many crafts to choose from on display from White Bubbles Soaps & Sundries to Rustic Harps Design to Craft T-shirts with a dominant brews festival theme – my favorite was ‘Beer Trumps Everything’ – now THERE’S a platform we can unite under …

The Apple House’s FORK’D food truck was a popular spot – for doggies seeking shade and people seeking ‘fuel’ to keep their festival-ing going.

And despite the large number of food vendors, it appeared that nearby under-roof options were benefiting from the festival crowd too – including C&C Frozen Treats, I Want Candy and the aforementioned Main Street Mill’s hosting of the Indian Motorcycle Club – those are some NICE Indians …