Annual Blues & Brews Festival draws large & happy crowd

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

… 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 …