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July 16th, 2011 SHOWTIME!!!
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By Ben Orcutt WINCHESTER -- Saturday's Winchester Blues House Festival may have been the most successful in the event's 10-year history. The venue shifted from downtown this year to the Winchester Eagles Club on Baker Lane. "The Eagles have been a wonderful organization to partner with and this venue has been an absolute delight from the abundance of parking to the ability to have a grass surface, as well as pavilion coverage," said Shawn Reiser, a member of the Blues House executive committee. "I believe that this is the largest attendance to date," Reiser added. "So I would say we're over 2,000." As they were last year, this year's beneficiary of the Blues House Festival was Habitat for Humanity of Winchester-Frederick County. "Actually, all of the bands that we book for this would charge more if it was a traditional, entertainment venue," Reiser said. "They understand that this is to benefit Habitat for Humanity. It is all good. The bottom line is this. Habitat for Humanity is allowing individuals to be homeowners who otherwise would not have the ability to own a home." Tina Daniels and her 11-year-old daughter, Rowan, were at Saturday's event and they will be receiving a Habitat for Humanity home in Stephens City. Cheryl Connolly, executive director of Winchester-Frederick County Habitat for Humanity, said the Blues House Festival raised $65,000 for the charity last year and they hoped to top that amount this year. "Most of the revenue that we generate for Habitat for Humanity comes from our beer sales, our T-shirt sales, the revenues we get from the folks that come in," Reiser said. "This is a regional entertainment opportunity and what's happening is, these people are coming into Winchester. They're enjoying the entertainment of Winchester Blues House. Tonight, they're gonna stay at a Winchester hotel. They're gonna have dinner at a Winchester restaurant or club or what have you, and that's what we do." This year's Blues House brought out fans who attended the event for the first time and some who've attended them all, like Bryan Cooke, 74, of Winchester. "Ever since they had it," Cooke said. "I'm a part of it. I'm a legend in the blues." Cooke said he is especially fond of the Texas Chainsaw Horns, who played Saturday just after Terry Oates and the Mudcats. "A lot of brass," Cooke said of the Texas Chainsaw Horns. "A full band. Get the full meaning of it." Asked how he thought they played, Cooke said, "Right on time." Jerry Miller, 62, of Syracuse, N.Y., stopped at the Blues House Festival during a road trip south. Miller said he met Cooke a couple of months ago at a blues concert in Hagerstown and decided to make Winchester a stop. "This Scott Weis man, he just had an awesome program," Miller said of the Scott Weis Band, who substituted for Elisa Girlando and the Out of Truth Band due to an injured band member. Josh Rodgers, 24, of Winchester, attended his first Blues House on Saturday along with his friend, Lindsey Swaim, 24, who is pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy from West Virginia University. "I kind of came out with my dad because he likes the Texas Chainsaw Horns, so we got here nice and early, but Tinsley Ellis is gonna play and we're both really into him," Swaim said. Her father, Mark Swaim, 55, of Winchester, is a regular at the Winchester Blues House Festival and he likes the spacious venue of the Eagles Club. He and wife Cindy Swaim, 54, got in the groove dancing to the music. "This is great," he said. "I really like it. Downtown, you're sitting on that hot asphalt all the time. It's too hot. This is very nice." Oliver Crawford, 91, of Winchester, has been to all of the Winchester Blues House festivals and he also enjoyed the change in venue taking advantage of a shady spot with his wife, Margaret Crawford, 79, and their 2-year-old granddaughter, Mikala Crawford. "It's nice," Crawford said. "It's good music," Mrs. Crawford added. Atlanta native Tinsley Ellis and his band were the headliners, preceding the last act, the Legendary J.C.'s of Orlando, Fla., who got many in the crowd on their feet dancing to their funky soul sounds. Ellis, 52, said he was inspired by the likes of the Allman Brothers Band, Eric Clapton and B.B. King. Ellis wowed the crowd with his hot licks and would have made Clapton and King proud of his mastery of the guitar. "It's a great day," Ellis said. "I'm glad the weather cooperated. I hope it sounded good.
Mike O’Meara of The Mike O’Meara Show on 106.7 WJFK, Washington's Talk Superstation is organizing “O’Meara’s Bikes & Blues” to bring motorcycle riders from the Washington, D.C. area to the Winchester Blues House festival.
The group will gather at 9 am on Saturday, June 20, 2009 at Patriot Harley Davidson to leave at 10 am. Exclusive “Bikes & Blues” Do-Rags will be available for sale at Patriot Harley Davidson the morning of the ride. 100% of the proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity of Winchester & Frederick County.
Discounted room rates are available for any Winchester Blues House guests at two area hotels under the block “Bikes & Blues.” Please call the hotels directly to get the group rate. These rooms and special rates are available on a first come first served basis.
1204 Berryville Avenue Winchester, Virginia 22601 Phone: 540-678-4000 $92 plus tax (Room block expires on June 5th)
Press
Release 04/23/2009 - Internal Walmart has secured the title of Presenting Sponsor for the tenth anniversary Winchester Blues House. Several stores in the northern Virginia and Maryland region have collaborated to host the event. Walmart is a strong supporter of Habitat, for Humanity and Blues House 2009 is thrilled with the level of commitment and enthusiasm of this new presenting sponsor. Press
Release 07/08/2008 - Internal Since its
inception nine years ago, the BLUES HOUSE festival has raised considerable
funds to benefit a number of community organization
(Celebrating
Patsy Cline Inc., Fremont Street Day Nursery,
Caretakers (now Boys &
Girl’s Club),
Virginia Chapter 1 of Rolling Thunder®
Inc.,
F.O.P. Ole Fredericktown Chapter #12 and to The Office of
George Washington Museum
). The first BLUES HOUSE in 2000, funds were for the
renovation of an 1840's
duplex in Winchester 's South Kent Street neighborhood. This home became the
residence of a Winchester Police Officer,
thus the name BLUES HOUSE. Press Release 07/09/2007 - The Winchester Star It was impossible to tell what was hotter Saturday, the sizzling temperatures or the smoking selection of offerings emanating from the stage at the Winchester Blues House music festival. Equally impossible is to guess the numbers of attendees, but there is no question the 100 block of West Cork Street was absolutely packed as festival-goers enjoyed an impressive display of bluesmen ranging from up-and-comers to a legendary master.
“It’s all about the blues and the good causes that are being supported here,” was Keveney Robinson Furst’s reason for attendance. “But, the music is great! I really love the music.” Proceeds for the show will benefit the Virginia chapter of Rolling Thunder, the Henry and William Evans Home for Children, Blue Ridge Hospice Residential Center and the Office of George Washington Museum. Now in its eighth year, the Blues House festival is earning a reputation as a “must play” event, said Mark Wenner, vocalist and harmonica player for the Nighthawks, which brought the large crowd to its feet with their blend of bluesy rock and roll. The Washington, D.C.,-based group also served as sidemen for headliner Hubert Sumlin, who brought more than five decades of history to the stage, set up literally in the shadows of Sweet Caroline’s nightclub on Cork. “Just here for the music,” said Jim Lanning, a first-timer to a Blues House event. “I like the Blues, and this is just a great way to spend a Saturday.” Another first-time attendee was Mike Pulliam. “I just recently moved here and am learning about what’s going on in the area,” Pulliam said as he swayed to the music, air-guitaring along with The Blue Method, which featured the literally larger-than-life vocals of New Jersey’s Brian Williams. “But this is great. And I’ve learned it’s one of those ‘only in Winchester’ kind of things.” “I’m just here with my brother,” said Pulliam’s sister, Deborah Paddock of Fairfax. “But like him, I’m having a blast.” The fans weren’t restricted to any particular age group either; young and old alike were swaying to the sounds. Emma Hewett, 3, of Martinsburg was doing her boogying in the arms of her mother, Cris Hewett. “She’s been saying ‘blue’s blues’ all morning,” Hewett said.
“We first came two years ago. Missed last year, but we’re all having a great time.” The fun wasn’t limited to just the audience. Williams, whose stunning vocals kept the crowd edging close to the stage, said the Blues House’s growing reputation was all but matched in his first performance in Winchester. “We’ve really enjoyed this. The crowd was just great,” he said moments after leaving the stage. “The people here really seemed to enjoy their music.” Other performers to showcase their talents were Phil “Fly” Zuckerman, lower case blues, and The Mighty Lester Band. But it was when a 75-year-young Mississippi-born bluesman named Hubert Sumlin took the stage with The Nighthawks that Cork Street began jumping. Frail looking as he was borne through the crowd enroute to the stage, once Sumlin took his spot, with his gold-top custom Gibson Les Paul, Sumlin gave a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition that provided the audience with a priceless link to the very roots of the blues. Sumlin effortlessly both “kept the blues alive” and resoundingly introduced the genuine sound to the audience that more than lovingly showed their appreciation. When Sumlin cackled about “one summer day, my woman packed her bags and moved away ... but I’m not worried ...,” all the while seamlessly switching from finger-picking to thumb-plucking his guitar, he succinctly captured the essence of the music he has performed with legends such as Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Howlin’ Wolf. With his rousing “Red Rooster,” and an encore of “Get Your Mojo Workin’,” Sumlin clearly accomplished exactly that. “Amazing. Just amazing,” said Melinda Peters. “You couldn’t have asked for a better show. I can’t wait for next year.” Press
Release 06/19/2007 - Internal The eighth
Blues House Festival will be July 7, 2007 on the 100 block of Cork Street in
historic downtown Winchester, Virginia. Performing this year will be Hubert Sumlin with
The Nighthawks, The Blue Method, The Mighty Lester Band, lower case blues,
Phil Zuckerman and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter.
Net proceeds from the event will go to benefit The Rolling Thunder Virginia
Chapter 1, The Henry and William Evans Home for Children and the Blue Ridge
Hospice. Press
Release 07/14/2006 - Internal On Thursday,
July 14th at 5:30pm, at Sweet Caroline’s on Cork Street in
Winchester, Virginia, the Blues House executive committee held a press
conference attended by volunteers, sponsors and members of the media.
The committee presented a donation of $20,000 to the
Virginia Chapter 1 of Rolling Thunder®
Inc., and $20,000 to the
F.O.P. Ole Fredericktown Chapter #12.
$500 will be donated to The Office of
George Washington Museum. Press
Release 07/10/2006 -Internal On Thursday,
July 13th at 5:30pm, at Sweet Caroline’s on Cork Street in
Winchester, Virginia, members of the Blues House executive Press
Release 06/19/2006 - The Winchester Star Winchester resident Yvonne Alsberry loves blues music.
She cannot pinpoint one factor that makes the style of music so special. For her, everything about the music is good. “It hits the heart,” she said. “It’s you. Everything they are talking about is you.” So when she heard about the Blues House Blues Festival in downtown Winchester on Saturday, she said she just had to make her first visit to the celebration. Hundreds of people, some sitting, and many more standing, gathered at the 100 block of Cork Street Saturday afternoon for the festival, which included a lineup featuring blues performers Diunna Greenleaf and Bob Margolin, Albert Castiglia, Michael Burks, Kelly Bell, and The Nighthawks. Rock guitarist Skunk Baxter, who has performed with Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers, garnered cheers from the audience when he took the stage. The crowd laughed when Kelly Bell said he wanted to dedicate on of his blues songs to his ex-girlfriend. “Thanks for the song, honey,” he joked. Music began at noon Saturday and lasted through 6 p.m. The Blues House Blues Festival began in 1999 as a fundraiser to generate funds to renovate an 1840s duplex in Winchester’s South Kent Street neighborhood. The house was to become the residence of a Winchester police officer, thus the name Blues House was born. After taking a hiatus in 2005, the festival returned this year with music that had standing spectators dancing and those seated tapping their feet. Proceeds from this year’s Blues Festival will benefit Virginia Chapter 1 of Rolling Thunder Inc., the Old Fredericktown Chapter 12 of the Fraternal Order of Police, the Office of George Washington Museum, and Blues House 2007. Bonnie Tomblin of Berryville had been to the Blues Festival before, but attended Saturday with a friend who had not.
“I just enjoy the blues,” she said as she sat in a chair on Cork Street watching the acts and performers. Tomblin said blues music is just good, loud music. “The openness, the free spirit, it’s just great,” she said in reference to what makes the style of music so special. Tomblin’s friend, Wanda Washington, who she works with at General Electric, had the idea to come to the Blues House Blues Festival. Washington, of Stephens City, said she had never attended the festival before, but when she heard about the celebration, she called Tomblin and asked her if she wanted to attend. “I just love music,” Washington said. “Elwood’s Motorcycle” — a 1988 FLHP Police Special given to Dan Aykroyd for the opening of the Hard Rock Cafe on 57th Street in New York City — was auctioned Saturday for $20,500 to Rickie Lafollette, said Paul Thomson, an organizer with the Blues Festival. Aykroyd had given the motorcycle to his brother-in-law, Roy Dixon, who then donated it to the benefit auction. The bike is a certified police bike and carries a Blues Brothers shield on the front. Funds from its auction will go to the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police. In the next couple of weeks, Aykroyd will turn over the title to the motorcycle, Thomson said. Also at Saturday’s festivities, the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police awarded local law enforcement officers for their work in the community. Those honored from the city of Winchester were Sgt. Mike Danielson, Sgt. Robert Gather, Eric Cutler, John Blake, and Jason Hardt. Andy Vipperman, Jimmy Galbreath, and Lt. Pat Grimm were those honored from Frederick County. From Clarke County, Mike McWilliams was honored. Roy Dixon of World Wide Water to offer “Elwood’s Motorcycle”
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A downpour
Saturday delayed the music at
the 10th Annual Blues House
Festival by a couple hours, but
that only meant that the music
went later into the night.
By the time Winchester’s own
Terry Oates and the Mudcats took
the stage at about 1 p.m.,
people were filing into the
outdoor pavilion at the
Winchester Eagles Club on Baker
Lane with no regard for the
patches of slippery mud that had
formed in the grass. 
