Blue Water Music Festival gets to the root of local talent

It was quickly apparent walking into the 2015 Blue Water Music Festival on Saturday that the hurdles and rumors about the show being canceled were over. No one seemed to know or care about any problems.

The multi-generational crowd had gathered at the Sawdust Festival grounds for a day or two of rock and roots music. It didn’t matter that there had been snags over permits and sponsors.

The show was on, the sun was out and the music was happening.

The grounds were filled by around 2 p.m. both days and stayed that way until the end of the evening. Music from local California “barefoot” reggae bands and traditional reggae to folksy stomp and blues rock fit perfectly into the venue.

When talking about roots music, most would think about Jamaican reggae roots and Bob Marley, but don’t forget the other roots, American blues and jazz. It’s really all “roots” music, and it made a strong showing both days.

This year the Green Earth stage was moved to face the entirety of the grounds, providing a fuller sound. Smart improvements like the mural-size backdrop behind two of stages created a nice visual with the performing artists.

The first performer on the Green Earth stage Saturday was Trevor Green, a multi-instrumentalist who blended guitar with three didgeridoos as he kept time while barefoot and grinning. It was a musical one-man show where people took to the floor as if in a rain dance.

Next up on the green stage was The Record Company, an L.A. trio who kicked the festival to the next level with a gritty mix of roots-rocking blues in the tradition of Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker.

It’s refreshing to see a younger generation of bands playing traditional blues music with such dedication, power, precision and spirit. The Record Company is doing for roots music what Vinnie and the Hooligans are doing with folk music and what Moonshine does for blues and rockabilly.

The trio got the crowd moving and hooting and put the “dust” in the Sawdust — it was clearly rising in the afternoon sun when they closed with “Don’t Let Me Get Lonely.”

“You guys starting to feel it?” asked lead singer and guitar player Chris Vos of the crowd after the song. Following the gig, Vos sat on the edge of the stage sweating profusely, both from the performance and the fact that he was sick, though you never would have known it by his performance.

Like last year, curiosity had people gravitating to the Showcase Stage, in the shady, intimate confines of the Saloon courtyard. Some of the musicians who played there last year set up on ground level, forgoing the mini-stage, giving the whole thing the feel of a backyard barbecue.

Later that day, country blues jammers The Outriders set the tone for more roots music and packed onto the small stage. The crowd pressed forward to get into the act, encouraged by vocalist Katie Jo Watson.

Vinnie and the Hooligans carried on despite missing two band mates. Leader Vinnie Callini and banjo picker Mike Pham nailed it. They played with speed and intensity, almost like bluegrass punk. Things began to get a little wild as the beer and food line was forced to mix with the sitting- and standing-room-only audience. But it ended up fine. Everyone behaved respectfully, and cooperation held fast in the tight quarters. How could it not? It was too much fun.

The Pawn Shop Kings had a groovy vibe going. Brothers Joel and Scott Owen announced how great grandmothers are and that they felt bad it took them 10 years to write “Grandmothers are Rad,” which drew hearty applause.

Later that day, the longtime local boys of Common Sense, led by Nick-I, brought their guitar-driven reggae rock via Phil Gough and Billy Sherman on guitars, Tracy Sledge on drums and John Olander on bass. They continue to evolve and sound as good as ever with originals like the new “Beautiful.”

The roots reggae theme continued into Sunday. Local legends the Rebel Rockers and World Anthem played back-to-back gigs on the Green Earth stage. Popular reggae radio personality Roger Steffens took time in between to honor Jack Miller with this year’s American Reggae Hall of Fame award, which celebrates a 40-year journey in reggae music.

Both bands reenergized the festival at the end.

The Wheeland Brothers asked the crowd which two of their local hit songs, “Beans and Rice” or “Sand in my Sheets,” should end their set. “Beans and Rice” won out and had people snake dancing in and around their mics.

Special Blend fittingly jammed the group’s hit “Sunday,” led by singer and DJ Mighty.

The two-day festival succeeded in blending all forms of roots music from Americana to Jamaican and moved head-on into the California style.

There were no noticeable problems and hopefully this trend will continue. I only once saw the “decibel guy” reading his meter and telling Billy Sherman of Common Sense to click it down a notch. But no worries. It didn’t need to be too loud.

Musical talent abounded. And the Sawdust grounds proved again to be an irresistible setting for a daytime concert that can produce a pleasant afternoon of music and art — except with the volume turned up a notch.