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Photos by Joseph A. Rosen

The banner outside the Caldwell Consistory in the small college town of Bloomsburg, PA read “Your Winter Blues Heaven on Route 11.” On Saturday, February 17^th, we got both a light dose of winter in the form of snow and rain and a heavenly deluge of blues as seven bands played the main event of the 5^th Annual Destination Blues Festival under one roof, in the Consistory.

Originally conceived as an event to boost mid-winter tourism in Columbia and Montour Counties, the event has grown in stature in its five years, primarily via word of mouth and its symbiotic relationship with nearby Briggs Farm Blues Fest and Williamsport’s Billtown Blues Festival. Given the loyalty and tight bonds among Pennsylvania’s expansive blues community, and though this was my own first year, there were many familiar faces in attendance.

Chicago’s Mississippi Heat burst forth with a high energy set of traditional blues, featuring their effervescent new vocalist, Carla Denise Stinson, band leader and harmonicist Pierre LaCocque, and guitarist Giles Corey. They mixed selections from their latest album, Cab Driving Man, with scintillating blues standards. I’ve never heard a better version of “Big Boss Man.”

Energy ramped up a few notches when last year’s most popular Briggs Farm act, Blues Music Award nominee Vanessa Collier, followed with her alto sax playing that’s so damn soulful—a mix of Jr. Walker and Cannonball Adderley. Collier’s vocals brim with enthusiasm and she did a great job of call and response with both her keyboardist and guitarist as well as giving solo opportunities to all of them. She played from her most recent release, Meeting My Shadow, most notably the band’s extended soulful take on O.V. Wright’s “You’re Gonna Make Me Cry” and her own up-tempo shaker, “Two Parts Sugar, One Part Lime.”

Headliner Victor Wainwright & The Train (another Briggs Farm veteran) took the opportunity to debut their forthcoming release (due March 9) with his boogie woogie piano and gravelly vocals. The band lived up to its aptly-titled name with a mix of funky bass lines, slashing slide guitar, and propulsive drumming. Wainwright and band sustained Collier’s bristling energy and surpassed it at a couple of junctures. Collier joined him for a tune as well. However, the snow storm took its toll as it seemed like half of attendees left before his set really kicked into high gear.

Baltimore’s Ursula Ricks Project, the “headliner” of the four downstairs performers, energized a near capacity crowd with her unique urban-based mix of funk, soul and neo-blues, sprinkling in familiar covers like “Honky-Tonk Women” and Chuck Berry’s “Little Queenie” to engage the audience. Bobby Kyle & the Administers, joined by a two-piece horn section, offered a mix of traditional blues with flavors of soul and jazz, as they performed mostly extended version of songs from Kyle’s most recent release, It’s My Life. Area favorite, Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen delivered blues-rock in the classic power trio style, joined twice in their second set by Briggs Farm regular, harmonicist James Owens. The 3^rd Street Blues Band, a popular group of high schoolers from Williamsport, proved that they could play plenty of classic covers with verve and conviction.

Friday night featured 19 area bands in 16 different venues without any cover charges. Sunday featured a brunch hosted by Bobby Kyle & The Administers along with a free gospel show that featured pianist Dave Keyes and noted vocalists Beareather Reddy and J.T. Bowen.

The planners did a great job of organizing the event with hotel packages and free shuttle service to venues. The Consistory proved to be a wonderful venue with ample space downstairs for both sitting and dancing, and the requisite amenities of several beers, wine, and food. The upstairs auditorium space had an open main floor, enabling close access to the performers and two levels of comfortable seating. It was easy to take in at least a portion of all performances, simply by walking a flight of stairs. Plans are already underway for the 6th Annual Destination Blues Music Festival. It’s a great way to escape from those dreary days of winter. Make this your destination.

—Jim Hynes