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BLUES AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2014 3The Daily News SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

blues: a style of music that evolved from southern African-American secular songs and is usually distinguished by a strong 4/4 rhythm, flat-ted thirds and sevenths, a 12-bar structure and lyrics in a three-line stanza in which the second line repeats the first.

“I think the blues will always be around. People need it.”

- Johnny Winter

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BY RANDY HAMMONSTHE DAILY NEWS

Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival volun-teer Tony Gambino said he believes the beauty of the Heritage Stage is that fans have the unique opportunity to hear local and regional musical talent.

Saturday’s Heritage Stage musical lineup runs from 11:45 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. New Orleans’

BLUES AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 20144 The Daily NewsSEPTEMBER 24, 2014

The whole song

DWAYNE DOPSIE

Heritage Stage acts complete musical picture

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Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers are the featured Heritage Stage artists. They play from 6:15 until 7:30 p.m.

“They keep you tapping your toes, stomping your feet and swaying back and forth,” Gambino said, who is in charge of the Heritage Stage. “They are just fun. It’s a great way to wrap up music on that stage and then catch the music at the Main Stage.”

Gambino said Dopsie’s Zydeco sound is defi-nitely unique.

“It’s Louisiana. It’s New Orleans. It’s a wonder-ful sound,” Gambino said. “You definitely feel at home when he’s on stage. We’re really fortunate to have him.

“And he wanted to come here. When an artist like the caliber of Dwayne Dopsie wants to come, that’s big.”

Heritage Stage artists also include Petty Bones Roots, Bogalusa’s own Keenan Knight, Man Overboard Big Band and Trent & Zac with One Way South playing behind them.

• Petty Bones Roots, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.This area group features the husband and wife

duo of Anne and Jerry Crowell.“They actually met at Birdie’s Roadhouse on

Highway 21 when she was there to see Big Daddy O and Keenan Knight play in 1984,” Gambino said. “Theirs is an American sound with some old roots country music.”

• Keenan Knight, 1:30-2:30 p.m.“Keenan went out to Los Angeles out there. He

has recorded CDs and a lot of his own music,” Gambino said. “Keenan can do anything; he’s extremely talented. He’s learning to play the sax. He writes his own songs because he loves the music. He does jazz, swing and rock and is just amazing. He’s going to play a lot of his own music on Saturday, and I’m excited about that.”

• Man Overboard Big Band, 3-4 p.m.The group features trumpet player Shalom Bot,

who is a sophomore at Mandeville High School. The musical program is in its second year.

“It’s a totally different sound if you like big band music,” Gambino said.

• Trent & Zac, 4:30-5:45 p.m.The artists are from outlying areas of Washington

Parish.“They are young performers who play up at

Birdie’s all the time,” Gambino said. “They’re playing original stuff this time. They play a young, country sound. I’ve enjoyed them when I’ve heard them,” Gambino said.

“For the Heritage Stage, we try and get local and regional acts and try and include young musicians who have their roots here or in close proximity,” Gambino said.

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BLUES AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2014 7The Daily News SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Artist spotlight

The BBHF III headliner, J.J. Grey & Mofro, will take the stage at 8 p.m. Satur-day and close the fest in a powerful, passionate fury of down-home Southern funk. Known for a grimy blend of front porch soul, roots-deep story telling and laying-it-on-the-line shows that move audiences to dance and, sometimes, to tears, this band is at the height of its game and Grey has a past that provides abundant material and countless characters who struggle and triumph through his music. Now he’s dropped his fighter’s stance to let the songs and stories flow through him, creating themselves and finding outlet via the man who’s connected to the singing southern soil in all its gritty glory.

JJ Grey & Mofro

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BLUES AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 20148 The Daily NewsSEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Artist spotlightAn increasingly familiar face and sound, with ex-ceedingly familiar musical blood flowing through his veins, will brighten and en-liven the 4:30 p.m. shift on the Blues Stage. Devon All-man, son of Gregg and nephew of Duane, has gained growing acclaim as a singer, song-writer and guitar master with the blues/rock su-per group Royal Southern Brother-hood and as a solo artist known for his powerful voice and experimental blues stylings. Allman will treat the BBHF audience to a healthy serving of second-generation music royalty.

Devon Allman

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BLUES AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2014 9The Daily News SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Artist spotlight

Another member of the Brotherhood, Mike Zito, will bring his stinging electric slide guitar and blistering, raspy vocals to Bogalusa in the 2:45 p.m. time slot. The Brother, who combines Texas blues roots with the signature flavor of New Orleans, got through drug abuse with the guidance of BBHF II alum Walter Trout. He knows pain and he knows how to make it feel better, celebrating his redemption through music.

Mike Zito

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BLUES AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 201410 The Daily NewsSEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Artist spotlight

By popular demand, the BBHF will expand to include Friday evening when headliner Paul Thorn, an audience favorite from last year, will bring his engag-ing saint and sinner mix back to Bogalusa. Thorn is the son of a Pentecostal minister and nephew of a pimp, a former pro boxer and an acclaimed singer/songwriter who brings his musical stories to life in a muscular brand of rock-ing roots Blues. He was a hit last year, and he earned the task of closing the fest with a flourish on Friday. By the time Thorn takes the stage at 8 p.m., the crowd should be roused and ready.

Paul Thorn

Photo by Lee Harrelson

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BY CHRIS KINKAIDTHE DAILY NEWS

The Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival is having a 5K Race, which is sponsored by H.L. Brownstone’s Motivated to Move Run/Walk Club, Sept. 27 at Cassidy Park.

This is the first year of the race.

“We are so excited to add fitness fun to the Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival,” race coordinator Suzie Pittman said. “The goal of our H.L. Brownstone Motivated to Move Run/Walk Club was to establish a first-class 5K race to add to the overall experience BBHF has to offer.”

Raceday registration runs from 7 to 7:45 a.m., with the event getting under way at 8 a.m.

The fee is $25, which includes the race and a general admission tick-et to the festival.

It’s open to all ages and awards will be given out for many dif-ferent age groups.

Custom medals will be awarded to the top

three finishers from each age group.

The top male and female runner and the top male and female walker receive a festi-val poster.

Door prizes will also

be awarded.For more informa-

tion, call Pittman at 985-516-7336 or visit http://www.bogalus-ablues.com/Events/Festival5kApplication.aspx.

BLUES AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2014 11The Daily News SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

With addition of 5K, dancing not only exercise at Fest

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The population of Bogalusa is expected to increase by about half this weekend when people from across the region gather at Cassidy Park to cele-brate the third annual Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival Sept. 26-27.

Since its inception, the festival has attract-ed accolades and big crowds because top-notch musical lineups. And its hand-crafted, Louisiana-focused, fam-ily friendly atmosphere prompts visitors to return regularly and to bring their friends.

This year, the two-stage lineup includes JJ Grey & Mofro, the Ruthie Foster Band,

the Devon Allman Band, Mike Zito and the Wheel, Johnny Sansone with guest Chief Monk Boudreaux and the Golden Eagles, Big George Brock, Paul Thorn, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, Big Daddy O, the Petty Bones, Keenan Knight, Trent and Zac, and the Mandeville High School Jazz Band.

Approximately 20 food vendors will offer succulent regional spe-cialties, and about that many art vendors will provide opportunities for visitors to purchase a wide range of the unique, hand crafted

products of their cre-ative imaginations.

Besides all that, there will be art classes and train rides for the kids, a splash pad and play-ground, harmonica workshops for people of all ages, canoe rides, free admittance to the on-site Pioneer and Native American muse-ums, and much more to occupy those who aren’t dancing in front of the stage while the music fills the air.

The BBHF opens from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and continues from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets are $10 per day in advance, and children 12 and under get in free. Check it out and purchase tick-ets online at bogalusa blues.com.

Note that during this political season, politi-cal materials will not be allowed at the Bogalusa Blues Festival.

Regarding transpor-tation, Washington Parish Public Transit is announcing an extension of operating hours for the festival. Transit hours normal-ly run from 6 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Friday, Sept. 26, transit hours will be from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m., while Saturday, Sept. 27, operating hours will be from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Washington Parish Public Transit will resume its nor-mal hours of operation effective Monday, Sept. 29.

For additional infor-mation, visit bogalus-ablues.com online.

BLUES AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 201412 The Daily NewsSEPTEMBER 24, 2014

FESTIVAL NOTES

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16 BLUES AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2014 The Daily NewsSEPTEMBER 24, 2014

2014 Blues Fest poster melds two local icons

Besides a stellar lineup and lots of opportunities for family fun with a decided Louisiana flavor, the Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival now includes the chance to purchase what is sure to become a collector’s item fashioned by a native son whose

talents in the visual arts have earned him widespread critical acclaim.

Bogalusa born Richard Thomas, whose huge mural of local music legends has long greeted visitors to the Louis Armstrong Airport in New Orleans and whose four-frame

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1989 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival poster of Fats Domino remains the top sell-ing Jazz Fest poster of all time, has created a three-frame poster for BBHF III.

“I have a reason for loving Bogalusa,” the c o m m u n i t y - m i n d e d Thomas said. “I decided to find a way we could work together.”

While he considered his options for sub-ject matter, one iconic musician soon insinu-ated himself in Thomas’ spirit.

“I started noticing similarities between Professor Longhair and myself,” he said. “We both left Bogalusa when we were 2 and went to New Orleans. We both had meager means. He used a bro-ken piano, and my first paintbrushes were from Rolland Golden, (internationally known Louisiana water color-ists who Thomas met while delivering news-papers as a teenager.) I painted on cardboard he was throwing out.

“You start from mea-ger beginnings and show who you are to the world.”

Thomas’s poster shows both the subject and the artist in glori-ous light and vibrancy. In doing so, it also pro-vides a glimpse the lim-itless soul and bound-less creative spirit that continues to define Bogalusa.

Thomas said the three frames represent differ-ent aspects of the life of Professor Longhair, born Henry Roeland Byrd. All are framed in a dark band of black in honor of Bogalusa — the native Choctaw

name, Bogue Lusa, means “dark water.” And the bands are filled with symbols of Louisiana joy, includ-ing music, dance, food, fun and Mardi Gras, and touched and sur-rounded by whimsical color.

The first frame, in which Fess’ image is backed with orange and a yellow glow, repre-sents the Natural Man, Thomas said. The sec-ond and central frame, Blues Man, is backed in shades of blue and represents the New Orleans music icon’s “hardships and him liv-ing through them.” The third, backed in purple with yellow and orange, represents Mardi Gras Man because the piano man who gave the world “Go to the Mardi Gras” is largely iden-tified with the excite-

ment and free-wheeling fun of Carnival.

And to make the magic more complete, in each frame Professor Longhair’s own image is reflected at the piano

in the lenses of his over-sized shades.

White said that while putting the fes-tival together, she did extensive research into Bogalusa’s musical his-

tory, and it was this research that led her to contact Thomas about the possibility of creat-ing the poster..

“It’s amazing to me how musically inclined this city was at one time,” she said, not-ing she had been told Fourth Street was once lined with music clubs.

She said that her research led to dis-cover some amazing musical connections to the city. And it was through this research that she discovered two of Bogalusa’s most famous sons with musi-cal connections.

So, with nothing but hope in her heart, White said she contacted Thomas about the pos-sibility of one day put-ting together a poster for the fledgling Blues Festival. Much to her surprise and delight,

he agreed to create this year’s poster.

“We are honored to have Richard as our poster artist this year and thrilled he chose to paint Professor Longhair,” she said. “What a great example of our heritage — two Bogalusa babies who made contributions to the world through their respective arts.

“It seems like a natu-ral fit for these two men to be joined in spirit and to make their joint debut in Bogalusa. We are proud and honored to be the conduit for this union.”

To get a poster, tick-ets or additional infor-mation on the Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival, visit bogalus-ablues.com. And, of course, the posters will be available at Cassidy Park this weekend.

BLUES AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2014 17The Daily News SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

RICHARD THOMAS

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BY RANDY HAMMONSTHE DAILY NEWS

Plenty of food, arts and crafts and children’s activities will be avail-able this weekend during the third annual Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival at Cassidy Park.

Approximately 60 vendors are scheduled to attend the two-day event, which begins Friday and con-cludes Saturday. Representatives of non-profits will also attend to share information for various causes.

“We have close to 60 vendors com-ing,” Pam Knight, who is in charge of BBHF vendors, said. “We allow local groups who want to raise money for causes. We try to push local stuff at the festival.”

Knight said vendors plan to attend from far and wide.

“We have a lot of really great art

vendors coming from as far away as Nashville,” Knight said. “We have some vendors who will be selling different kinds of hats and jewelry. Some of the jewelry comes from the Bogue Chitto River. We’ll have pot-tery and wood bowls by Paul Robin, who is from the area.”

Knight said Feltus Wirtz, from the Covington area, will be on hand to display his silver, brass and copper and cut river rocks jewelry.

Also, local oil painter Rodney McGehee will return to sell his paint-ings, and She New Orleans resident Kristy Ruffino will have her New Orleans Firehose bags for sale.

“She makes her bags from retired firehouses from New Orleans fire departments,” Knight said. “I’ve seen her stuff, so people need to come and bring some money.”

Knight said Picayune’s Becky

Veazy, who has Magnolia Iron Works, will attend. Magnolia Iron Works sells decorative items, such as fireplace screens, wind chimes and yard art.

Knight added that Bogalusa High School’s Project Grad 2015 will be on hand to raise funds for this year’s graduating class.

Knight said 17 food vendors will be on the grounds selling a variety of edible treats.

“We’ll have a high variety of sno-ballls, and we’ll have different kinds of barbecue an seafood,” Knight said. “We have Plowboys Roasted Peanuts from Varnado, owned by Wade and Debbie Magee. We’ll have fresh pro-duce from Susan Stewart and Trolley Time Vending on Avenue F.”

Knight said popular local favor-ite, Bogalusa Barbecue and Catering, will return. She said the company sold out its inventory last year.

“Kelly Dupont does homemade boudin egg rolls with Mayhaw jelly and catfish balls,” Knight said. “It’s all good.”

Also, Yoyo’s Restaurant will be selling its popular hamburgers. Covington’s Beck-N-Call Cafe will have a menu that includes craw-fish etouffee and shrimp and grits. Knight said New Orleans’ Sonyia Riley does wonders with jalapeno

peppers, crabmeat and cheese. Riley will also have stuffed bread on the menu.

Many of the activities scheduled for the weekend are aimed at the younger set. Knight said Bogalusa’s Cajun Canvas & More, owned by Aundriea and Tim Mitchell, will offer 30-minute painting sessions for $10. They will be set up near the splash pad in the rear of the park.

Harmonica workshops were popu-lar last year at the Blues Festival and will come back this year for an encore. By participating in the workshop, children can receive a free hour-long session on the instru-ment. The workshop is hosted by the Harmonica Society of New Orleans.

Booyah Sports, a girls’ travel soft-ball team, will sponsor canoe rides on Bogue Lusa Creek. A pitching booth will also be available, along with tents where children can get glitter tattoos and faces painted with glitter.

Knight said Larrilyn Hickman will have a booth to share information on the Dirty Outlaw Dash, scheduled for the weekend after the Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival.

“We’ll have so many different things there that people will sure-ly enjoy,” Knight said. “When you come, come hungry.”

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Plenty of action away from the music stages

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BLUES AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 201320 The Daily NewsSEPTEMBER 25, 2013

Artist spotlight

New Orleans music icon Walter “Wolfman” Washington, who is widely ac-claimed for soulful vocals and searing guitar work that are credited with help-ing to define the Crescent City’s unique musical hybrid, is sure to have every-body howling at the moon. He plays, along with his band, the Roadmasters, at 6:15 p.m. Friday on the Blues Stage.

Walter “Wolfman”

Washington

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BLUES AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2014 23The Daily News SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

2014 Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival Lineup and Activities

FridayBlues Stage

5-6 p.m. Big Daddy O6:15-7:45 p.m. Walter “Wolfman” Washington

& The Roadmasters8 p.m.-till Paul Thorn

SaturdayBlues Stage

Noon-1 p.m. Big George Brock1:15-2:30 p.m. Johnny Sansone with guest Chief Monk Boudreaux

& The Golden Eagles2:45-4:15 p.m. Mike Zito and The Wheel

4:30-6 p.m. Devon Allman Band6:15-7:45 p.m. Ruthie Foster Band

8 p.m.-till JJ Grey & Mofro

Heritage Stage 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. The Petty Bones

1:30-2:30 p.m. Keenan Knight3-4 p.m. Mandeville High Jazz Band

4:30-5:45 p.m. Trent & Zac6:15-7:30 p.m. Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers

Events8 a.m. 5K run/walk

10 a.m. Parish high school bands open festival with parade around the park

Opening Ceremonies to include presentation to Washington Parish art students participating in Blues Art Contest

with artist Richard C. Thomas10 a.m. Native American and Pioneer Museums open

10 a.m. Canoeing on Bogue Lusa Creek10 a.m. Kid Zone Opens with spacewalks, train rides, scavenger hunts,

face painting, etc.11:30 a.m. Cajun Canvases art classes begin 30-minute sessions, 30

kids per class, classes scheduled all day2 p.m. The Jazz Hounds of Bogalusa Documentary including

Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival 2014 tribute artist Rhythm Aces presented by Kathryn Hobgood

1 and 3 p.m. New Orleans Crescent City Harmonica Club workshops for children

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Children learn Bogalusa train history in the Pioneer Museum and get tickets to ride a train around Cassidy Park

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BY DAVID VITRANOTHE DAILY NEWS

Ruthie Foster, who plays the penultimate show on the Blues Stage this year, has been traveling a musical path since honing her chops as a child in Texas churches. Since then, she has spent time with the U.S. Navy Band and in music venues the world over. Along the way, she released handful of albums and garnered a few Grammy nominations. Her latest, “Promise of a Brand New Day,” was released last month on Blue Corn records. For the new record, Foster enlisted the help of acclaimed musician Meshell Ndegeocello. Foster, who often draws comparisons to Bonnie Raitt, will hit the Blues Stage Saturday at 6:15 p.m. It will be her first time playing in Bogalusa, and she gave The Daily News a little insight into who she is and what everyone can expect at the show.

Those unacquainted with your work might be surprised by the upbeat nature of the open-ing track, “Singing the Blues.”

RF: I always put out uplifting music. I think a lot of it comes from my gospel background. “Brand New Day” is kind of taking it another step. I wanted to get that full spectrum in there with this record. Also, I got a chance to write again. I

did write half of it. Part of that is working with Meshell. She really pushed me to try to get some-thing that says what I want to say.

The lives of musicians can be pretty hectic when you’re touring all the time. What’s your tour schedule like now?

RF: Right now, I kind of tour like a week at a time. I’m trying to balance my family life with my music.

On the album “Let It Burn,” you worked with some of the musicians from New Orleans’ Funky Meters. What was that like?

RF: That was awesome working with those guys. When you put a record together, you try to put together your A team. George Porter Jr. was at the top of my list of people I’ve wanted to play with for a long time. Once we got him on board, everybody else just kind of went, “Well, yeah, George is going to be there.”

I learned so much from him. I felt privileged to work with someone who was always there, always prepared. His playing speaks for itself.

How did working with Meshell on the new record come about?

RF: We kind of followed each other for a while. She would show up at my shows, and we’d have a small chat. And I’d show up at her shows when I was anywhere near Austin, and we’d chat some more, and we finally found a hole in our schedules to work together.

We communicated through emails because she travels much more world-widely than I do right now. I approached her with people that I wanted to work with. At the top of my list of guitar players

at that time — and still is — Doyle Bramhall. I had been wanting to work with him for many years, and I can’t believe she managed to get him to do some solo work. She pulled out her band of people that she loves to work with as the rhythm section. I can’t believe how beautiful (Chris Bruce) made my guitar technique sound. He took my demos and made them sound like, well obviously, how a real guitar player would play. It captured the style that I grew up with and really wanted to put on this record. I am in love with his guitar playing, which is a good thing because I’m learning the songs all over again.

This was the first record you recorded in Los Angeles. What was that experience like?

RF: For me it’s about atmosphere, and L.A. is a very different atmosphere from New Orleans, Memphis and Austin. It’s very laid back. And the process of recording with her as a producer was different. Usually, we’d spend pretty much the entire day laying down basic tracks with the band in the studio. We didn’t do that. She had already gone through the tracks and put down the basic tracks for me by the time I showed up, so we were there to work on my vocals, period. I’d do my vocal part, and then I’d go drink some tea and let her work on a rough mix. We knew we had something really special.

And the whole thing of sitting by the pool in January, very different for me. It was just a very different atmosphere. Meshell was there the whole time, so it was really cool to kind of pull off her energy in that way. It was a really satisfying experience working with her. I look forward to doing something else with her along the line.

Why did you decide to call the new record “Promise of a Brand New Day”?

RF: I just really couldn’t figure out what else to call it. It was one of those acapella songs that tend to stick out more. And I think it says a lot about where I am in my own life right now, really get-ting to a point where I appreciate all aspects of what the blues means.

The record itself seems to follow a progres-sion, taking listeners through a range of emo-tions from joy to the depths of despair and back to rebirth. Was this intentional?

RF: I’ve been through all of that in the last year. I think that has a lot to do with the title for me, coming out of all of that. It’s been a journey, and I think that title kind of says it all for me.

So, what can the people who come out for your show on Sept. 27 expect?

RF: It’s always a good show. This is about having a hallelujah time when you come to see us play.

BLUES AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 201424 The Daily NewsSEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Ruthie Foster’s latest CD shows different side of the blues

RUTHIE FOSTER

Photo by Riccardo Piccirillo

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BLUES AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2014The Daily News SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

BY CHRIS KINKAIDTHE DAILY NEWS

The people in charge of running events are always looking to make improvements year after year, and the Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival is no different.

The event, which is being held Sept. 26 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sept. 27 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. at Cassidy Park, has made some addi-tions to help widen its appeal and hopefully bring in more visitors.

Malinda White, who is the executive chair of the festival, said one of the things they did was increase it to a two-day event. This has enabled organizers to bring in an even wider range of talent than they have in years past.

Increasing the draw as well as the timespan, however, means more people looking for a place to stay, so the festi-val is offering camping. In partnership with the city, there were electri-cal and water hookups installed at Cassidy Park. White added that the money Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival organization is collecting for camp-ing fees is designated for improvements in Cassidy Park.

White said the camp-ing is important because of the limited number of hotels the area can offer to visi-tors.

“We are bringing in a shower stall trailer,” White said. “It’s heated water in an air condi-

tioned unit. It has four showers for men and women with a mirror. It just adds to the ambi-ance of the festival. I’ve been to festivals all over, and that’s one of the things that helps bring people in. Some of these places don’t have a lot of hotels, but that doesn’t deter peo-ple from coming in.”

White said the festi-val is adding canoeing this year, too.

Booyah Sports is a traveling girls softball team and they are offer-ing canoe rides in the Bogalusa Creek.

“We are really excit-ed about it because it’s unique,” White said. “It just adds to the experi-ence of the festival.”

White said the festi-val is also having art and harmonica classes this year.

She said that Cajun Canvases will conduct art classes for children.

Crescent City Harmonica Club of New Orleans is han-dling the harmonica classes. White said the participants get their own harmonica.

Also, the festival asked the school chil-dren of Washington Parish to participate in a Blues Art Exhibit. White said they got tre-mendous participation from that.

The participants will be honored in the open-ing ceremonies with their family. They are being recognized for their contributions, and the art works will be on display in a sepa-rate tent next to poster artist Richard Thomas’

display. They will get cer-

tificates signed by Thomas.

“The blues festival is all about encouraging and supporting the next generation of creative artists. That was part of our intention in asking the kids to contribute their artwork,” Festival Promotions Chair Marcelle Hanemann said.

White said the festival also provides an oppor-tunity to learn about the blues because the children were asked to draw something related to the blues genera so that it could open their minds to something beyond what is preva-lent in mainstream media.

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