13th Annual Mount Baker R&B Festival

August 1, 2 & 3
Deming Log Show Fairgrounds

Voted “Best Blues Event” in Washington state three times by the Washington Blues Society!

The 12th Annual Mount Baker R&B Festival was a huge success but the 13th looks primed to beat even that one. The music was world-class but the new venue has set the stage for the future. The Deming Log Show Fairgrounds, 180 acres of intimate camping, 100 RV hookups and convenient facilities make this one of the premier festival sites in the Northwest. The site will accommodate some 10,000 fans but organizers are keeping it at around 3,000 in order to maintain the festival’s famously relaxed vibe.

This year’s talent lineup includes: Eric Sardinas and Big Motor slide guitar prodigy from Southern California sets the stage on Friday. After a decade of touring Europe, Canned Heat (a headliner at the famous Woodstock ’69 festival) is touring the United States this summer and organizers were lucky enough to get them at the festival. Both of these legendary bands headlined the famous Monterey Pop Festival in ’67. This year’s line-up is packed with even more national acts including a special collaboration of the best sidemen on the planet, the Zen Blues Quartet (Mike Finnegan - B3: Hendrix, Crosby Stills and Nash, Joe Cocker, Etta James, Rod Stewart, Ringo Starr; Steve Ferrone - drums: Tom Petty, Harrison, Clapton, Average White Band Tim Scott - bass: Stevie Wonder, Tower of Power, Robben Ford and John March - guitar). To add to the all-star lineup, “BluesBreaker” Kal David & The Real Deal, harmonica wizard Jason Ricci & New Blood and Black Crowes guitarist Marc Fords ’s Fuzz Machine are also on the bill.

A total of 15 bands or more will share the stage before the weekend is over. In support of these great national acts are some of the best regional acts from across the state: The Fat Tones from Spokane, Becki Sue & Her Big Rockin Daddies from Seattle, Everett’s Curtis Hammond and his nine-piece band featuring Mark Knofsker & The 13th St Horns, local favorites The Mike Mulder Band (featuring keyboard legend Larry Knechtel with their new CD release), The Chris Egers Band (father-son team from Midlife Crisis), and the J. Charles Band opening on Saturday morning. Another appearance by Evan VanFossen and his Grey House Blues Band will begin the weekend’s music on Friday at 7 p.m.

Tickets available online at www.bakerblues.com or by calling NW Ticket Sales 360/629-8027. In Bellingham at Avalon Music, 1330 Railroad Avenue or call 360/676-9573.