Genre Blues | Years active 1982 to present | |
Locations Theatricum Botanicum, Topanga, California | ||
The Topanga Canyon Blues Festival is an annual event held in California, attracting blues acts from across the United States. It began in the 1982. Like the Orange County Blues Festival, it attracts some of the major blues artists in the United States. Over the years the festival has been running, it has seen major blues acts such as Etta James, Willie Dixon, Otis Rush, Big Joe Turner, Lowell Fulson, Junior Wells, Pee Wee Crayton, Phil Gates and Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis. Other acts such as Paul Butterfield, William Clarke, Linda Hopkins, Philip Sayce and Roy Gaines have appeared there.
Contents
Background
The festival is held in the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, an outdoor theater in Topanga Canyon. It is a day long event of blues and roots music. In addition to music there is a harmonica workshop and family events. The festival draws people from areas such as Malibu, Southern California, Santa Monica, Topanga Canyon, San Fernando Valley and beach areas. In 2007 the spokeswoman for the event was Kelly Davis. Zack Slovinsky is the organizer for the festival and has brought in blues acts such as Phillip Walker. He has also brought in other acts that may not be immediately identifiable as blues.
It is sponsored by the Southern California Blues Society. The Southern California Blues Society is a non-profit organization which is staffed by volunteers. The organization has the aim of preserving and promoting American Blues music and its culture. Proceeds of the festival go to the Willie Dixon Scholarship, Blues in the Schools, also free concerts promoting blues music.
Acts
In 1991, the acts scheduled to appear at the festival were Floyd Dixon, Billy Vera, Joe Houston, Lowell Fulson, Jim Beasley and Mickey Champion. The Delgado Brothers appeared at the festival in 1999.
The theme for the festival in 2005 was to honor musicians who had lived in Los Angeles, or have those who had greatly contributed to the blues heritage of Los Angeles. Aunt Kizzy's Boyz, Lady Star and the Bustin' Loose Blues Band and LA Legends Revue, an ensemble that featured Deacon Jones, Finis Tasby, Hollis Gilmore, Johnny Dyer, Melvin Eddy and Miss Mickey Champion were scheduled to appear that year for its 23rd year. The headliner for the festival in 2009 was blues guitarist Phillip Walker. The following year, Walker died. In 201l, Chick Willis, Gregg Wright, and Sean Lane appeared at the festival. They were the headline acts for the festival's 28th annual event. Another act to appear at the festival that year was the Lynwood Slim Blues Band. In 2012, some of the acts that appeared at the festival were Chicago's Jimmy Johnson, Barbara Morrison & The Joe Kincaid Band, Chris James and Patrick Rynn, and Lightnin' Willie & The Poorboys. In 2013, the headliner was Eddie Clearwater.
Recent activity
The date of May 2, 2015 marked the festival's 32nd year. One of the artists to appear in 2015 was Philip Sayce.