Tag Archives: Blues Views & BBQ Festival

Spin Doctors, Rick Derringer Headline Best-Ever Blues, Views & BBQ Fest

Posted on August 10, 2014 | Comments Off

When it comes to blues music, Westport is not exactly Chicago or Memphis.

And when you’re talking barbecue, Kansas City and Atlanta come to mind far quicker than this place.

But over the past 6 years — thanks to the Blues, Views & BBQ Festival — the Westport Downtown Merchants Association has done a phenomenal job putting our town on the music and culinary maps.

The 7th annual event — set for Saturday and Sunday, August 30-31 on Labor Day weekend — will make all previous ones look like county fairs.

Spin Doctors will headline this year’s Blues, Views & BBQ Festival.

Blues, rock, brass and funk fans will be blown away by the lineup. The WDMA has signed Spin Doctors, Rick Derringer and a host of other big names — Bill Kirchen, Pop Chubby, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Raw Oyster Cult and Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys, to name a few — and rented the new Levitt Pavilion for 2 days of fantastic entertainment.

There’s 9 hours of music each day, for the very cool pre-pay price of $50 Saturday and $25 Sunday ($60 and $30 respectively, at the door). A 2-day pass is just $70 — and kids under 12 are free, with a paying adult.

(For Westporters only — and only through August 17 — the Saturday all-access pass is $40. The regular pre-sale price is $50; on-site, it’s $60.)

Meanwhile, the “Family Fun Fest” — in the library and Imperial Avenue parking lots — features plenty of food (including Bobby Q’s, but also from Blue Lemon, Meltmobile, Rolling Cones and others, plus of course a worthy selection of beverages); the always popular BBQ competition; rib- and pie-eating contests; cooking demonstrations; music (including School of Rock kids); bouncy stuff, and all that jazz.

And the price for that has been cut, from $25 last year to just $10. Kids 12 and under go free.

The Packin’ Heat BBQ team always provides hot competition. (Photo/MIke Thut)

The WDMA does a great job — often without proper credit — promoting free community events, like the Fine Arts Festival, Halloween Parade and Art About Town. They donate to other non-profits, and with projects like Tunnel Vision they beautify downtown.

The Blues, Views & BBQ Festival is the WDMA’s signature event. In just 2 weeks, Westport will be smokin’.

(For advance tickets and more information, click on http://www.bluesviewsbbq.com or call 203-505-8716. Gates open at 11 a.m. Music starts at noon, and goes straight through to 9:30 p.m.)

Big Sam’s Funky Nation will also perform at the Blues, Views & BBQ Fest. (Photo/Adam McCullough)

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Posted in Children, Downtown, Entertainment, Organizations, Restaurants

Tagged Blues Views & BBQ Festival, Rick Derringer, Spin Doctors, Westport Downtown Merchants Association

Labor Day Blues

Posted on August 31, 2013 | 1 comment

This is not a weekend for dieters.

Ribs, bacon, beer — it’s all there, on overstuffed plates and in overflowing pitchers, at the 6th Annual Blues, Views & BBQ Festival in downtown Westport.

Levitt Pavilion construction forced the event to relocate this weekend to Jesup Green and the Taylor Parking Lot. The new riverfront location works well.

At mid-afternoon today — hardly prime time — the place was packed. Two bands played; little kids romped on a few inflatables, and the haze of dozens of barbecues wafted everywhere.

Blues,Views & BBQ continues today (Saturday) through 10 p.m. Gates open tomorrow (Sunday) at 11 a.m.; the action continues until 9 p.m. Click here for more information.

The “Grillfather” team, hard at work at the BBQ competition.

Bands from the School of Rock rocked the festival.

Bands from the School of Rock rock the festival.

There’s plenty of room to relax (and eat) at the Blues, Views & BBQ Festival.

Music on the main stage runs the gamut — but the blues influences every genre.

A good-size crowd gathers on Jesup Green for the music. There will be more people — and bands — tonight.

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Posted in Downtown, Entertainment

Tagged Blues Views & BBQ Festival, School of Rock

Blues Views #2

Posted on September 3, 2012 | 14 comments

Lynn U. Miller is a good friend — and a great photographer.

“06880” readers are fortunate she was at this weekend’s Blues, Views & BBQ festival — and that she’s sharing her shots of the fun, folks, food and music.

It was a great weekend. Thanks go to all who helped put on Westport’s newest cool tradition (with the Downtown Merchants Association in the lead).

No one asked my opinion, but here it is: Keep the Labor Day weekend date. The blues rocks!

Blue Lemon’s grill station vied with Bobby Q’s for most popular. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

The Levitt was the perfect spot to hear some great, get-up-and-move blues. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

Two kids found the festival fun — and funny. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

What’s a barbecue festival without a beer (or three)? (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

Not The Boss. This weekend, the blues ruled. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

For this kid, the Blues, Views & BBQ Festival was a slam dunk. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

One couple did their Mitt and Ann Romney imitation (and much, much better.) (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

14 Comments

Posted in Downtown, Entertainment, Organizations

Tagged Blues Views & BBQ Festival, Westport Downtown Merchants Association

Westport: Blues Capital Of The World

Posted on August 26, 2012 | 1 comment

When it comes to community celebrations, Westport likes to think of itself as Anytown, USA.

But at the 4th of July fireworks, our picnics and cookouts look like they’ve been catered by Martha Stewart.

Half the Little League coaches marching in the Memorial Day parade yammer on cellphones, looking like they’re finalizing an M&A.

Thankfully, nothing is more Westport — and yet more un-Westport — than the Blues Views & BBQ Festival. It draws blues fans, barbeque cooks, partiers and families from all over town — and all over creation.

The very first year, a few big burly guys rode in on their motorcycles. Then they stood in line next to sweet little girls, waiting for their free Melissa & Doug toys.

If that don’t say “Blues Views and BBQ,” nothin’ will.

The 5th annual event is set for next weekend — September 1 and 2, at the Levitt Pavilion and library parking lot. (Only in Westport would you hold a blues festival next to the library.)

This year’s event features extended hours (till 11 p.m. on Saturday, 8 p.m. on Sunday); the return of Festival favorite James Montgomery; Sunday night closer Billy Squier (who actually has a blues background), and a dozen other bands.

Popa Chubby will be back. Supposedly last year he said, “Westport, Connecticut? I used to get arrested in places like this.” (Click below for his amazing version of “Over the Rainbow.”)

And who knew there’s a 12-year-old blues prodigy from Ridgefield — a place even less bluesy than Westport — who has performed with Buddy Guy?

But it ain’t the blues without no bbq. A Kansas City Barbeque Society competition will crown a king (or queen) of the backyard smokers (proceeds benefit the Westport Woman’s Club‘s food closet). Kids compete for the best hot dog, burger and “chef’s choice.”

There’s also a BBQ marketplace, and a food court filled with not only wood-fired, grilled and roasted goods, along with ice cream and pie, but also handcrafted beer. (This being Westport, there’s also premium liquor and wine.)

A happy scene from last year’s Blues, Views & BBQ Festival.

Other activities include cooking demonstrations by chefs sponsored by CTBites; pie and rib eating contests; performances by the School of Rock; street performers; educational events, and the Melissa & Doug Kids’ Corral with hands-on activities, arts and crafts, games, giveaways, bull riding, magicians, tattoos, karate and more.

On the first 2 days of September, Westport, Connecticut becomes the Blues Capital of the United States.

The press release promises a “foot stompin’, finger lickin’, down-home festival.” Yes, right next to the library.

(Blues, Views & BBQ runs Saturday, September 1 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, September 2 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students and seniors; children under 5 are free. Click here for discount packages or more information. The event is sponsored by the Westport Downtown Merchants Association.)