NIAGARA FALLS: Volunteers needed for Blues Festival

Local News

September 1, 2009

Staff Reports The Niagara Gazette Tue Sep 01, 2009, 05:13 PM EDT

Those who like the blues and want to help out at an up-and-coming local blues festival are invited to attend a meeting for volunteers being held at 6 p.m. Thursday at Legends at the Quality Inn.

Toby Rotella, coordinator of the 2nd annual Niagara Falls Blues Festival, said he is seeking blues lovers who might have some time to spare on Friday or Saturday, Sept. 11-12.

“We’re looking for anybody who wants to donate a couple hours to assist with security, back stage help or even selling fifty-fifty raffle tickets,” Rotella said.

The event is being held on Old Falls Street and will feature several national acts including The Nighthawks and Jimmy Thackery and The Devastators.

Richard Ray Farrell, a Niagara Falls native who has performed throughout Europe and in Japan, will also be performing.

“Richie is the number one national blues act to come out of Niagara Falls,” Rotella said. “People should come out and support him.”

The blues festival started as a reunion for bands who had performed at Rotella’s bar in the early 1980s. The bar, called the Imperial Garage, was located in the remains of a closed car dealership on Third Street and played host to some of the major blues entertainers of the day, from B.B. King to Willie Dixon and particularly Muddy Waters, who became friends with Rotella.Local acts will include: Maria Aurigema, the Blues Hounds, Four on the Floor, The Electras and the Thurman Brothers.

The event will kick off with a classic car show and parade which will begin at 6 p.m. Sept. 11 when cars and bikes will cruise from Old Falls and Third streets to Sal Maglie Stadium. The Blues Festival kick-off party will be held at Mr. B’s that night featuring Billy’s Blues Band. The festival will begin on Old Falls Street at 4 p.m. Sept. 11 and will continue Sept. 12 from 12 to 11:30 p.m. The event will close with a 2010 Blues Festival kick-off party at 11:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at Legends with music by the Junk Yard Dogs.

For more information call 298-5543, e-mail niagarafallsbluesfestival@gmail.com or visit niagarafallsbluesfest.com.