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June 5, 2009

MUSIC: Superjam returns

By Phil Dzikiy



For Western New York blues fans, it’s that time again.

Superjam — arguably the area’s premier event when it comes to live blues music — returns for its 2009 edition on Sunday. Superjam 2009 will feature 17 acts and run from 1 to 9 p.m. at Creekside Grove in Cheektowaga.

The event, run by the Blues Society of Western New York, has reached its 11th year. Creekside Grove in Cheektowaga has long been the venue, and it allows for indoor or outdoor music. Superjam 2009 will happen, rain or shine.

Local blues musician Mark Winsick, a board member of the Blues Society, is the committee chair for Superjam 2009. Hundreds of people show up for the event each year, and he doesn’t expect this edition to be any different.

“It’s turned into a major event every year,” Winsick said.

All types of blues music will be heard and seen on stage at Superjam. The acts range from blues-rock and soulful blues bands to more traditional acts.

While about half of the bands will play as they normally do, the rest of the acts are special guests who will be performing solo, backed by a house band.

Despite stretching out over an eight-hour time period, the festival will move quickly, according to Winsick. Most bands will play for about 25 minutes, the special guests will play four about 15 minutes each, and there won’t be much of a stoppage between acts.

“There’s really no lulls for more than 10 minutes,” Winsick said.

The quick switching of performers, all on one stage, will make for quite the sampling of Buffalo blues bands. Keeping the smorgasbord fresh is the fact that all of the acts didn’t perform in last year’s Superjam.

That’s by design, Winsick said. Next year’s Superjam will be all-new, as well.

“We try to be inclusive with every band,” he said. “But there are no repeats of acts every three years.”

For those who don’t know much — or anything — about the Western New York blues scene, Superjam is a good starting point to discovering more about a genre that Winsick calls “a large component of the WNY music scene.”

Admission for Superjam 2009 is $12 for Blues Society of Western New York members and $15 for non-members.



IF YOU GO

WHAT: Superjam 2009

WHEN: 1-9 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Creekside Grove, William Street and Union Road, Cheektowaga

COST: $12 for Blues Society of WNY members, $15 for non-members

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