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Ferndale gets the blues in January

By Sharon Gittleman

FERNDALE – Some of the best blues artists in the state are coming to Ferndale. Over 30 performances are planned during the 3rd Annual Ferndale Blues Festival, held from Jan. 29-31, at over a dozen downtown venues, from nightclubs to churches. The festival will raise money for the Ferndale Youth Assistance counseling services for troubled and disadvantaged youngsters and the Midwest AIDS Prevention Project's battle against HIV-AIDS.
"It's bigger – it's increased in size for the third year," said festival organizer Craig Covey. "We've extended it to four days, from three and we've added more venues – there are 15 this year."
The clubs and coffeehouses hosting the bands have agreed to give a portion of their proceeds to organizers to pass along to the charities. Attendees can add to the total by placing their donations in the blue plastic "blind piggy" banks set up at the concert sites and at Ferndale stores, restaurants and gas stations.
"We're fulfilling an unmet need. The whole purpose of this festival is to provide fun and entertainment for people in the longest, coldest, darkest month in the year," said Covey. "We deliberately chose January for the festival because people may be bumming out over the holidays being over, the bills being due and the icy weather."
Last year, the festival raised $5,000 for charity.
Covey, Mayor Pro Tem of Ferndale, said he's loved blues since he was a teenager.
"It connects to my deepest view of the world – it's pleasurable, but reflects the pain all around," he said. "For me, the music is a major emotional release."
Spirituals and songs slaves sang while they worked led to modern-day blues, said Covey.
"Blues evolved over the last 100 years," he said. "It touches a deeper, instinctual feeling inside."
Festival attendees will have the chance to listen to dozens of blues greats, like Luther "Badman" Keith, Jawbone and the Hellhounds. Last year's standout Sweet Claudette, had the crowd swinging with tunes like "Ain't Gonna Wash your Dirty Clothes," "10 Pennies Slick" and Even a Mule Gits to Rest." You can see her this year at 9 p.m. on Jan. 29, at Danny's Irish Pub.
Are Crawfish Etouffee and Cajun blues more to your taste? You can enjoy them both all day at Howe's Bayou throughout the festival.
If you've been dreaming of girl chanteuses, Detroit Women in Rhythm and Blues, will fit your fantasies. This eight-member all-girl blues band will perform at 10 p.m. on Jan. 30 at Club Q.
"It's refreshing to hear something other than dance music, that we are inundated with," said Covey. "Lots of my gay male and gay women friends love blues, but we are too passive sometimes and accept the same old dance and popular music that plays in the clubs. We need to open up to other popular music and enjoy what's out there."
For a schedule of performances for the festival, set your browser to http://www.ferndale-mi.com/Business/DDA/SpecialEvents/BluesFestival.htm on the Internet.

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