Blues Week, in
its 25th year at Augusta, is an annual celebration of a
classic
form of traditional American roots music. This year’s
program will reach
back to the music’s African origins while also
showcasing a roster of some
of the finest blues talent on the
contemporary scene.
Blues Week
coordinator Rich DelGrosso [photo, below left] will present daily group sessions and the Icehouse campus pub will
host
its legendary jams nightly. Concerts, informal sessions, a blues
dance and a Wednesday night “Blues Week Party” will give students
many opportunities to interact with the Blues Week staff.
Gaye Adegbalola [photo,
top left], Roddy
Barnes [photo,
top left], Terry Bean, Fiona Boyes, John Cephas
[photo, top right], Daryl Davis [photo,
top left],
Gary Allegretto, Eleanor Ellis, William Lee Ellis, Andra Faye, Joan
Fenton, Joe Filisko [photo, top left], Ralph Fortune, Jake Heck, Erwin Helfer, Stan
Hirsch, Judy LaPrade, Ann Rabson, [photo,
bottom right], The Raindogs, Ernie Scarbrough,
Richard Smith, Elijah Wald, Phil Wiggins
[photo, top right], and Maria Woodford
will all make for an exciting
week!
In addition to
the full-time staff we have the ever-patient and kind
Judy
LaPrade to teach beginning piano students
and the equally patient
Jake Heck who will teach a section of beginning blues guitar.
Joan Fenton,
the
award-winning creator of Blues Week, returns to teach an
intermediate finger-style guitar class. She will also preside over
beginner’s blues jams. The
highly talented
Roddy Barnes,
in addition to supporting the vocal classes, will be on hand for
piano accompaniment and assistance.
Richard Smith,
“the Spirit of Blues Week,” returns to assist the vocal classes
and he will again organize the bands for the daily Band Labs in
the afternoon. The perennial favorites, the
Raindogs,
will be back on the porch and on the bandstand to provide
dance music and high-spirited jams.
Maria Woodford
and
Jake Heck give the Blues Week teens a workout as they organize and
support the Teen Bands in their own band lab in the afternoons.
The nighttime is
Ralph
Fortune’s domain as he presides over the electric jams in the Boiler
House.
Elijah Wald
will captivate us all as he presents lectures in the afternoons on
a variety of topics, telling the story of the blues. Mini-classes
are also available in the evenings on a variety of instruments
and styles.
To register, specify “Blues Week,”
and your main instrument or vocals.
Students will sign up for morning workshops at the orientation on
Sunday evening and may choose from a variety of afternoon
offerings each day.
