Blues fest rocks enthusiastic crowds

Blues music lovers gathered this Fourth of July holiday at the Central Oregon Blues Festival in Sisters. The three-day event at Creekside City Park began the evening of July 3 and ended late at night on July 5.

While the main action was at the park, blues aficionados took the music to the midnight hour at Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill and Saloon each night.

The steady crowds were a mix of locals and visitors. People came from Pocatello, Idaho, after finding the festival Web site and people came from across the street after hearing the festival from their porches. The booming sounds of music carried blocks away, letting arrivals know they were in the right place.

Sisters resident Pam Hunter attended all three days of the festival and was tired and happy at the end of it all.

"It was exhausting, but fun," she said. "I didn't think I had any more boogie in me at the end, but the music picks you up. It doesn't matter how tired you are."

Another three-day attendee, Brett Van Houten of Sisters, helped build the stage before checking out the festival.

"I was happy to help out and happy to be a part of a fun audience," he said. "This festival is one of the best things to hit Sisters in a while."

Guitarist and singer Ty Curtis and drummer Davis Brown of Saturday's headliner The Ty Curtis Band enjoyed the enthusiasm of the crowd.

"It is cool to see people dancing and having a good time when you are on stage," said Curtis. "We feed off the crowd and it just ups the energy in our playing. It is really a big high we get. There was a guy tonight just smacking the stage and having a great time. We loved it."

"When you get a positive response from the audience it makes you feel good about laying yourself out there as an artist," said Brown.

Putting on the blues festival for the first time was rewarding for Laurie Farley of Amp Media Group.

"We conducted exit interviews and people were thanking us for having the festival and we are definitely going to do it again," she said. "The park was the perfect setting, the weather was great, and the volunteers and temps we hired were a pleasure to work with. I am exhausted, but a little sad it is over. I am pretty sure it is the best party I have thrown in my life."