REVIEW/PHOTOS: Sarasota Blues Fest

Ryan Shaw at Blues Fest. Photo by Caroline Sansone.

Thousands attended the Sarasota Blues Fest Saturday for a beautiful day of diverse, movingly performed roots music.

Los Lobos closed the evening with a set that ranged from Mexican-flavored originals off their latest great record "Tin Can Trust" to a terrific Allman Brothers Band-style rendition of "On Way Out."

Ryan Shaw, who performed just before Los Lobos, proved my personal favorite. He's a 30-year-old with two Garmmy nomination to his credit who  brilliantly updates vintage soul. His set opened with a stirring rendition of Jimmy Cliff's reggae classic "Many Rivers to Cross" and never lost momentum.

Shaw completely reworked The Beatles' "Yesterday" into R&B gold and honored Michael Jackson with an emotive rendition of "Man in the Mirror." The most special moment of the night, though, came when Shaw performed the soul standard "Try a Little Tenderness" famously recorded by Otis Redding with backing by Booker T. & the MG's featuring the legendary Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass.

Donal "Duck" Dunn with Ryan Shaw. Photo by Wade Tatangelo.

Dunn, who lives in Sarasota, and Shaw met backstage prior to the performance. Shaw gave a warm dedication to Dunn before bringing chills by channeling the spirit of Redding without aping him. Dunn grinned in approval.

Former Little Feat singer and longtime member of Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet band Shaun Murphy also elated the crowd with her powerhouse vocals when she performed around 4 p.m.

Click for a slew more of outstanding pictures by Sarasota Blues Fest photographer Caroline Sansone.

SATURDAY (NOV. 5): Sarasota Blues Fest keeps it fresh with Los Lobos, Ryan Shaw and much more

Here's my story on this year's awesomely eclectic lineup:

"Sarasota Blues Fest plays outside box"

Los Lobos, Ryan Shaw to headline Sarasota Blues Fest; competition for local band slot

Los Lobos to headline Sarasota Blues Fest/Publicity photo

One of the most acclaimed and eclectic bands of the past three decades, Los Lobos, will headline the  21st Annual Sarasota Blues Fest on Saturday, November 5 at Ed Smith Stadium. Young soul music sensation, Ryan Shaw, who could prove to be this year's Trombone Shorty, joins the multiple Grammy winners. Singer Shaun Murphy, best known for her work with Little Feat from 1993-2009, has also been confirmed. Child prodigy, Mike Imbasciani, with special guest and guitar sensation Alex Shaw, are performing as well.

Ryan Shaw/Publicity photo

In addition to the acts above, The Gator Club in Sarasota is hosting the free “Ticket To Blues Fest” event 9 p.m. Saturday, August 13. Local and regional bands will be competing for the last slot at the festival and cash prizes. The public is encouraged to participate and help pick the winner by voting for their favorite bands online (ourstage.com/go/sarasotaBluesFest - until July 25) and at the “Ticket To Blues Fest” live event. Artists selected to perform at the fest will be announced at the event and on www.sarasotabluesfest.com.

Tickets to the 21st Annual Sarasota Blues Fest go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 13th at sarasotabluesfest.com, The Gator Club and at Rossiter’s Harley Davidson. The festival gates open at 11 a.m. and music starting at noon. Tickets are $22 in advance and as always, all children free with paid adult admission. Partial proceeds from the fest have always been earmarked for charity. All Faiths Food Bank Backpack Program will be 2011’s recipient.

The Sarasota Blues Fest was started in 1991 by the Sarasota Blues Society and blossomed into the largest musical event in Sarasota under Barbara Strauss, a native of Sarasota who has produced the festival since 1993. She passed the torch to ExtremeTix and Three Zebras entertainment earlier this year. 

“A bunch of people tried to acquire the festival but when these people came it was truly a blessing for me and Sarasota,” Strauss told the Herald in June. “They will eventually be able to bring in bigger bands because they have so many more resources, but will also keep people involved in the community."