Cool weather coming to Blues Valley!

 

Last winter someone wrapped Mance's neck with a shawl. This photo of him in his winter gear kind of says it all. We're all ready for some cooler weather.

Texas King of Barbecue...

If anyone visits the capital of Texas, and asks for excellent, authentic Texas barbeque and Live Texas Music, they are likely to be sent to one place. Stubb’s BBQ. That is because Christopher B. Stubblefield spent his life perfecting the art of Texas barbeque, and with the help of partners, brought it to Austin in 1986, where they began to market his west Texas style barbeque and world renowned barbeque sauce. “Stubbs” loved people, music and cooking meat, and he brought all of these together in his special way, making his name and his barbeque famous from Lubbock to Austin.

His first restaurant was in Lubbock, started after his return from the Korean War, where he was wounded twice. He looked for something to do besides pick cotton, something he had done ever since he was a little boy in the Brazos River bottom near Navasota, where he was born in 1931. Two things emerged in his new enterprise, both remnants from his childhood; Barbeque and Blues. As his barbeque filled bellies, singers like Muddy Waters, or Johnny Cash or Emmy Lou Harris filled the ears of his customers. Some musicians would play for tips, just to say they had played there. Nobody seemed to mind when he would take the mic and sing one himself. But he never quit his day job. “I want to feed the world” he would say with a big Texas smile. It was a sad day in Lubbock when his historic place burned down.

Stubb used the change for the better, and moved his two loves to Austin, and used the same ingredients to satisfy the apatite of a whole new generation. Stubb’s was THE place for fresh barbeque and music. He passed away in 1995. Like all restaurateurs, he had his struggles, but his legacy of Texas entertainment still lives on. Every time you see his face on a bottle of sauce, remember he started his remarkable life in Navasota, and he loved people and listening to the blues and feeding people. A man could do a whole lot worse.

Praying in the Blues... 2010: the last time

Once again, the best event for 2010 Navasota Bluesfest is the first one... What an incredible insight to what Heaven will be like: Jews, gentiles, whites, blacks and hispanics, all celebrating as one, praising God with the most rockin' music you have ever heard. It's a good thing most people don't go, or it would have to be moved to a bigger venue... which was packed.

This thing is sooo cool, it's better than I can describe or you can imagine, very inspiring and uplifting for all who attend... great preachin', prayin', singin' and even some dancin', so I guess it was arranged by... HIM. Holy Blues!

Thank you St. Pauls for giving us such a stellar event. Thanks especially to John and Lise McNally for putting together such a great service! Thanks to GOD for making it all happen!

Opening Night, Navasota Bluesfest 2010

This event has become an annual feast for some of us... these lucky shots can only hint at the fine music we hear every year at the Navasota Bluesfest!

To top it off, Don Kesee was his usual genius self and the Bluesmasters played blues like they ought to be played.

sweet SIXTEEN... YEARS OF THE BLUESFEST! 2011

Was a huge success, and WOW what great, classic blues music! "It don't get no better than this!"

Some of the musicians who played Saturday, top to bottom;

David Egan with his hip Loooooziana style blues, Rob Roy Parnell wolfing on that relentless harmonica, Texas Johnny Brown charming the crowd in the aisles,
and Texas Johnny Boy taking charge with his army of blues masters. All impeccable blues acts. Thanks guys for such incredible music!

The first Mance B-Day celebration in Navasota... 2010

Perhaps one of the most exciting and fulfilling elements of the day was the appearance of Milton Hopkins at the very beginning as guitarist for Texas Johnny Boy. Milton is the nephew of Lightnin' Hopkins, the "King of Texas Blues," a native of nearby Leon County and a known entertainer in these parts. Milton looks like his uncle, and dare I say, has comparable talent, that lives up to his family name. Here was a living link to our blues history, playing on the bridge over Cedar Creek. There is no doubt you can see a resemblance between the legendary bluesman and his nephew, and for some of us, a glimpse through him right into the past.

Mance Lipscomb birthday, 2011: Malford Miligan

Smooth and masterful, Malford Miligan brought his impeccable, soulful vocals to the lucky streets of Navasota Saturday, and was the icing on our second annual birthday celebration for Mance Lipscomb. His Austin based Rhythm & Blues band salved our disappointment and hurt feelings, after Don Kesee failed to appear after a scheduling foul up. For many of us, his highly anticipated performance was the essential element, as he represented the very best of Texas Blues tradition. But it was not to be.

Luckily the next band, emerging blues master David Gerald, agreed to start early, and shorten the gap. All the way from Detroit, they were locked and loaded, and soon we had forgotten that miserable hour of worry and confusion.

Congratulations to the City of Navasota and all the staff involved for putting on a a near perfect event, as far as managing things they could control.

Still, I never got my Brazos Bottom Blues fix, and after the event has become another mostly pleasant memory, I guess I'm going to have to go SOMEWHERE ELSE to hear the music born here. C'mon, Bluesfest!