Blues Bash takes over the Lowcountry

The Lowcountry is blessed with an abundance of cultural festivals and expositions. From wildlife to food and wine, Spoleto to MOJA, it seems there is always something interesting to experience around town.

For the past 21 years, one particular event has allowed lovers of the blues to submerge themselves in an impressive amount of live music: the Lowcountry Blues Bash.

Organized by local blues impresario and performer Gary Erwin and the Lowcountry Blues Society, this year's 22nd annual bash is the largest one yet, featuring 100 shows by 59 acts at 25 venues over 14 days.

The performances run day and night all over town, and Erwin is very proud of the fact that more than 70 percent of the performances are free, and many are shows for all ages.

Erwin, a lifelong blues fan who ran his own record store, Erwin Music, on Went-worth Street beginning in the late '80s and also started his own record label, has plenty to say about this year's bash.

On being asked how he feels about the longevity of the annual event, Erwin said, "I'm not sure where the time has gone, but my passion for this music has never waned, and the audience keeps growing. As Brownie McGhee said, 'The blues is truth.' Maybe in these difficult times, people need the truth more than ever!"

Erwin and his band, Shrimp City Slim, will be backing acts such as John Primer, Joey Gilmore and Wanda Johnson.

"Even though I perform, too," Erwin said, "when it comes time to put this together, I approach it as a lifelong blues fan. This is a chance to enjoy the artistry of many other blues musicians and give back for the years of enjoyment listening to them."

Among the acts Erwin recommends are legends such as Primer, Gilmore, Eddie Shaw, Holle Thee Maxwell, Norman Taylor and Drink Small, as well as more up-and-coming artists including Nick Moss, Maurice John Vaughn, Bobby Radcliff, Daddy Mack and Robert Lighthouse.

Erwin also recommends another artist his band will be backing.

"Shrimp City Slim will be honored to back an exciting new artist named Swamp Pop Shelly, a singer of high quality with deep Louisiana roots. With Shelly, we are doing a swamp pop/Cajun rock/Louisiana blues style of show."

With the downturn in the economy, it has become much more difficult to keep the event going, but Erwin is determined to persevere.

"For the third year in a row, the Lowcountry Blues Bash does not have a name sponsor, so it is a struggle, but the music, the artists, the venues and the audience make it all worthwhile," Erwin said.

"I think you'd be challenged to find a better blues festival of this type in North America. All of the performances are in intimate venues; exactly the way the blues was meant to be heard."

Blues fans can go to blues bash.com and print out a free festival schedule, which lists the venues, who's playing when and bios of all the artists participating.