THUNDER BAY – The rain may have fallen early in the day and returned during Pat Benatar’s closing set, but it couldn’t dampen the spirit of the city’s music-loving crowd.
Thunder Bay Blues Festival-goers weren’t about to let a little inclement weather spoil the final day of the three-day event, donning makeshift ponchos or ducking under umbrellas until the sun returned.
Meanwhile the music played on.
That suited Vicky Lalonde, a first-timer who made the trip from Timmins to attend Blues Festival, just fine.
“I’ve met many, many people who were wonderful people, and the music is just fantastic,” said Lalonde, in town to visit her friend Ines Migliazza.
“Where I’m from in Timmins, we don’t really have a blue fest. So I really enjoyed the blues music, which is why I thought I’d maybe come and attend this event. I’ve loved it from Day 1.”
Lalonde said Sheryl Crow, who played on Saturday night, was her personal favourite on the bill, but she thought organizers did a fantastic job recruiting Thunder Bay talent to round out the lineup.
“I do like the local talent as well, some of the local bands,” she said.
Migliazza said there was something to suit her tastes all three days of the festival, music that got her out of her seat and dancing along.
“Today it was Blackburn and Chrissie and Dave opening up with their band, The Chain and Southern Comfort,” Migliazza said. “It always touches home for me.”
Like her friend, it was Sheryl Crow who proved to be the show stopper this weekend.
“She was amazing yesterday. Sarah McLachlan, she has a voice that’s angelic. Then on Friday, Melissa Etheridge really rocked the crowd here,” Migliazza said.
Chris Benz said he and his family have been away from Thunder Bay for about seven years and Blues Festival was a great chance for him to bond with his young son, Mason.
“I wanted to bring the little guy out and start exposing him to the great events we have in Thunder Bay and enjoy the weather and the great music. It’s been fantastic,” Benz said.
“He’s loving it, dancing up a storm and enjoy his time.”
It was the Arkells who drew him to Marina Park.
“They put on a heck of a show for us in Thunder Bay,” Benz said, two days after catching them in Sudbury.
Sunday’s lineup included the like of Mary Bridget Davies and Newfoundlander Alan Doyle, the former front-man of Great Big Sea who has become somewhat of a regular at the Blues Festival, performing a rip-roaring mixture of his solo stuff along with top hits from his former band.
Magpie Salute introduced themselves to Thunder Bay, evolving out of the ashes of the Black Crowes.
“We’re a new band that came from an old band,” said guitarist Rich Robinson, his band playing a mixture of original material along with several deep cuts from the Black Crowes.
The evening came to a close with Benatar and husband Neil Giraldo taking the stage, racing through a collection of hits that made her one of the most successful singers of the 1970s and 1980s, closing with her 1984 hit Love is a Battlefield, the 7,000 or so in attendance singing along to every note.
“This is really phenomenal, the support we’ve received from the ticket buyers in the community, sponsors and everybody. It’s just hard to even describe. It’s really just been really incredible,” said organizer Trevor Hurtig.
On another happy note, volunteers and emergency workers helped save a man`s life, after he suffered an apparent heart attack on Sunday and was brought back to life after CPR was performed.
