B8

Wilfred Langmaid
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"Oh, mister D.J. /

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legend lands in Fredericton: Famed guitarist Buddy Guy is among the performers scheduled to entertain the crowds at the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival next week.

I keep wondering why you don't play much blues anymore/

I don't know what you got against me/

Whatever it is, I sure would like to know."

- "D.J. Play My Blues-" Buddy Guy

September is a great time of year for many people, what with the start of the school year, the coming of fall-like evenings, and the return to post-summer routines that really serve as a comfort and joy to many people.

However, we have an extra reason to be happy about September here in Fredericton: the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival.

One could easily make the argument that the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, which begins its 18th year this coming week, is a paradigm for what makes this city great.

It's big enough to provide a person with anything they could ever want, but it's not something that it is overwhelming or impersonal.

Think about it. We are getting tons of marquee performers and many relatively small venues in all within walking distance.

It's the polar opposite to the mega events that have their charms, yes, but that lose something in the process.

What do I mean? There is excitement in being plunked in the middle of a huge field while a mega act is quickly parachuted in and out to replicate their radio hits. This summer's Eagles concert at Magnetic Hill is a case in point.

But what we have here in Harvest is something that is far more visceral, special and real, in my humble opinion.

People travel from far and wide to be a part of this as a customer. As well, we are in the enviable position where the artists themselves are often clamouring to return or to play here for the first time. And why not?

We have an intimate atmosphere with plenty community buy-in and volunteerism. We are also seeing world-class performers up close.

For example, I have heard a ton of grizzled blues fans say they can hardly wait to see Buddy Guy on Friday. They have seen him before in larger venues. However, they say with authority that he will turn it up a notch in the relatively small setting of the Bud Light Blues Tent in our downtown.

I have my own personal "must-see" list - Charlie Hunter on Wednesday, the Derek Trucks Band on Thursday, Guy on Friday, and Sarah Jane Morris with Dominic Miller, the Hilario Duran Trio, and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals on Saturday.

Part of the fun, though, is that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The city will be alive with music spanning four blocks and six days on the calendar.

Hard though it may be to fathom with having never seen any of these must-see acts live before, the possibility certainly exists that my highlight of this year's festival may be someone else. After all, there are more than 125 shows to enjoy.

There is truly something for everybody. There is blues of every stripe. There is jazz of every era. There are plenty of times when we can see local talent shine.

There are still plenty of tickets available. There are volunteer opportunities still available too.

There are free events. There are events for the whole family.

Put it this way. If just one of no less than two dozen of this year festival's acts came to the city to do a concert in the Fredericton musical landscape of a quarter century ago, the city would have been rightly abuzz.

Today, we have it all - the best buffet of music that a musical omnivore could ever want - in our backyard.

Maybe we don't really know how good we have it, but that's another story for another day.

The story for today is this. The 18th Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival runs Sept. 9 to 14. Have a great time!

Long-time Daily Gleaner columnist Wilfred Langmaid is employed by the University of New Brunswick. He resides in Fredericton.