Rallygoers Soak In Live Music
FAYETTEVILLE — All it takes is 12 bars and three chords, but the blues means more to those who gravitate toward it at this year’s Bikes, Blues & BBQ.
Local bluesman and rally mainstay Gary Hutchison knows a thing or two about the blues, both playing them and having them.
“This next song I wrote about my fourth ex-wife,” he howled Thursday evening from the Main Stage, introducing the song “Old Before My Time.”
“You know, all four of those girls that I married, I loved. Just something went wrong.”
The song was surprisingly uptempo, and as if to show having four failed attempts at love doesn’t slow him down, Hutchison blurted after the song, “I’m pregnant with good feelings.”
The blues could be found offstage as well. Sam Thompson of Springdale brought his Delta guitar, harmonica and an open guitar case for tips and set up shop on Dickson Street, strumming and humming to his rendition of “Susie Q.”
“This is a good guitar to play the blues on, man,” Thompson said in between songs. “The soul of the blues, I can relate to it. Someone going through hard times can pick up a beat-up guitar and put music to it.”
With rallygoers walking by, some even stopping to dance or drop off a tip, Thompson broke into a song he wrote called “Hellbent Blues.”
“I’ve got the hellbent blues,” Thompson sang. “If you hang around me long enough, you’re gonna get them too.”
One doesn’t have to be sad or depressed to write or sing the blues, Thompson said. He wrote that song because a friend of his was going through a rough patch.
“I figured he needed to hear the blues, so I sat down on the couch and that’s what came out,” Thompson said.
Back at the Main Stage, Hutchison finished his set with an Eric Clapton cover of “Crossroads,” complete with an extended guitar jam. His solo work began delicately on his black and white Stratocaster, then dove into a furious wail.
“That was good,” Donnie Sutton said after Hutchison’s set, applauding. Sutton drove from Kansas to the rally on his Harley-Davidson and barely made it here for the second day.
“My bike broke down about halfway, so better late than never,” he said.
At the Arkansas Music Pavilion, Dave Pointer of Rogers looked forward to the Molly Hatchet show while chowing down on a plate of barbecue.
“For $10, you can’t beat this,” Pointer said about the concert ticket price as The Nace Brothers opened their set, followed by Blackfoot and the main act. About 600 showed up at the AMP, while fans started filling the Main Stage area on Dickson Street with about 200 as Red Ambition took the stage Thursday night.
The Morning News’ Bob Caudle and J.T. Wampler contributed to this report.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Bikes, Blues & BBQ
Today
- 7 a.m.-midnight
Cooking demonstrations, Baum Stadium parking lot - 7:30 a.m.
BBQ Contest official check-in, southeast Baum parking lot - 8 a.m.
Poker Run — first bike out from Baum parking lot - 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Motorcycle demo rides, Baum parking lot - 9 a.m.-1 a.m.
Train shuttle service from Dickson Street to Baum Stadium - 10 a.m.
Vendors Open
Poker Run — last bike out - 10 a.m-no set closing time
Casual Cruise-In, Helicopter rides and Gibson Guitar Museum Bus at the AMP - Noon-10 p.m.
Baum Stadium Beer Garden opens - Noon-midnight
Main Stage Beer Garden opens - Noon-midnight
Music at Main Stage - 12:30-10 p.m.
Music at Baum parking lot stage - 5 p.m.
Gates open for Marshall Tucker Band at the AMP - 6-10 p.m.
BBQ Contest People’s Choice Competition in Baum Stadium parking lot - 10 p.m.
Ms. Bikes, Blues & BBQ preliminary round at George’s Majestic Lounge
Source: Bikes, Blues & BBQ
