The Hocking Hills will be alive with the sound of the blues this weekend, with a three-day festival featuring regional and national rock, blues and R&B acts. The Woods at Kaeppner Place will host the first Hocking Hills Rhythm and Blues Festival Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
National act The Duke Robillard Band will close the Sunday show. Robillard, a prominent blues guitarist, said he will be performing music from across his career, including blues, R&B, swing and rock 'n' roll. The musician, who is touring on the West Coast, has won the W.C. Handy Blues Guitarist of the Year Award four times in the past five years.
Also performing Sunday are The Urban Jazz Coalition; legendary, 90-year-old blues guitarist Robert Lockwood Jr. and his All-Star Band; and the Bruce Katz Band. Katz, who plays piano and the Hammond B-3 organ, said he played music with Robillard for one-and-a-half years. He also has played with Ronnie Earl and teaches classes at the prominent Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Friday night features Microwave Dave and the Nukes along with the Sonny Moorman Band. On Saturday, groups include Cleveland Fats and Johnny Reed and the Houserockers. The complete lineup is available at http://www.kaeppnerswoods.com/ and at the Columbus Blues Alliance Web site, http://www.columbusblues.com.
The Woods at Kaeppner Place, owned and operated by Bill Kaeppner, previously has hosted off-road motorcycle events and has evolved into a musical venue. Kaeppner has owned the property, which contains a natural amphitheater, for 11 years. Vehicle camping is available for the weekend at an additional cost, and campers arriving on motorcycle can camp for free. The venue is located at 34018 Sutton Rd. in Logan, near U.S. 33.
Food and artisan vendors will be present at the festival, but the focus is on the music, Kaeppner said. The cost of the festival changes by day. An all-weekend pass is $75, Friday-only is $30, Saturday-only is $40 and Sunday-only is $55. Kaeppner said he hopes to make this an annual event.
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Megan Chew
