Blues Review – Alive at the Deep Blues Fest by Trigger
Alive at the Deep Blues Fest is the convergence of many cool things. This summer, Minnesota BBQ magnate and founder of the Deep Blues Festivals Chris Johnson decided to revitalize the Deep Blues Fest after a 2 year hiatus. Between 2007 and 2010, the festival became the biggest alternative blues gathering in the world. Then financial hardship forced its discontinuation. The retooled version of Deep Blues that took place June 29th thru July 1st focused more on a sustainable, “quality not quantity” model that capped the attendees at a manageable 200.
To include the rest of us in the festivities, Deep Blues partnered with Alive Naturalsound Records to record the concert and showcase artists on Alive’s roster in a live context. Alive at the Deep Blues Fest is a full tilt listening experience. No tired, dragging renditions of “Mustang Sally” to be found here. Instead what you have is the raw, uncapped energy of true blues revitalization channeled through some of the strongest talent the roots world boasts.