9th Annual Caroline Street Arts & Blues Festival (and Chili Cook-off) May 21, 2009

For Immediate Release
Contact
John Baker 518.587.9791
George Fletcher 518.542.9985

Annual Arts & Blues Fest Set For Sunday, June 7

SARATOGA SPRINGS - The annual Caroline Street Arts & Blues Fest (and chili cook-off) is back again and will take place on Sunday, June 7, Noon to 7 p.m.

The long running event, now in its 9th year, is a tamer and more family oriented affair established as an alternative to the now defunct Caroline Street Block Party. That yearly event fell out of favor after public beer drinking led to unruly behavior.

With blues music courtesy of nearly a dozen area bands and solo artists ranging in style from event headliner blues harmonica maestro Chris O’Leary to acoustic artists such as LB Walker to the blues rock Bourbon Renewal and Big Johnson Blues Band, the Caroline Street Arts & Blues Fest (and chili cook-off) has the participation of many Caroline street businesses. Restaurants and bars will host live blues, compete in the Chili Cook-off, or both.

In addition to blues, look for many other bright colors. Saratoga Arts (formerly Saratoga County Arts Council) will host the work of many area artists and crafters. This year the artists’ booths will be set up along Putnam, Caroline, and Maple streets.

The Children’s Museum of Saratoga will be occupying the Saratogian parking lot with activities such as face-painting, tambourine making, chalk drawings, a jump rope challenge. In addition, Price Chopper supermarkets has donated the use of the “Price Chopper Hopper Bouncy Bounce.”

Rounding out the event is arguably Saratoga’s most popular food event, the Chili Cook -off, with many Caroline street establishments vying for the top prize of bragging rights and one year’s possession of the Cook-off trophy.

Each year, the trophy is dedicated to the memory of multiple Chili Cook-off winner, Kevin Doyle. Doyle was a long-time participant in the popular Caroline Street event, who passed away in 2006.

2008 Trophy winner John Baker, proprietor of Gaffney’s Restaurant and founder of the event says it’s a fitting tribute to Doyle, a familiar downtown fixture. “The contest was named after him for being a great Caroline street character.” He said. “And he made a hell of a chili.”

Headliner Chris O’Leary will perform on the main stage which will be located near the intersection of Caroline street and Pavillion Row. O’Leary has toured the world as front man for classic rock icon Levon Helm’s popular blues outfit, The Barnburners, and has recently set out on his own road to blues stardom.

O’Leary, who maintains a home in Saratoga County with his wife and son, has performed and recorded with many greats of the blues genre, including Hubert Sumlin, James Cotton and the late Bill Perry (who headlined the 2005 Arts & Blues Fest). He has also appeared on bills around the world with blues greats such as Kim Wilson, Rod Piazza and Pine Top Perkins.

A late afternoon all-star jam at Saratoga City Tavern will help close the festival, as many of the participating musicians from throughout the day join headliner Chris O’Leary and George Fletcher’s Bourbon Renewal in some bluesy fun.

According to Bourbon Renewal front man George Fletcher, also a festival volunteer whose band will hold down the corner of Caroline and Maple streets at Saratoga City Tavern for the 6th consecutive year, the Arts & Blues Fest keeps growing – in size and importance to the community.

“Every year it gets a little bigger and better organized,” he said. “The first half of the Saratoga season starts with this event and the opening of Saratoga Race Course brings in the second half.”

Special thanks to event sponsors DeCresente Distributors and the Saratogian for use of their parking lot.



Partial list of venues featuring live blues music:



Backstretch Tap Room and Terrace – Big Johnson Blues Band, 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Bullpen Tavern – TBA

D’Andrea’s Pizza – LB Walker, Noon to 3pm

Gaffney’s – Blues House Rockers, 4:30 to 7 p.m.

Ice House – The Remainders, 4:30 to 7 pm.

Mare - Doc Orloff’s Blues Elixir Band, 2 - 3 and 4:30 to 7 pm

Saratoga City Tavern – George Fletcher’s Bourbon Renewal, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. - ?? (All Star Jam)

Partial list of restaurants participating in Chili Cook - Off

Backstretch Tap Room and Terrace

D’Andrea’s Pizza

Esperanto

Gaffney’s

Mare

Saratoga City Tavern



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