Bowlful of Blues is as timeless and traditional as the genre it represents and has showcased for the past 27 years in Newton, which may be why the music festival is still able to secure power hitter performers like this year’s headlining band Savoy Brown.
The group — comprised of current members Kim Simmonds, Pat DeSalvo and Garnet Grimm — is as “blue” as they come. Never mind that it used to be called the Savoy Brown Blues Band once upon a time, the genre is embedded deep within their musical roots, dating as far back as the 1960s during a reinvigorated blues rock scene.
Still touring to this day, Savoy Brown knows how to rock a crowd with slick guitar licks and head-bobbin’ riffs. Also performing at this year’s Bowlful of Blues beginning noon Sept. 1 at Maytag Bowl is Bernard Allison, Sean Chambers Band, Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames and opening act Major Blues and the Mugshots.
Mike Pender, president of the South Skunk Blues Society, credits the longevity of Bowlful of Blues to both the supporters of the music festival and the volunteers who make sure there is music to be celebrated. Assistance from advertisers, community leaders and the City of Newton, he added, has been valuable to organizers and the festival itself.
“To me, Maytag Bowl is just an incredible venue,” Pender said. “It’s kid friendly, it’s family friendly. You can bring your own cooler. I don’t know of any other festival that you can do that. We’ve been going like this from just local support for all these years.”
Pender said it is great to know the community still stands behind the society and Bowlful of Blues, even during some rough patches about 10 years back.
“We only had about $250 in our bank account due to a rainout, and the community stood up behind us and helped us out. Some local bands put on benefit shows to help raise some money and keep us going,” Pender said. “We never say die.”
The South Skunk Blues Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the blues, regularly organizes the annual music festival surrounded around the amphitheater at Maytag Park. Acknowledging blues may not be a mainstream genre at the moment, Pender says there may be stigma that the genre is full of sad music.
Pender knows that is just plain wrong.
“It’s the exact opposite,” Pender said. “There are so many different styles and I just love it.”
A sentiment shared by frequent visitors to Bowlful of Blues. Tickets are still on sale at southskunk.org and midwestix.com. Advance tickets are on sale at Mattingly Music & Books, Hy-Vee in Newton, The Music Shop in Grinnell or Zzz Records in Des Moines.
Advance tickets can be purchased for $25 or $30 at the gate. Guests 15 and under enter free with adult. Group rates are set at 20 for $20 each. Organizers encourage patrons to bring lawn chairs and coolers. No glass containers or pets allowed. Food vendors will be on site.
Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com