Cedar Beach Blues Festival returns Sept. 27

A wave of blues is headed to Port Jefferson as the Cedar Beach Blues Festival at Harborfront Park arrives Sept. 27. This marks the 36th year for the event that originally began at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai.

"It all started in 1990 at Old Man’s Boat Yard in Mount Sinai as a giveback to the community that the local chamber of commerce put on," founder and organizer Mark "Doc Blues" Gresser said recently. "The bill was simply three acoustic acts on a hay cart."

This year's free festival features live performances from 15 blues acts spread across two stages. Audience members can bring lawn chairs and blankets to spread out on the grass as they picnic while watching the show.

"There’s a core group of people from Long Island who love the blues," Gresser said. "I try to mix it up by providing a variety of musicians who play different styles of blues."

Main stage acts

Zenbock and the Primal Blues Band open the Main Stage with their brand of nontraditional Delta/Mississippi blues at 11:30 a.m.

"Zenbock has a unique viewpoint," Gresser said. "Some people say he’s the most authentic bluesman out there."

Johnny Mac will deliver Chicago blues at noon, while Toby Walker plays acoustic blues at 1 p.m.

"I’m happy to have Toby back. We haven’t had him in about 15 years," Gresser said. "Toby played our first festival with the late Ken ‘The Rocket’ Korb. He is one of the most talented guitar players I know."

The Hoodoo Loungers bring their rockin’ blues at 2 p.m. followed by Hooch and the Bluesicians at 3 p.m., led by New York Blues Hall of Fame inductee Bob "Hoochie Coochie" Paolucci on harmonica, guitar and vocals.

The Kerry Kearney Band takes center stage at 4 p.m., performing their special brand of psychedelta blues.

"My music is focused on swampy rhythm and blues with a Louisiana feel," Kearney said. "Even if you are in a bad mood, it lifts you up."

The Hitman Blues Band wraps up the Main Stage with some upbeat Chicago blues at 5 p.m.

Acoustic stage acts

The Caribbean Kid, aka Jerry Rothaus, kicks things off on the Acoustic Stage at 11:45 a.m. followed by the acoustic blues of Jim Kolman at 12:30 p.m.

MOTU (Music of the Universe) arrives at 1:20 p.m. with a unique vibe fusing rock and jazz with blues.

"Dr. Richard Michelson is an accomplished guitar player with a raspy, smoky voice," Gresser said. "He plays with his wife very often. Together they make a joyful noise."

Two back-to-back threesomes come midday as the alt-rock blues of the Dave Christian trio hits at 2:15 p.m. while the country folk blues of the Ray Lambiase trio begins at 3:10 p.m.

Witness the blending of roots, blues and rock with The Night Owls fronted by fiddle player-singer Lora Kuykendall at 4:10 p.m. and blues singer Cherry Black channels Big Mama Thornton and Etta James at 5:05 p.m.

Traditional bluesman Bob Westcott will show off his finger-pickin’ guitar playing at 5:55 p.m. as he closes out the event, which traditionally ends with the sunset.

"This is the place to tie up the loose ends of the summer before the snow and the ice come," Gresser said. "It’s one last blast."

For more information, go to cedarbeachbluesfestival.com.

By David J. Criblez

david.criblez@newsday.comDavidJCriblez

David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.