Showing good reinvention skills over the decades since its “Dixieland Jazz” start in 1990, the 32nd annual Redwood Coast Music Festival in Eureka last week showcased more than 100 sets of American roots music, including blues, swing, jazz, Zydeco, rockabilly, Western swing and country over four days. (See the slideshow below for highlights.)
“This year’s festival was a tremendous success,” said Mark Jansen, a member of the festival board of directors and director of bands. “Our patrons were thrilled with the performances, and the musicians were all excited about their shows and moving around to guest into other sets. It’s turning into a showcase for fantastic musicianship. Crowds were bigger, the weather was perfect and there was nothing but smiles all around.”
The stages at the Eureka Theater and Adorni venues got makeovers with “artwork that our fantastic local artist Matt Beard has done for us since we began our association,” said Jansen. “His artwork perfectly captures the spirit of our festival and our beautiful north Coast location.”
The event has also developed a reputation as a “dancer’s festival.” And indeed, a large number of attendees were on the dance floors at all hours in every venue, including the Adorni Center, the Eagle House, the Morris Graves Museum, the Sequoia Center, the Veterans Memorial Building, the Red Lion Hotel Pacific Room and the Eureka Theater.
The festival began with Thursday evening’s free “Kick Off Dance” at the Adorni Center with musician sailors in service dress whites from the Navy Band Northwest New Orleans Brass Band performing first, followed by Dave Stuckey & the Hot House Gang, and Carl Sunny Leyland & the Boogie Woogie Boys. Thursday’s other free opening dance night at the Red Lion Hotel featured local musicians including Nice & Easy, the Freshwater Jazz Band and Redwood Dixie Gators.
The festival also partnered with the City of Eureka for a new stage at the Old Town gazebo with festival headliners performing free sets for the community during Saturday night’s Arts Alive! Festival headliner bands at the gazebo began with Gino and the Lone Gunmen, followed by Two Tone Steiny & the Cadillacs with Danny Sandoval. The Navy Band Northwest New Orleans Brass…