Crazy, but that's how it goes

It has been a long and winding road in Advanced News and Feature Writing. I spent the semester covering the local music scene of Greeley. I completed a day in the life story of The Stubby Shillelaghs and am currently finishing a profile story on Tim Coons.

For the day in the life story, I followed The StubbyShillelaghs on a Tuesday night at Patrick’s Irish Pub. What makes this particular evening important to the local Irish rock band is the pub is where they started. I really like the atmosphere of the place; the guys in the band are very approachable and easy to talk to.

One major bump in the road was I originally did a day in the life story of the band Paul Beveridge and Company. I interviewed the band and followed them the day they had their kick-starter show. A kick-starter is a web site where people can donate money to support the band. In a single evening they raised their goal amount and disclosed the information to me. However, I got a text from Paul the next day asking me to leave that newsworthy information out. I had put so much time and effort into gathering the story and in an instant it had become unusable. I wish I had learned earlier to listen to my gut instincts. I did not feel confident with how the story was going.

The profile story is going really well. Last week I conducted an interview with Tim Coons that lasted two hours. I enjoyed every minute of it. Tim Coons has such an interesting story to tell. He is so passionate about music and helping people. I look forward to continue working with him on the project.

Crossroad Blues

This summer will be the eighth year Greeley hosts its most anticipated music festival, The Greeley Blues Jam.

The festival will be June 8 to 9. It will be 11 hours of non-stop blues music and will take place at the Island Grove Park.

Those running the Blues Jam already have their lineup planned out with national and local blues bands. The bands expected are Eddie Turner from Chicago, Jimmie Vaughan and Lou Ann Barton from Austin, The Soul Rebels Band from New Orleans, The Mary Bridget Davies Group from Cleveland and local blues group The Otis Taylor Band coming from Denver.

In its eight years, this festival is already considered by some to be the best blues festival in northern Colorado.

In mainstream pop culture, blues music is not as popular as other genres. Blues music has been around since before the 20^th Century.

The pivotal year for the blues genre was in 1936 in the time of Robert Johnson, who is considered the most influential musician of the 20^th Century.

There is a legend that blues became more popular when Robert Johnson found a crossroads, struck a deal with the Devil to make him the best guitar player in the country. He died mysteriously at 27 years old and only recorded 29 songs.

His song, Crossroad Blues, is most famously covered by rock musicians Eric Clapton and John Mayer. The Otis Taylor band will also be participating in a concert at the Apollo Theatre in New York City as part of a tribute to Robert Johnson’s 100^th birthday on March 6.

To experience performances by this underappreciated musical style, tickets are available at greeleybluesjam.com and prices range from $25 to $30.