Blues green

guest commentary by Dave Robertson, director of the Family Enterprise Center at the University of Arkansas and incurable volunteer with the Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Festival

Everywhere you turn these days there is talk of economic development and quality of place. Maybe it’s been there all along and I’m just becoming more aware of it since recently being liberated from a career behind a desk and returning to the public sector.

Regardless, my perspective is that there is a renewed energy and optimism in the Fort Smith region these days and I have to say, it is contagious!

As part of this increasing awareness, much attention is being put on quality of place as well as upon supporting existing businesses. We are making sure we don’t lose sight of the importance of supporting our existing businesses in the rush to attract new business and we are working to make sure we support and promote the arts and entertainment as a way of providing quality of place.

We want our community to be both a destination for visitors as well as a place that our young people will want to call home. The River Front Blues Festival, now in its 20th year, is an annual event that continues to drive economic development in our region and especially in our downtown and on our riverfront while also contributing to quality of place.

The very first festival was staged on a flatbed truck in 1991. The success of those early festivals was surely part of the initiative that led to the construction of the Don W. Reynolds Stage and the eventual addition of the beautiful Riverfront Amphitheatre and Pavilion in downtown Fort Smith. The current facility is amazingly functional and a beautiful landmark that welcomes visitors as they cross the Garrison Avenue bridge.

The quality of the performances at each year’s Blues Festival continues to be impressive. Many, many blues legends have appeared at the festival over the years including Buddy Guy, KoKo Taylor, Lonnie Brooks, Bettye LaVette and John Mayall. We have also been fortunate to have artists appear at the festival that were just beginning their road to the top.  Acts such as Los Lonely Boys, Ruthie Foster, Johnny Lang and Grace Potter have stopped by the Fort on their way to stardom!

I made my first trip to Memphis in May in 2006 to attend the Beale Street Music Festival. Three of the acts at the festival in Memphis also performed at the Fort Smith blues festival that same year. Those acts were Ronnie Baker Brooks, Shemika Copeland and John Lee Hooker, Jr. It was great to see that our festival was bringing in the same caliber of entertainment as the Beale Street festival. Guess I didn’t need to travel to Memphis after all.

In order to host the event each year and to keep the Blues Society alive, an army of volunteers and sponsors continue to contribute time, talent and treasure. There are no paid positions on the Society’s Board of Directors and literally hundreds of volunteers give countless hours of their time to put on the festival. Local businesses and professionals give generously of cash, services and product to keep the festival viable and to make sure that the festival is an affordable event for families. Thanks to all who continue to give each year!

In addition to the economic stimulus of bringing in thousands of visitors to the city each year the festival also works with and supports local charities and non-profit organizations such as BACA, Young Men’s Association, and the Single Parent Scholarship Fund. Each year the Society also hosts Blues in the Schools events where we take some of the artists to local schools for musical performances. Annual scholarships are also provided to local music majors through the Barry Ratfliff Memorial Scholarship fund.

It is my hope that anyone that reads this commentary will be moved to support the Blues Festival as both an investment in their community and as a way of showing support to the many volunteers and sponsors that work to put on the show. This is a small sacrifice when you look at the benefits you will receive of an evening, or two, of some of the finest entertainment that can be found!  I can guarantee you will not be disappointed!