CUMBERLAND — It’s summer, and that means outdoor music events. Not to be missed is Cumberland’s own Blues, Beer & BBQ.
Grammy award winner Paul Nelson will open the family-friendly summer concert series with an evening of blues at 6 p.m. Saturday (June 29) on Saturn Street near Honors Park.
Nelson, a veteran blues guitarist, has toured with Johnny Winter, Eric Clapton, Vince Gill, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Dr. John and Joe Walsh, among others. He has appeared on David Letterman’s show and “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” He earned his Grammy award for his production of Winter’s “Step Back,” which won “Best Blues Album of the Year in 2014.
Opening for Nelson will be the Feaster-Henthorn band, made up of the local duo of Travis Fester and Doug Henthorn. Henthorn cut an album in 2016, “Cold Medicine,” and has a new album out as of June 21 — “The LLC.” Feaster has released several singles and plays gigs in Europe and throughout central Indiana.
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The free evening of entertainment includes food service on the grounds from the Pull Up Grill, the Cattle Dog Food Co. and Aw’sum Snoball snow cones. The concert stage’s location near the park lends to the kid-friendly atmosphere. With the proximity of Independence Day, a fireworks display will cap off the evening’s festivities.
As Cumberland’s assistant town manager, Christine Owens was interested in seeing pop-up events throughout her community. As her executive assistant and special projects coordinator, Renee Garard had an idea for a blues music festival.
“I’ve always liked the blues,” Garard said, “but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown to love the blues.”
Garard had connections to the blues community through a family friend, and when she and Owens put their heads together, they came up with Blues, Beer & BBQ.
In the summer of 2017, they floated their idea out for a trial run with a concert by blues musician Tad Robinson. The community response was so immediate and positive that they scheduled two more before the summer was out.
Now, two years later, Cumberland has its own outdoor music series — Blues, Beer & BBQ — a recurring pop-up musical concert happening on the last Saturday of every month.
Town manager April Fisher is pleased with the success of the concerts.
“The summer concert series is also a wonderful opportunity to introduce younger generations to the blues in a family-friendly way,” Fisher said. “It’s a popular event, not only to Cumberland, but also to blues fans in our region.”
With Blues, Beer & BBQ as the only blues festival officially endorsed by Indianapolis blues bar the Slippery Noodle, Garard, too, is happy with the results.
“To respect and honor the blues is our number one priority,” she said.
Nelson, as season opener, is excited to be part of an up-and-coming series.
“The blues never ceases to be popular,” Nelson said. “It’s in every style of music — jazz, reggae, rock, country. It never goes away. We are all torchbearers for this new modern contemporary blues sound.”
Later concerts are scheduled for July 27, Aug. 31 and Sept. 28. Tad Robinson, with special guests Deitra Farr and Dave Specter, will play in July; Johnny Rawls with the Gordon Bonham Blues Band will perform in August; and in September, Biscuit Miller and the Mix will play with 800 Lb. Gorilla.
