The Waterfront Blues Festival, in its 30th year this year showcases amazing regional blues musicians and a few national blues headliners. It is always held over the 4th of July weekend and ends with a spectacular fireworks display over the Willamette River. The organization, management and setting of the festival is unmatched by any festival we've ever attended and it is also a fund raising event for the Oregon Foodbank charitable organization as well. A win/win all around.
Before our trek to the festival, we had to stock some basic picnic food items and something to sit on. We scored two pop up outdoor chairs at Fred Meyer for $7 bucks each, and schlepped them back to our flat, We packed up a cooler, our spiffy new chairs and headed out to the Portland Streetcar for the festival.
The 2017 festival was 5 days long. The weather was a little warmer than we had anticipated during the day, but the evenings were spectacular. It is a beautiful venue. It did not have any significant headliners this year as in years past but we heard some phenomenal musicians and vocalists. The talent always blows my mind. There are two main stages that are run like Swiss clocks, the sound is always spot on. There is a small more intimate stage and a larger back stage with a football field sized dance floor. The addition of the dance floor was a new element since our last festival. Little did we know that dance floor would provide us with so much entertainment without ever stepping foot on it.
When we were not at the main stages, we frequently found ourselves at the Front Porch stage with the dance floor. From the first day we were fascinated by all the dancers. All shapes, sizes and skill levels were represented. We watched several men and ladies change into their "dancing shoes" before they took the floor. They twirled, stepped and boogied their hearts out for all 5 days. Some were smooth and debonair as they led their partners, making all the right moves. Others were unbridled, almost convulsive and yet the ladies said YES to the courageous men who asked them to dance. Most of the couples switched partners after every song, both respectfully saying "Thank you for the dance" at the end of their groove. It was a lovely microcosm of humankind. I think I see dance lessons in our future.
When we were not at the main stages, we frequently found ourselves at the Front Porch stage with the dance floor. From the first day we were fascinated by all the dancers. All shapes, sizes and skill levels were represented. We watched several men and ladies change into their "dancing shoes" before they took the floor. They twirled, stepped and boogied their hearts out for all 5 days. Some were smooth and debonair as they led their partners, making all the right moves. Others were unbridled, almost convulsive and yet the ladies said YES to the courageous men who asked them to dance. Most of the couples switched partners after every song, both respectfully saying "Thank you for the dance" at the end of their groove. It was a lovely microcosm of humankind. I think I see dance lessons in our future.
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