After a hiatus of twelve years, this year found me back at the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival. It was like reconnecting with an old friend. Held each year on the Blues Ranch a mile outside of the town it's named after, Winthrop Rhythm and Blues Festival is the biggest little blues festival in America.

The 2016 roster mixed it up with the usual mainstays fans have come to expect (The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Too Slim & the Taildraggers), newcomers we're unlikely to see again (Grace Love & The True Loves), and some we hope and pray we will (Randy Oxford's All-Star Slam). We arrived on Saturday night just in time to catch Too Slim in the beer garden. A recent transplant to Nashville, Slim's music has evolved to reflect that. He incorporates rockin' riffs with a country sound that can only be described as "countradelic". It gets the feet moving.

The next day the music continued on the main stage with Grace Love who threw down a spectacular rendition of Prince's Kiss to a highly appreciative crowd. Looking around I saw a lot of familiar faces. Faces I hadn't seen in twelve years, yet recognized. Everybody's aged a bit in my absence, but it's clear we're all still drinking the same kool-aid.

Our trip was short. Due to previous commitments we packed up camp Sunday morning and headed home, stopping along the way to brunch on the banks of the scenic Methow River. We'll be back, Winthrop, for more of your countradelic hospitality. And like old friends, we'll pick up right where we left off. Just like last time.



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