Thousands gather for 17th annual Bluesmore

Almost 4,000 blues fans from six states of the Midwest came together at Brucemore Saturday night to enjoy a night of their favorite music.

Organizers said they were excited to get one of the biggest names in blues, the Deanna Bogart Band, as their headliner.

“She's a big name, big talent and it's going to be a big old party, ” Jim Kerns, executive director of Brucemore, said.

Bogart, who comes from Maryland, took the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday night. Her music is a combination of boogie-woogie, contemporary blues, country, and jazz.  She plays saxophone and keyboard as well as providing vocals for the group.

“What is special about this year is that it has been a long time since we had a woman as a headliner and we are so lucky to get Deanna Bogart here,” Kerns said.

The Deanna Bogart Band was joined by three other groups, Reverend Raven and the Chain Smoking Altar Boys and the Avery Brothers, who proceeded Bogart on the Brucemore Stage. Krewe Osgood also performed on the porch of the Brucemore Mansion.

Tom Cleary, a member of the audience, traveled from the Quad Cities to Brucemore just to enjoy some blues with his family.

“It's a small venue, which I like, and very family oriented.  The kids can run and play,” Cleary said.

Cleary said he is a big blues fan and has traveled all over the state enjoying blues.

“I enjoy getting to know all of the different people that like the blues and dancing to my favorite music,” Cleary said.

This is his first time to Bluesmore and he's just taking in every minute.

“Every year, we guarantee that it is going to be a good show and good food and that it's going to be good weather and a beautiful historic setting.  You can't go wrong with that,” Kerns said.

Throughout the evening people also had the opportunity to wander through the gardens, walk around the pond and take in the first floor of the mansion, but Kerns said audience members don't want to get away from the music for too long.

“People are just having a good old time. No one can go wrong with the blues,” Kerns said.