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Permalink Reply by Max Shores on June 14, 2009 at 2:37pm

Bluesboy Jag, Johnny Lowebow, and pat mAcdonald will all be playing CBGs there. The Deep Blues Film Festival is the week before in Minneapolis and they will be showing "Songs Inside The Box," the cigar box guitar documentary on June 12th.

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Permalink Reply by weinerdog on June 14, 2009 at 4:07pm

Last year I'd say I saw 150-200 on the day I was there. I think the Cabooze will be a great venue. My one thought is that if it's nice out, who is going to want to stay inside when music is going on outside? Although it does look like the set times are staggered so everyone can go back and forth as they're setting up/tearing down.

Christian, sorry that you're not able to play. It is very cool, however, that they are already talking 'next year'. I only found out about this festival at the last moment in '08, and was blown away. I'm hoping that by having it downtown that more people find out about it and check it out.

As for Johnny Lowebow and all the cbg's..it's going to be awesome. I'm hoping to pick up a lowebow(depends on $), so maybe Johnny will have some with him for sale. If not the wife will hopefully let me order one. It's always cool to see people who have never seen these instruments and the talent behind them. Very much looking forward to the documentary as well!

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Permalink Reply by Anderson on June 15, 2009 at 8:57am

What this festival lacks in size as far as people it totally makes up in heart. The people there are die hards, there will be people there from Europe that only come to America for this festival. Chris Johnson takes a hit money-wise every single year and just keeps expanding it. He's the dumbest, nicest guy I know and I'm really gonna be sad to not be able to go this year.

The bands all become a sort of family after playing here and most of them come back year after year.

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Permalink Reply by Max Shores on June 15, 2009 at 8:59am

This festival is produced by Chris Johnson who is a member of CigarBoxNation.com. Chris wants to help promote the music that he loves and I think the festival is a labor of love for him. It brings together people from all over the world who love outsider and alternative blues, music that is difficult to find elsewhere. I've never been to the fest but many who have say it's the best festival in the world. It will continue to grow.

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Permalink Reply by Anderson on June 15, 2009 at 4:46pm

I couldn't have said it better than this!

I must say that while I say Chris is the "stupidest" dude I've ever known I mean that with the most love in the world. Just the way he takes a blow to the pocket book every year and still keeps it going has got to be the largest labor of love.

Again i can't wait to make it back there.

Max Shores said:

This festival is produced by Chris Johnson who is a member of CigarBoxNation.com. Chris wants to help promote the music that he loves and I think the festival is a labor of love for him. It brings together people from all over the world who love outsider and alternative blues, music that is difficult to find elsewhere. I've never been to the fest but many who have say it's the best festival in the world. It will continue to grow.

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Permalink Reply by HOLLOWBELLY on June 19, 2009 at 8:48pm

I wished I'd gone this year-when I looked at the flights they were £800 and theres no way...then my mate tries later in the year and gets flights for only £350-damn!..well, I'm gonna get a passport and save up for 2010, cos the Brits I know that do attend (DJ Hillfunk and Honkeyfinger) tell me the atmosphere is gr8.
Have a gr8 fest this year.

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Permalink Reply by weinerdog on July 19, 2009 at 3:45pm

Wow....what a incredible fest it was this year. I didn't get to see nearly as much as I would have liked, but I still got there Fri-Sun. The vibe, atmosphere, and diversity of bands was awesome, and I'm going to make this fest each year unless I'm dead. I did get to thank Chris briefly, and as everyone knows he does an amazing job, and I feel very fortunate to happen to live where this festival is held. As for cbg players, I did get to see Bluesboy, Purgatory Hill, and of course Johnny. Highly enjoyable. If I remember right, during Pat's set someone yelled 'what
is that thing?' Bluesboy and Johnny had booths outside by the outdoor stage, and the setup seemed perfect for the amount of people there. I'm hopeful that a lot of bands sold some cd's and enjoyed their stay in Minnesota. Here is a pic of my new 'friend'. I'm not much of a player, but I can't wait to get the proper amp setup and start making a godawful racket :) I also bought a stompbox from Bluesboy, so that I can be the worlds first instrumental one man blues band. The budget is about blown, so I might sell the pignose I have and try to get a separate bass and guitar amp secondhand. Johnny was very cool and it is great that so much talent is willing to play the festival mostly just for the love of the music. I hope to see many of the same bands and faces next year!!

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