Blues festival to draw large crowds to Rockland> Expanded two-day lineup to feature award-winning artists; `pub crawl’ added this year

ROCKLAND — Several thousand music fans are expected to jam the Rockland Public landing Saturday and Sunday for the North American Blues Festival. Organizer Paul Benjamin is hoping that famed artist Andrew Wyeth may even drop in for a few bars.

Wyeth will celebrate his 80th birthday Saturday at the Farnsworth Art Museum, a few blocks away on Main Street. “You never know,” Benjamin said.

If Wyeth does show up, he will see “the best blues lineup anywhere,” according to Benjamin.

The lineup will include three winners of the W.C. Handy Awards, blues music’s answer to the Oscar. The winners are Junior Wells, Rory Block and Big Jack Johnson and the Oilers.

More than a decade ago, Benjamin started to bring blues acts to the Golden Spike, and later to the Red Jacket Lounge, where only a handful of people would show up. But he stuck to his passion and gradually the crowds grew. The Red Jacket could no longer hold the crowds and the annual festival has spread out to the public landing.

This year the lineup has expanded to two days, with the acts performing at local spots for the first “pub crawl” on Saturday night.

The Sunday night performance will end with Chicago blues legend Junior Wells. His album “Come on in This House,” is in the top 20 selling albums, according to Living Blues Magazine. The all-acoustic album features six of the best slide guitarists in the world.

For years, Wells was partners with Buddy Guy. The two were synonymous, the very reason for the breakup. There was no fight or falling out, Wells said Thursday from his Albany, N.Y., hotel room. “There was no future in our career. What would happen to me if something happened to him? What would happen to him if something happened to me? We were like Sam and Dave. We just thought it was time to do our own thing. But if he called me today and told me he needed me, I’m on my way.”

His latest record, “Junior Wells at Buddy Guy’s Legends,” was recorded live at Guy’s bar in Chicago, but that doesn’t mean the two are getting back together again, he said.

Is blues music in or out today? “It’s in for me, man. I can work as many days as I want. It depends on how good I feel. Am I getting too old? I’m 62. Who knows? Someday I may get sick of it. Not yet.”

While there are many strong young acts to carry the blues torch, Wells bemoaned the growth of rap music.

Whose music is he most likely to listen to? “Mine,” said Wells.

You never see Wells on stage without his trademark hat. “I always felt that you had to dress up to go on a stage. You are not dressed up without a hat.”

Wells has been on the road for three months with an end finally in sight.

After the Rockland appearance, the band will continue on to France, then Toronto, then an appearance in the new Blues Brothers movie.

Has Wells played in Maine before? “I must have, man. I’ve played everywhere by now,” he said.

Wells was born with the name Amos Blakemore in the heart of Tennessee blues country in 1934. He grew up with a wild streak, listening to the music of Memphis legends Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King and Big Walter Horton. He learned the harmonica from a neighbor, moved to Chicago and took to the mean streets, playing for tips, by age 12. He got his first $2 harmonica by running out the door of a pawn shop with it after leaving his life savings — $1.50 — on the counter.

He later told the judge, “I had to have it.” The judge agreed. He threw in the other 50 cents and dismissed the case.

At age 14, Wells started his professional career with Dave and Louis Myers in Chicago. Never shy, Wells strolled up to blues giant Muddy Waters and told all who would listen how good he was. Waters put the boy on a soap box in front of a microphone. Wells blew the room away and made $45 in tips. When Little Walter left the Waters band in 1952, Wells took his place.

Wells says he blows a combination of the styles of Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter and Horton. But others say that Wells is in a world of his own with scores of pale imitators. “Magic Dick” of the J. Geils Band, one of the best new harmonica players, said, “Wells is unique, which is why I have to put him in a class up there with Little Walter and Sonny Boy. And I’m not sure there is anyone else I would stick in that category.”

His 1966 record “Hoodoo Man Blues” is still considered one of the best ever made. Some of his early sessions with Elmore James, Waters, Willie Dixon and Otis Spann were done while Wells was AWOL from the army.

In 1966, Wells joined up with powerhouse Buddy Guy and the pair became international ambassadors for the blues. They opened for the Rolling Stones in 1970. Their record “Drinkin’ TNT and Smokin’ Dynamite” with Pinetop Perkins and the Stones’ Bill Wyman, was chosen among the top 10 records of 1974. Last year, Wells appeared with Van Morrison.

The Saturday festival lineup will be Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish, Big Jack Johnson and the Oilers, E.C. Scott and Smoke, Eddie Shaw and Wolf Gang, and Luther “Guitar” Junior Johnson. The Sunday lineup will feature Debbie Davies, Lil’ Brian and the Zydeco Travelers, Magic Slim and the Tear Drops, Guitar Shorty, Mighty Sam McLain, Kenny Neal, Rory Block and Wells.

Tickets are $15 in advance, or $20 at the gate. There is a two-day $25 ticket available at various locations. Those interested should call the ticket hot line at 236-7660. Credit card purchases can be made through the Chamber of Commerce at 596-0377.