Delta Blues Festival on tap in Antioch this weekend

By Roni Gehlke

While a number of events, including the Isleton Crawdad Festival and Rivertown Jamboree, have been canceled in recent years, Delta Blues Festival organizers in Antioch will open their gates free to the public again this year.

"Despite the poor economy all of our sponsors came back and donated again this year," Delta Blues Festival event coordinator Frank Giovanni — better known as Frankie G. — said.

For 11 years Frankie G. and his committee have been hosting the Delta Blues Festival in Antioch. The event is scheduled for Saturday in the Rivertown area at Waldie Park. It offers a day of music, food and crafts. Giovanni said that he believes this will be the festival's best year ever.

"Antioch has gotten a bad rap," Giovanni said. "It is time to come and celebrate and show what good people live in Antioch."

With the help of his sponsors, Giovanni said that he has been able to set up a "first-class" lineup of blues performers. Of the best-known performers this weekend will be Memphis Gold, which Giovanni calls "a true blues master." The performer hales out of McLean, Va., where for 50 years Memphis Gold has worked to build a strong blues singing career. He has released four full-length albums to date and has shared the stage with blues greats like Bernard Allison, James Brown, R.L. Burnside, Otis Rush, The Temptations and Jimmy Vaughn.

Born in Memphis, and named Memphis Gold Chester, he was the 13th child of 14. His father was a musician and introduced Memphis Gold to the guitar at the age of 4. By the age of 8, he was a regular on historic Beale Street in Memphis where he played the guitar and danced for pocket change.

Memphis Gold has been on nine international tours and received much acclaim throughout the world for his music.

Also performing will be the Delgado Brothers. According to Giovanni the Delgado Brothers have long been considered Los Angeles' best secret. For more than 30 years they have been music makers and collaborators.

The band says that its life experiences may explain "their flare for illuminating every man's joys, sorrows, triumphs and losses." They have four self-released CDs, the latest called "Learn to Fly."

Other bands set to perform include blues guitarist Daniel Castro, authentic Louisiana Creole-style blues band Bonne Musique Zydeco, Bay Area blues singer Annie Sampson and blues artist Wing nut Adams.

Waldie Park offers plenty of shade, but Giovanni reminds visitors to remember to bring chairs and blankets to sit on. He would also like to remind guest that there is no alcohol or pets allowed at this event. The event takes place Saturday from noon to 7:30 p.m. Waldie Park is located in downtown Antioch off Second Street between G and I streets.

"There is something here for the young and old," Giovanni said. "You'll always find all ages dancing to the sounds or tapping their feet."

If you go
WHAT: Delta Blues Festival
WHEN: Noon to 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Second Street between G and I streets, Antioch
INFO: 925-698-0824 or www.deltabluesfestival.net
COST: free