Let the blues kick out those winter blahs

LIMA - Just when the winter blahs have about kicked your tail, along comes the blues to kick out those blahs.

Pickle's Blues Extravaganza is upon the city again this weekend, drawing hundreds of music lovers to Memorial Hall. It's the perfect salve for this time of year, Jerry "Pickle" Felter said.

"Last year we had eight inches of snow on the ground and a blizzard," Felter said. "We still had people come and fill this place up."

This year, warm weather means more walk-ups, which means more cash for the benefiting program, Blues in the Schools. This year's projects, cigar box guitars and fantasy guitars, are on full display in the upstairs hall gallery.

Jean Savage, of Lima, attended her fifth blues fest Friday, and brought along friends Debbie Cromes and Shirley Harris, who were acting up in the fun spirit of the night.

"I love the diversity of the people here. This weekend brings people together. It's wonderful music," Savage said. "I'm from Mississippi. These are my roots."

"These are my roots," said Cromes, pointing to the top of her dyed-blond head.

First-time attendees Kevin Austin and Tonda Anderson, both of Lima, said they were looking for a different experience and something new to do in the city.

Long-time blues fan Jim Flinn, of St. Marys, looks forward to the event every year. Lima's blues fest inspired the St. Marys Blues Guild to start their own on Labor Day weekend.

Lima's event is special partly because of where it's held, Felter said. Memorial Hall used to be home to the old blues circuits.

With the county's budget slashed, Felter hopes that Memorial Hall hasn't seen its last fest.

"I tell the musicians people like Cab Calloway played on this stage," Felter said. "It's like sacred ground. I think they play maybe just a little harder because of that."

The show continues tonight with Mikey Jr. and Sonny Rhodes.

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