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Edmonton Labatt Blues Festival, 2005
Hawreluk Park, Edmonton Alberta

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It was another sizzling day, just a few dozen tickets short of a second sell-out, when Mary Flower breezed onto the stage Sunday afternoon to perform what amounted to a clinic on acoustic blues fingerpicking and slide guitar. She's a competitive picker with two top-three finishes in the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship, and instead of dancers, guitar players crowded the stage for a close-up view of her amazing technique.

Delbert McClinton combines the many
styles that define a true Texas musician.Craig Horton, Sunday's second performer, brought. his unique style � West Coast via Arkansas � and almost 50 years of experience performing R&B, jazz, rock and blues to the stage. A talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist, his set was full of original tunes, cool guitar and soulful vocals. It's easy to see why Craig Horton won the 2004 Bay Area Blues Society awards for Guitar Player, and Blues Band of the year.

The blues, Chicago style, became the focus when guitarist and singer "Steady Rolling" Bob Margolin and drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith took the stage. Both musicians are alumni of the great Muddy Waters band of the 70's. Their set reflected their Chicago roots and included tunes from the Muddy Waters songbook, as well as songs by the late Little Milton and Jimmy Rogers.

We'd witnessed a legend at peak power I started buying Delbert McClinton's records back in 1976, so the opportunity to finally see him live, was a huge thrill. A singer, songwriter, and harmonica player, McClinton is a Texas road-house legend, who combines the many styles - blues, country, R&B, soul, rock - that define a true Texas musician. With a topnotch band that included horns and soulful Hammond B3, McClinton worked his way through tunes such as "Someday Baby," "Back To Louisiana," and "Have A Little Faith In Me," that showcased his exceptional ability to wring every grain of emotion from a song. His headlining set certainly ranks with the best blues performances I've seen, and as the lights came up, and the crowd filed out of Hawreluk Park excited and content, the buzz confirmed what we all knew - we'd witnessed a legend at peak power.

With music of such high calibre and seven years of operating experience, the Edmonton Labatt Blues Festival has earned the reputation - according to by Real Blues Magazine - as the best blues festival in Canada. I would certainly agree.

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