Legendary '60s bands highlight Mount Baker festival

ANNA WALTERS

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DEMING - Legendary '60s bands Canned Heat, which headlined Woodstock in 1969, and The Electric Flag, a 1967 Monterey Pop Festival headliner, are playing the Mount Baker Rhythm & Blues Festival this weekend.

Although these two bands may draw older folks to the event at the Deming Log Show Fairgrounds, festival organizer Lloyd Petersen said that the lineup offers something for everyone.

"It's really a balance of the old school and the new guard," Petersen said, adding that he expects other acts playing the festival, like the Grey House Blues Band, the Fat Tones and Eric Sardinas, to appeal a younger crowd.

IF YOU GO
What: A music festival featuring Canned Heat, The Electric Flag, Eric Sardinas and Big Motor, and more.
When: Friday, Aug. 1, to Sunday, Aug 3.
Where: The Deming Log Show Fairgrounds, 3295 Cedarville Road.
Cost: A three-day festival pass, which includes camping accommodations, is $80 if purchased in advance, $100 at the gate. Single-day tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $40 in advance, $50 at the gate. Kids 12 and under are free if accompanied by an adult.
Tickets: For more information or to purchase tickets, visit bakerblues.com. Tickets are also available by calling NW Ticket Sales at 629-8027 or at Avalon Music, 1330 Railroad Ave., Bellingham.
Camping: Tent accommodations, car and RV parking are free with ticket purchase. Day ticket holders are welcome to camp. A limited number of RV sites are still available for $30 with the purchase of a weekend pass.
Lineup for Friday, Aug. 1, music starts at 7 p.m.: Grey House Blues Band, The Fat Tones, Eric Sardinas and Big Motor.
Saturday, Aug. 2, starting at 11 a.m.: J. Charles Band, The Chris Egers Band, The Mike Mulder Band with Larry Knechtel, The Curtis Hammond Band, Kal David & the Real Deal, Canned Heat, Zen Blues Quartet.
Sunday, Aug. 3, starting at 11 a.m.: The Fat Tones, Becki Sue & Her Big Rockin' Daddies, Jason Ricci & New Blood, Marc Ford's Fuzz Machine, The Electric Flag.

The festival, which is in its 13th year, runs from Friday, Aug. 1 to Sunday, Aug 3.

The fairgrounds will accommodate around 10,000 people, but Petersen is offering only 3,000 tickets to maintain a more relaxed festival atmosphere. This year, he expects about 2,500 people to attend, an increase of about 30 percent from last year's crowd.

Petersen cites high gas prices as the main reason for increasing ticket sales.

"People are not traveling so much in the summer and taking advantage of our regional events," he said.

The '60s bands performing have undergone changes since their heyday. Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra is the only original Canned Heat member; The Electric Flag retained only two of its nine original members - facts that Petersen thinks will improve the music quality.

"(Canned Heat and The Electric Flag) are not less than they were, they're more than they were," he said. "Musicianship has evolved over the last four decades and people are more proficient."

Petersen doesn't think the lack of original band members will hinder ticket sales.

In addition to musical acts, the festival will feature a beer garden, hosted by the Washington Blues Society, food booths, merchandise vendors and a charity raffle. Two donated Fender Stratocaster guitars signed by all the guitarists at the festival will be given away as prizes. Raffle proceeds support the Whatcom Hospice Foundation.