A CLOSER LOOK

The Maine Blues Festival returns to Naples for its fourth year Saturday, June 20, with more than 40 bands playing at venues all around town. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to www.mainebluesfestival.com.

Sunday may be Father’s Day, but Friday and Saturday in Naples are reserved solely for the blues.

The fourth annual Maine Blues Festival in Naples begins with a tease Friday, June 19, then digs in deep Saturday as more than 40 acts will play across venues covering a two-mile stretch of the Lakes Region town.

Over 7,000 tickets were sold to the Blues Festival a year ago, and music lovers who make the trek to Naples this year will be greeted by music as pure and rockin’ as can be, said Mark Persky, the event’s master of ceremonies.

“There will be great guitar, great sax, great vocals,” said Persky, in his third year as voice of the Maine Blues Festival, which kicked off in 2006. “You just don’t hear that in pop anymore.”

Organizers have worked to bring to Naples the best blues acts around, local and otherwise. With a slate that includes Mark “Guitar” Miller, Pam Baker and the SGs, Denny Breau, The Delta Knights and Dave Mello, plus food vendors, artisans and children’s programs, the Maine Blues Festival gives everybody, young and old, something to do.

“It’s a family festival. We get everyone from blues fans to locals and their kids to visitors coming up from Portland,” said Persky, who compels music fans to bring friends and family along for the fun. “If you bring your grandma and the music’s too loud, back up.”

The Blues Festival starts Friday night with shows at the Freedom Cafe and Point Sebago Resort, both beginning at 8 p.m., and the Tiki Bar and Bray’s Brewpub and Eatery, both starting at 9 p.m.

The festival really gets roaring Saturday, when bands will play up and down Naples starting at noon and going until close.

Special events include a series of clinics at the Naples Village Green, which acts as Ground Zero for the Blues Festival, the central point of all activity. Pat Pepin will conduct a children’s blues clinic 1-2 p.m. Saturday, followed by a blues harmonica clinic at 2 p.m. and a guitar clinic by Breau at 3 p.m.

And what use is having the water around if you are not going to use it? Miller, one of Maine’s great guitar virtuosos, will play on the Songo River Queen II as it cruises Long Lake 3-5 p.m. Blues Challenger (6-8 p.m.) and I.C. Waters (8-11 p.m.) will play dockside following Miller.

The setting, in Naples along the water, could not be any better, Persky said. The festival draws a lot of people who have never been to the region, and they always walk away raving. In fact, he said, many people are starting to use the festival as an excuse to check out the towns around Naples.

“The greater Bridgton area is one of the great undiscovered areas of Maine,” said Persky.

Blues fans will want to move around plenty, though, to catch all the great music during the Blues Festival. As in years past, a shuttle bus will be around to take people up and down the Causeway so they don’t miss a lick of blues.

Throughout the day Saturday, bands will play at American Legion Post 155, Bray’s Brewpub and Eatery, Freedom Cafe and Pub, Moose Landing Marina, Naples Golf and Country Club, Naples Village Green, Rick’s Cafe, Sandy’s on the Flight Deck, Tiki Bar & Grill, Sydney’s Restaurant and Bear Bonz BBQ.

The atmosphere at the Blues Festival has never been anything short of fun, relaxed and warm, said Persky. Even though more than half of the venues serve alcohol, and many of the fans like a little ale with their blues, the festival remains about the music.

“It’s never been a problem. Having little kids around kind of mellows everyone out,” said Persky. “It’s a family festival, but it still rocks.”

In this case, the blues are a bargain as well. Tickets are $11 in advance or $15 at the door, with children 12 and under attending for free. For more information, and a complete schedule, go to www.mainebluesfestival.com.

Scott Davis performs at Sandy’s Flight Deck near the Naples Causeway during the 2008 Maine Blues Festival. This year’s Blues Festival is set for Saturday, June 20.Harmonicas, like these wielded at last year’s Blues Festival by members of The Wooden Eye, will help produce the event’s signature sound June 20.