Local band B-side played during the All Star Review, Sunday. Photos by Catherine Stachowiak
Local concert production company, Notorious Entertainment held the thirteenth annual Kern River Rock N Blues Fest, a Kern County Rock n Blues Reunion, all last weekend.
The event rocked Kernville, September 26 through September 29 with many bands eager to entertain this year, at Frandy Campground, and all around the town of Kernville.
Organizer for the event, Orion Sanders is owner of Notorious Entertainment, which produces the event annually. He invited the Kern Valley Sun to experience the lineup of this major concert series. “We have 13 bands. They’re all classic rock and blues. That’s why it’s called the classic Rock N Blues Fest,” Sanders said.
Musicians playing throughout weekend included Pedro Cordeiro, Shawn Jones, Blue Mountain Tribe, Matt Lomeo, Kelly’s Lot, Teresa Russell, Chris Thayer and the TCB, Fuzzy Rankin, Father Daddy, Paddy Marsh, Left Coast Groovies, Dirty Pool Blues Band, and Itchy Brother.
Tito’s Handmade Vodka, out of Texas, sponsored this major event, which Mountain Dog Millworks presented, with two stages at four different venues, over four days.
Sanders said, “We originally started this (event) to bring entertainment to the valley that before wasn’t really done. So we wanted to showcase bands from outside of the area, and bring another level of entertainment to the Kern River Valley.”
The event also honors the memory of Kern Valley veterans. Proceeds from gate sales went to Sarge’s Wreaths 4 Vets, an affiliation with Wreaths Across America. Sanders, who is founder of Sarge’s Wreaths 4 Vets, explained that Mountain Dog Millworks held a raffle for Sarge’s Wreaths 4 Vets. And Tito’s Handmade Vodka was matching Sarge’s donations anywhere up to $2000. Both entities ensured that Sarge’s supports each veteran at the Kern River Valley Cemetery.
Several different parties and contests went on throughout the weekend. Sanders held the kick off party Thursday night at the Kernville Saloon and the VIP party Friday afternoon at Frandy. Saturday morning the events included the Titos Handmade Vodka Bloody Mary Showdown, which was a competition for cash and prizes. Events also included the Sarge’s Cornhole Tournament at Frandy on Sunday afternoon.
Sunday was the All Star Review wherein locals were allowed to sit in on jam sessions with the visiting musicians in an open mic. Sunday morning the local band B-side started the line up of rock n roll which got the crowd of visitors and locals singing and swaying to the tunes.
Notorious Entertainment booked the bands and sponsors for this monumental event back in January, which Sanders expected approximately 1500 music fans to attend. Notorious Entertainment brought in food vendors, merchandise vendors, and had two stages for the lineup of 13 bands.
According to Sanders, Kernville Saloon sponsored the Thursday Kernville Saloon Kick Off Party. Sanders’ very own Hot Sauce Shop sponsored the VIP Party, back stage on Friday. Grocery Outlet sponsored the Grocery Outlet’s All Star Review, which was when primarily musicians from the valley and musicians that played on the stage rotated through in a jam session at the gazebo in Circle Park.
Sponsors also included Archie’s Hardware, Camping on the Kern, Dress Your Soul, Ewings On The Kern, The Hut, Jawbone Canyon Store, Kern River Dental, Pizza Barn Kernville, Sierra Gateway Cottages, The Sportsmans, and Frandy Campground, where the bulk of events occurred.
