Blues Fiesta Like Old Home Week in San Felipe

Blues Fiesta Like Old Home Week in San Felipe
By Carla White
STAFF WRITER for Baja Times
Article from Baja Times Volume XXXI, Number 103 April 16-30, 2009

The Third Annual San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta put on by the Mexico Living Guide and the San Felipe Lions Club took place on Saturday, March 28, at the San Felipe baseball stadium. Interestingly, in addition to people from the San Felipe area and those coming south from the United States just for this open air concert, the charity event proved to be a magnet for many from Rosarito and Ensenada. Given the quality of the festival, it seems a sure bet that even more West-coasters will be there in 2010.

According to John Pack, publisher and editor of Mexico Living, and erstwhile Master of Ceremonies for the event, “More than $66,000 was raised for the Lions Club, and the attendance was approximately 1750 for the day!”

His enthusiasm was echoed by Rosarito’s own Polo Valencia, Polo’s Gallery, whose extensive art exhibition was one of the highlights of the festival. “We love this event,” said Polo, adding, “It gets a positive crowd that is happy to be here and people who are happy to support the arts—music, painting, everything!”

The Ensenada contingent in attendance seemed to agree. “The weather was perfect, the line-up was great and the bands were excellent -- especially Lisa Cee. We’ll be back!” noted Richard George, a first-time San Felipe visitor. Other performers included Agave Blues, MoFo Party Band, Vatos Locos, Michele Lundeen and Blues Streak, Johnny Mastro and Mama’s Boys, The Backwater Blues Band, Shelle Blue and Chet and The Committee.

Event proceeds will benefit The Sonshine Hacienda and The Flying Samaritans Medical Clinics. Sonshine Hacienda`s goal is to aid the social services of San Felipe in being able to place abused and/or abandoned children in a safe place, while they and their family situation can be evaluated more in depth. Flying Samaritans is a volunteer organization that operates free medical clinics in Baja California. Doctors, dentists, nurses, translators, pilots and support personnel drive or fly to clinics in private aircraft. The Flying Samaritans has four basic missions: primary care, specialty care, education and emergency care.

According to Pack, Mexico Living is proud to work with Lions Club International, which has a stated goal of creating and fostering a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international particpation. There is no doubt that the San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta is achieving that. For more information about the event, visit http://www.bluesandarts.com/