For the sixth year, Blues Brews and BBQ, Alameda’s favorite music festival, brought together world-class blues musicians, a myriad of craft breweries, and smoking BBQ vendors. On the afternoon of Sunday September 17, visitors chose from over a dozen craft beers plus local wines and inspired cocktails. In addition to the festivities, attendees shopped for locally-crafted wares from Bay Area vendors, and learned about other local organizations, while kids got crafty at the Family Zone.
The festival’s MC was Jose Bernardo Cuellar, a.k.a Dr. Loco. He is a Chicano music performer and producer, ethnologist and Ethnic Studies educator with an Anthropology Doctorate (UCLA, 1977). The San Antonio, Texas native and long-time San Francisco, California resident serves as Francisco State University Professor Emeritus (since 2010), and performs with Dr. Loco’s Rockin’ Jalapeño Band (since 1988).
West End Arts District produced the festival, which was held at Washington Park, a change from the usual Webster Street location which was warmly received by attendees. Performers for the afternoon included HowellDevine, Tia Carroll Band, Aki Kumar Blues Band, and MJ’s Brass Boppers, who closed out the festival by leading a musical parade from the park up Central Avenue to the Healing Garden on Webster Street for an afterparty for those who wanted the fun to continue.
Please enjoy this gallery of photos which captured the sights and sounds of the afternoon filled with people laughing, singing, dancing, and enjoying themselves.
Maurice Ramirez is the official photographer for the City of Alameda. Reach him at [email protected]. His photography is collected at MauriceRamirez.com. His posts are collected at AlamedaPost.com/Maurice-Ramirez. All photos are ©2023 Maurice Ramirez.