2008: A Season to Remember

Posted Sep 19, 2008 at 10:55 AM in General, Reviews

From Crosby, Stills & Nash’s three-part harmony, to B.B. King’s bring-down-the house performance, to Billy Idol’s spiky white blond hair, to Midori's force-of-nature playing, to Willie Nelson's “Whiskey River,” to G. Love's bluesy hip-hop lyrics to The Black Crowes’ uncanny vocals—2008 was a memorable season.

Crosby, Stills & Nash opened the season and did not disappoint their audience. I am still amazed that they won a Grammy before I was even born and were able to convert me into a fan. Stills’ guitar work was phenomenal, Nash was energetic and funny, and Crosby’s vocals were amazing. It was a true indicator of what the upcoming season had to offer.

Watching the 82-year-old “King of Blues” B.B. King play was indescribable. He has been performing for six decades, and was absolutely phenomenal! It obviously isn’t easy for him to perform (he said his age and health were to blame), and he did so while sitting, but the quality of his playing and singing have not been affected in the least. He rocked the hill! Giving us a performance straight from the dusty roots of the South as well as the depths of his soul, this concert is one that will be hard to forget.

Needless to say, I was more than excited when I heard that Billy Idol was going to be playing at Britt. I have loved that man since I was five years old, I remember singing “Rebel Yell” dressed up in my mom’s clothes in front of a mirror with a brush—haha. Riding the wave of my childhood nostalgia, I prepared myself for an evening of ‘80s punk rock. The set was incredible; hit after hit he laid it all out on the table, giving the audience exactly what they wanted.

To be honest, I had never even heard of Midori before I started working for the Britt Festivals, but I heard she was amazing. She played a dramatic concerto by Shostakovich—the moon rose over the hill, the crowd was eager with anticipation, crickets were chirping and the evening temperature was an unbelievable 90 degrees. It a magical night under the beautiful Oregon sky—the stuff of dreams. Both Midori and the Britt Orchestra (as always) were fabulous; we never wanted it to end!

The most surprising thing about the Willie Nelson concert was not his performance but the diversity of the crowd. You could find yourself bumping elbows with all types of people—bikers, 20-somethings, grandmas and grandpas, cowboys and cowgirls, “rockers” and young families. Is a testament to how enduring his music is and that the appeal seems to be for people in many different walks of life. It’s no wonder, with almost 700 songs—titles like “Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain,” “Johnny One Time,” “I Gotta Get Drunk” and “Always On My Mind”—Willie has something to offer to everyone, and did an incredible job of it at the show.

For anyone who has never seen G. Love and Special Sauce in concert, I have to tell you that you are really missing out. G. Love’s genuine personality and passion for his music are contagious. G. Love proved that the only thing better than looking at him is listening to him perform. It was probably one of the only shows I have ever been to that I actually saw girls swooning (ok, so I thought it was funny), but once you get past that part of G. Love, you realize that he is an amazing musician. He has the ability to transport you to a back-porch in the Deep South, drinking a cold beer with company in the summertime.

As the end of the 2008 season came, there was one final performance not to be missed. Although The Black Crowes haven’t released a new album in seven years, they were absolutely brilliant! Chris Robinson’s voice is like his own amazing instrument—his intonation and inflection of certain lyrics and notes to compliment the arrangement are unmatched in most of today’s musicians. Looking around at the crowd, I realized just how difficult it is to see The Black Crowes in concert and not dance. It seemed that everyone was in some type of groove.

The 2008 season was extraordinary; I had so much fun seeing all of the talented performers. I cannot wait to see what next year will bring! I have been to concerts all over the country and none even come close to comparing to Britt. I love that you can bring your own picnic, wine, beer, blanket, chairs and friends for an intimate evening under the stars, with musical stars of all genres. What is your memory of the 2008 season?

This post was written by Kirsten Agard, Marketing Assistant

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