Little Chicago Blues Festival

Johnson City has been nicknamed "Little Chicago" because it was a major "bootlegging" center during the Prohibition Era, and also because gangster Al Capone reportedly frequented the town (probably because of the bootlegging activity). Also, northeastern Tennessee and southwestern Virgina was the birthplace of country music, and is home to many good musicians (Johnny Cash and June Carter, just to name two). So, each year, the multi-day "Little Chicago Blues Festival" is held at a music venue called "Down Home" in Johnson City. Don and his sister, Dawn, went to the festival several times over the years, and I was able to join them in 2006. Thank you, Dawn, for making that possible! It was so fabulous! Here are some of the musical acts we were able to see that year (clicking on the names will link to their websites, if available): ♫ Bleu Jackson ♫ Blue Mother Tupelo ♫ Blue Rapture ♫ Bobby Knight ♫ Brim Leal ♫ The Hoodoos ♫ Jenna & the Jonses ♫ Lightnin' Charlie ♫ Marley's Ghost ♫ The Nightcrawlers ♫ The Nomadz ♫ Paul Rishell & Annie Raines

©2012 Tiffany Reed