The Auburn Art Association held its fourth annual Jazz and Blues Festival Friday, May 20 from 6-11 p.m. Artists John Mooney of Bluesiana, Grayson Capps and Tapestry played for the audience gathered at Pebble Hill on Debardeleben Road. According to an announcer, the event drew twice as many people as the previous year.
Artist Grayson Capps, a member of the local band The Lost Cause Minstrels, played on a small stage set up with only a folding chair and his equipment. Capps has been a musician for more than twenty years and has been playing for a living for eight of those.
"I was scared," Capps said. "All these people are overwhelming." Capps, native of the Auburn-Opelika area, played at the Jazz and Blues Festival for the first time. He said the atmosphere was great, and the crowd was awesome.
"Sometimes it's not about what's hip and cool," Capps said. "It's about doing what you like doing."
He also said he and his band would be playing at the Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores the next night.
Despite the older feel to his style of music, Capps's performance drew a huge response from the mostly college-student crowd.
The atmosphere was friendly for all ages. There were drinks for the college and adult attendees, ice cream scoops for the younger crowd and good bites for all. Beach chairs and blankets crowded the lawn, though few stayed in their seats. Most people were up and about, dancing, drinking and enjoying the warm summer evening and the myriad of different foods the vendors had put out.
Reggie's Sho-Nuff Barbecue was present, complete with a kitchen, fryers, fresh meat and vegetables set up in a tent.
Dade Kilpatrick, local showgoer, was impressed with the festival.
"It's got a pretty good relaxed feel," said Kilpatrick, who has seen bands such as Motley Crue and Steve Miller Band. He has spent time in the Nashville, Tenn., and said that this festival was great, despite being small, even compared to larger events he's attended.
This was Kilpatrick's first time at the Jazz and Blues Festival. He remarked that he would probably attend it again.
"It brings the feel of the Waverly shows to Auburn in a beautiful way," said Ben Lewis, Auburn alum. "Auburn needs more of this."
Lewis said he and his friends heard about the festival by word of mouth and the posters on Toomer's corner.
"It's really chill, and a lot of fun," Lewis summed up the evening. "This is what Blues is supposed to be."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
