One of the advantages of living in Silver City, New Mexico is the annual Blues Festival (now known as the Blues and Bike Festival). What’s really special is that it’s FREE! This was the 21st in the long history of blues festivals here, sponsored by the Mimbres Arts Council. It happens every Memorial Day Weekend from Friday evening through Sunday late afternoon (7 pm this year). A large crowd of (peaceful) bikers show up on their Harleys, Hondas and other bikes. Plenty of visitors join the locals for the music.

This year, the Taj Mahal Trio headlined Saturday night, from 7:30 to 9 pm with their slow blues. We really liked Zac Harmon, who preceded Taj Mahal. On Sunday we caught award-winning soul blues singer Missy Andersen and her band. We missed some other great bands or heard parts of their performances: the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Harlis Sweetwater Band, Edie Steed and the Roadrunners, Heather “Lil Mama” Hardy and more.

Here’s a short clip of Missy Andersen: