The
Sierra Blues Benefest & Crafts Fair 2004 was a huge success
and The Sierra Blues Society
proud to be a part of it. We will continue to keep the BENEFEST
page online to provide you
with the closing details for this year and to keep you informed
about the future plans for
the event. Her's
some closing remarks from event coordinator Thom Myers.
"The Second Annual Sierra Blues Benefest & Crafts Fair
packed the streets of Old Town Auburn on August 28th with a multitude of craft vendors, great
food and some of the finest blues music to be had! It just reverberated through the air of
this foothill community. Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88's, Annie Sampson & Her Band, NiteCry,
Hamilton Loomis, Daniel Castro, Little Sister & The Bad Intentions, Ron Hacker & The
Hacksaws, Nate 'Snakeboy' Shiner, BluesExciters and Deja Blues! We're completely thrilled with
the popularity of this infant event.
Even with the sun beating
down, the atmosphere was great! One of the best memories had to have been when Carl Neeley,
of Neeley Guitars, personally gave Nate 'Snakeboy' Shiner the custom had-made resonator guitar
($1500) that he'd just allowed Snakeboy to play on stage. Said he'd never heard anyone get
the sound out of one his guitars like he'd just heard!
With an event such as this, it takes many parties to make things happen. The Coordination Committee
of Thom Myers, Dennis Sies, David Beeson, Cara & Ray Chioratti, Lynzee Shull, Dan Popovich,
Sandy Pease, John Foley, J.R. Sands and Linda Robinson, strove to make this festival as pleasurable
as possible. Shade, again, was a big problem this year. With just a few more volunteers on
Friday night we would have been able to put in place the two 65 ft. parachutes we'd purchased.......
Next year!
The Committee would like to extend a huge thank
you to the sponsors for this year's gala; Auburn Journal, Auburn Printers, Shanghai, Fitch
Guitars, Old Town Pizza, Mussetter's Distributing, Placer Equipment Rental & Ready Mix,
Hertz Rentals, Sierra Blues Society, Old Town Auburn Business Association, Auburn Recreation
District, The Union, KFOK LPFM Georgetown, Milestone Saloon, KVMR FM Nevada City, Maki Heating
& Air Conditioning, Mountain People's Warehouse, Cafe Delicias. Their generosity provided
the foundation for this great event.
Also, we'd like to thank the
City of Auburn's; Captain Johnson at the Police Department, Chief Mark D'Ambrogi of the Fire
Department, Sonny Harris at Public Works, Judy Holt at Auburn Transit, and Mary Freitas and
Gilda Lathuras and all the helpful folks over at Auburn City Hall.
And the volunteer staff,
what can we say to thank you!...............Tom & Sherri Cude, Moose, Elizabeth Lisk, Adam
Lisk, Kevin Lisk, Debbie & Jeff Crawford, Sherri Sands, Scott Holbrook, Kathleen Lindsen,
Gary Whitt, John Marler, Lisa Modrzejewski,, Sandy Bauer, Rich Meeker, Tonya Clark, Frank,
Linda Roberts, Tom Hogue, Renee Parvis, Annie Brisson, Asia Kleckner, Kelleigh Sorensen, Jeanne
Edmondson, Thom Smith, Gayne Luna, Tim Rogert, Wendell & Cameron, Kenny Clyde, Manny Dominguez,
Brenda & Samantha Stefen, Trevor Alvis, Drew Kessler, Brett Bush, Joe, Tom & Jan Greene,
Rich Burleigh, Jim Lillpop, John Bolden, G. Haydin, Rick & Christy Nicholson, Bob &
Lori Moore, Kenton Russell, Denise & Tom Walbirdge, Norm Zeyen, Cindy Zazci & Ray Edwards,
Jessica Beeson, Tim Melvin, Gail & Jim McIssac, Fred Neely, Dawn Nozicka, Mark & Charolette
Donnan, E.J.& Kyle Junkins, Laura Farmer, Jenna Farmer, Lisa Countryman, Schlenker Family,
Debbie O'sullivan, Matt Crenner, Jim Grepes & Beth Briley, Aaron & Kate Kessler, Angela
Loomer, Steve Williams, Penny & Paul Kessler, Ron? And all of the 12 wonderful kids from
the California Conservation Corp. & Wilma Rich, who brought them ...And any one else we've
forgot.....Thanx!
The list of raffle donations was awesome! A
young lady by the name of Ms. Wallace, from Modesto was the lucky winner of the Custom hand-made
guitar by Fitch Guitars (worth over $3,000). Other prizes included a Financial Plan ($1,250)
from Morgan Stanley w/ Steve Garcia, Harrah's Reno 2 nites $400, Bill's Music $300 acoustic
guitar, El Dorado Casino 2 Nites & Buffet Breakfast $180, Safari West trip for Four $240,
Emma's Bed & Breakfast one night $200, Affordable Aviation 1/2 hour introduction flight
plus a T-Shirt $150, Atlantis Casino-Reno two night stay $120, Ms. Jam Kelley donated two tickets
seated in the 'Black Hole' at the Oakland-St. Louis football game in Oakland on September 2nd
$120, Maki Heating & Air Gift Certificate $100, Plantation Bed & Breakfast Gift Certificate
$100, (Pilot) Wayne Manning 30 minute flight over Auburn $100, Awful Annie's Two Gift $20 Certificates,
Pasquale T's Gift Certificate, Combie Deli & Spirits a bottle Of wine
Checkout the great
photos taken by Bob Cosman at this year's event posted on this site! Fine photos to exemplify
what a great locale this venue is really at!
Everything seems
to be coming together to maybe even expand the venue. There have been several requests to spread
it over the entire Old Town area. Maybe, even, two days? We'll be working diligently on details
for next year's bash, so keep your eyes open as we disclose information on this site. Remember,
if you'd like to become part of the team that puts this thing together....contact us! Thanx
Again and we'll see ya next year!"
Thom
Myers
Coordinator - Sierra Blues Benefest & Crafts Fair
Sierra
Blues Benefest & Crafts Fair
P.O. Box 9184
Auburn, CA 95604
Ph
- 530-268-9166
Fax - 530-268-9301
email - thom_myers@juno.com
Sierra Digital Services has provided us
with a link to photos of last year's Benefest (http://www.sierradigitalservices.com/blues/page_01.htm). Show your support for Sierra Digital Services. Take some time and
check out the services they have to offer. www.sierradigitalservices.com/
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