This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Arts & Entertainment

Photos: Sarasota Blues Festival

The Sarasota Blues Fest celebrated its 21st year on Saturday with a star-studded lineup including child music prodigies and the Grammy award-winning band, Los Lobos.

Thousands gathered across the street from the Ed Smith Stadium complex to attend the 21st annual Sarasota Blues Fest on Saturday.

The concert was officially underway when 15-year-old guitarist and singer, Mike Imbasciani, who hails from Port Charlotte, took the stage. He wowed the crowd with his cover songs by classic rock and blues artists such as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Imbasciani was joined on stage by 11-year-old blues and classic rock musician, Alex Shaw, who traveled from West Palm Beach.

Find out what's happening in Sarasotawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For both young guitar prodigies, Saturday’s performance was their first in Sarasota, although it was certainly not their first time on stage. Imbasciani has played shows in Orlando, Miami, Nashville and Memphis.

Shaw, who works with the Kids Cancer Foundation, said he has played benefit shows in front of as many as 2,500 people, and also had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the late Clarence Clemons, of the Bruce Springsteen Band, on stage.

Find out what's happening in Sarasotawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Selwyn Birchwood Band, hailing from Tampa, took the stage after Imbasciani and Shaw finished their set. Saturday’s performance was the Selwyn Birchwood Band’s first performance at Sarasota Blues Fest – one it earned after winning the Ticket to the Blues Fest competition.

“I didn’t even know about the Sarasota Blues Fest until relatively recently,” Birchwood confessed. “When if found out about it online, I thought ‘Oh man, I’ve been missing out.’ I’m really glad we got a chance to play here – I love this event and the people are awesome.”

The Selwyn Birchwood Band will perform at the International Blues Competition in February.

Following the Selwyn Birchwood Band, Lightnin’ Malcolm from Mississippi took the stage as the festival’s first national act. The award-winning blues duo’s electrifying set was followed by another strong act, Shaun Murphy, the only woman to take to the stage at this year’s Blues Fest.

Shaun Murphy has performed alongside music greats such as Bob Seger, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, and Meatloaf in an illustrious music career that spans more than 40 years. Accompanied by a full band, Murphy’s powerful, sultry vocals had the crowd dancing throughout the duration of her set.

Following Murphy’s performance was 2011 Grammy nominee, Ryan Shaw, whose style is reminiscent of 1960’s Rhythm and Blues music. Shaw traveled from his home in New York to perform for thousands at the Sarasota Blues Fest.

The daylong festival rounded out with an 8:00pm performance by the headlining act, Los Lobos, who have three Grammy awards under their belts. The East Los Angeles based band released their first album more than thirty years ago, and have gained significant fame over the course of the past three decades.

Concert-goers who spent their afternoon and evening at Sarasota’s 21st annual Blues Fest walked away with their ears ringing from the rare treat of catching a star-studded lineup of local talent and nationally acclaimed music acts.

With two decades of incredible shows under its belt, the Sarasota Blues Fest has simply continued to improve with age.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?