Santa Ana’s Olde Ship British Pub to host First Annual Real Blues Festival on Oct. 3

Alastair Green photo courtesy Alastair Greene

Santa Ana’s The Olde Ship British Pub and Restaurant is hosting its First Annual Real Blues Festival of Orange County on Oct. 3.  Part of the proceeds will benefit Saint Joseph’s Hospital of Orange for Cancer Prevention and Treatment, according to Keith’s Blues Blog.

Among those on the bill for The Real Blues Festival of Orange County are blues guitarist Alastair Greene and his band; the Kansas City blues sound of the Glenn Patrik Band; SoCal blues legends the Flames, lead by guitarist Glen Anderson; and the Oozie Blues Band, whose members have performed with John Lee Hooker, Etta James, and James Brown, among others. The event is being promoted by bluesman Papa J, who will also be performing with his band featuring guitarist Fran Banish, bassist Doug Lunn, and drummer Kofi Baker, son of Cream’s Ginger Baker.

Papa J was motivated to organize The Real Blues Festival of Orange County after witnessing the line-up of this year’s Doheny Blues Festival, held in May in nearby Dana Point, California and featuring headliners like the Black Crowes and Crosby, Stills and Nash.

“In my opinion most large blues festivals are over-priced and in many cases, you don’t get ‘Real Blues’,” says Papa J in a press release for the festival. “I guess a recent festival in Orange County couldn’t find enough blues acts…so just to draw in people, Crosby, Stills & Nash were added to the bill.”

He quickly adds, “I think these guys are greatly talented people – but Blues, they are not! So, when this opportunity came along (to produce The Real Blues Festival of Orange County), I just thought it would be cool to have it be all real blues. That, plus all of the bands have ties in one way or another to Orange County.”

Tickets are available from the participating bands as well as both Old Ship British Pub locations.  The Santa Ana location is at 1120 W. 17th St.  Click here to check out their Facebook page.