Saturday morning we got a slow start, but were out on the street Buskin with young blues musician (and future blues great) Evan Hawk. "Canadian" Dave Gold also sat in with us. Evan's buskin spot was on the block with the RoadKill Cafe, and we played a set for the passing crowd before we had to head down Cherry Street to catch Dave Reilly's set. Special thanks to Dave and Marie for sitting with our gear while we suppported our friend. Dave's set was really special for us. Not only was it my first time to see him performing, but when we got there, just a few minutes into his set, Dave kept calling out to Jack, saying "Diamond," repeatedly to let us know seats were set up for us in the front. After Jack headed down the aisle to grab one of these best seats in the house, Dave did a piece of his song "Overhauls," which we have permission to play and record. At the end of a great set, my favorite being his remade version of "JellyRoll Kings," he gave me the guitar pick he played the set with to take home for Wade. He is such a nice, positive musician, I look forward to introducing our son to him.
After Dave's set, we headed back down Cherry Street and Busked for the rest of the day. We were accompanied for a couple of songs by a harmonica player and a flute player, and we really had a fun jam on Cherry Street. The vendors nearby really enjoyed the set and were as impressed with young Evan's guitar playing as we were. We met Evan and his granddad last year when he asked to sit in with us at our buskin spot, and this year he came to Helena knowing quite a bit of Jack's music and ready to play with us, and we all had a great time. This year we had a lot of fun, too. Jack left it to Evan to lead the band, and he did really well. We played until almost dark, and then took our gear back to Bunky's and headed down to the Main Stage to catch the Stax Revue and Keb Mo. Artist Access is amazing and we were able to get really close to the stage. Both shows were fantastic, and Keb Mo gave an excellent closing to this year's Biscuit. JB, a friend from northern Arkansas Jack met in 2009, had asked us to try to get him a guitar pick from Keb Mo, so as he headed for his bus I asked for a pick, and HE GAVE ME ONE OUT OF HIS POCKET!!! I gave it to Jack so he could give it to JB, who said that this was the best festival ever (he got picks from Buddy Guy, Tommy Castro, and Keb Mo).
Upon returning to camp and rehashing the day's events with Loren and Jen; Jack, Mark, and I headed down to the campfires to visit with friends for the last night. We stayed up once again until well after 3 am, and then got up this morning and said our goodbyes to our Biscuit "family." There are so many wonderfully kind people who camp in Tent City, including the folks from the Baton Rouge Blues Society, who were so hospitable last year that I have been looking forward to seeing them again since last year. Hopefully, the BBP will book some shows in their area before the next Biscuit, but even if we do not, we know it will be a joyfully reunion when we all gather together in Tent City next year. Dave Reilly and Mose Taylor stopped by camp to say goodbye to us and we had a nice conversation before they headed to play at Hobson Plantation for the Pinetop's Memorial Homecoming, Dave giving me pointers until they left. Which is pretty awesome, a sure 'nuff Mississippi Bluesman coming to our camp and giving me advice! The Magic of the Biscuit! Can't wait to return next year.
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