The San Diego Blues Festival held on September 22, 2012, was a benefactor of the old adage, “location, location, location.” I have attended blues festivals all over the country and San Diego’s Embarcadero Marina Park ranks among the most idyllic locations to host an event of this kind. The park is  on a spit of land that separates a yacht harbor and the San Diego Bay, with views of both. The festival grounds sport vistas of the Coronado Peninsula and Bridge as well.

It is easily the most protected and fortified festival as it just across the harbor from a large United States Navel installation. Throughout the afternoon one can see paddle boats and personal water craft as well as behemoth battle ships in one of the world’s great natural harbors. On the opposite side of the harbor lies the San Diego skyline with its modern towering luxury hotels.

San Diego is also famous for having one of the most agreeable climates anywhere. On this day however festival fans endured very unseasonable and, dare I say, shockingly hot and humid conditions that didn’t seem to dampen spirits as much as it did garments.

All the proceeds of the event went to the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. Artists on the bill included Henry Gray with Patrick Rynn and Chris James, Kim Wilson’s Blues All-Stars, Janiva Magness, Nathan James and the Rhythm Scratchers, Taryn Donath, Tab Benoit, Ben Powell, Missy Anderson, Zac Harmon and The Randy Oxford Band.

Michael Kinsman and his mostly volunteer crew should be commended for providing a wonderful fan experience. The BLUES JUNCTION Productions family look forward to next year’s San Diego Blues Festival. Having a great time, listening to great music in a great location and, most importantly, in service of a great cause, makes for an afternoon that is tough to beat.  

Enjoy a photo essay where we train our lenses inside the festival and also take a look outside the event at San Diego from the festival grounds.

View from the host hotel

The host hotel

Ben Powell

The festival crowd

Taryn Donath

Taryn Donath

Nathan James

 Nathan James & Troy Sandow

Nathan James

Nathan James, Marty Dodson & Troy Sandow (the Rhythm Scratchers)

Charlie's Bluebeat Music

Zac Harmon

Zac Harmon

View from the festival grounds

Henry Gray

Chris James, Rob Stone & Patrick Rynn

Chris James & Rob Stone

Henry Gray

Henry Gray

View from the festival grounds

Janiva Magness

Zach Zunis

Zach Zunis

Janiva Magness

Janiva Magness 

 Zach Zunis & Janiva Magness

Janiva Magness

Janiva Magness

Kim Wilson

Barrelhouse Chuck & Billy Flynn

Kim Wilson

Randy Bermudes & Kirk Fletcher

Richard Innes

Kim Wilson

View from the festival grounds (dusk)

Tab Benoit 

 Tab Benoit & Cory Duplechin

Tab Benoit

Tab Benoit

 Sunset at the festival