By Andrea Swayne with photos by Allison Jarrell
Blues on the beach brought fans in droves to the 18th Doheny Blues Festival, May 16 and 17, at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point.
As is customary with the music-filled concert event, a wide variety of artists were featured throughout the two-day festival atop three stages—the small Backporch Stage, mid-sized Sailor Jerry Stage and the grandest of all, the Doheny Main Stage.
More than 25 artists/bands played—including Bonnie Raitt, Paul Rodgers, Boz Skaggs and Los Lobos—and the festival grounds included wine and micro-brew tastings, vendor booths and food. As in previous years, festival organizer Omega Events implemented several “green” practices to increase the festival’s sustainability and reduce its impact on the environment—a bike valet, recycling stations, the use of bio-diesel generators and helping to support the official nonprofit of the event, the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association.