With Alleyfest "30" a few weeks away, naturally the subject came up tonight as to which year(s) were the best. Some though the middle years, while I thought we had just hit our stride before the bottom fell out in 2003. For those who may not remember, here is the real background to Alleyfest which will be 16 years old this year, AlleyArt is 30.
Alleyfest was the brainchild of 100 Acres of Heritage president, Jay Godfrey. He suggested combining AlleyArt, Alley Hoops, and Alley Musicfest into one three day event - rather than three one day events. This would save man power and cash resources for the group. The philosophy behind the music fest was simple, bring as many professional touring acts as budget allowed. We knew two things, for many it would be the only live art performance they would see during the year and almost all of the bands would not perform in a small city like Longview. Alley Musicfest was a spin off of Rigadoon held in 1989, and later changed to Musicfest in 1990 and 1991. Gary Primich, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Trout Fishing in America, Christine Albert, Dallas Brass and Electric and The Bluebirds palyed these events.
This is a lsit of the Alleyfest atrists:
Alleyfest 1992 – 2002
1992 : Dallas Brass and Electric, The Stratoblasters, The Carribean Connection, Warren Ceasar Zydeco Band, The Old Fiddler's Contest, TheOriginal Dixie Chicks.
1993 : Brave Combo, Walter Hyatt, Joe Kubek and B'nois King, The Bluebird's with Micki Hunneycutt, Michael Johnson and the Killer Bees , and Joe King Carracso and the Crowns. Joe and Michael teamed up together for a last set of Raggae meets Tex-Mex that blew away the whole crowd.
1994 : Anson Funderburg and the Rockets with Sam Meyer , Toni Price, Grady Gaines and the Texas Upsetters , Wayne Toups and Zydecajun, Brian Black, Webb Wilder,and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
1995:Big Daddy Kinsey and the Kinsey Report, Chris Duarte, Doyle Bramhall, Tutu Jones, R. L. Griffin and the Holt House Review, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jo-El Sonnier, Trout Fishing in America, Joe Ely, and the Back Seat Drivers.
1996 :Our first national headliner, Elvin Bishop, Russell Jackson Band, Big Mike Griffin, Sue Foley, Tommy Castro, Mitch Woods and the Rocket 88s, rock a billy star,Ronnie Dawson; Tiesco Del Ray and the Nut Rockers, The Naughty Ones, and Ponty Bone and the Squeezetones.
1997 : Katie Webster and Vasti Jackson,Jimmy Hall and the Prisoners of Love, Russell Jackson, Mem Shannon and the Membership, Sean Costello and the Jivebombers, The Cate Brothers , Sam Taylor, the Bluebirds, The Radio Kings ,and local bands Mr. Walker and Dr. Benjamin and Van Go.
1998: Eric Burdon's I Band featuring Ansley Dunbar, Long John Hunter, Sherman Robertson, Russell Jackson, Bryan Lee, The Bluebirds, Micheal Burks, Wes Jeans. Hash Brown's Band with Andrew Baxter, Jr., Sun Pie Barnes and the Zydeco Sunspots, and Hippie Gumbo.
1999 : Canned Heat, Chris Thomas King, Rockin' Tabby Thomas and the Mighty House Rockers, Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones, The Excello Allstars with Earl Gaines and Roscoe Shelton, Mark May and the Agitators, The Bluebird Review with Wes Jeans, Mikki Honeycutt, and the Moore Town Horns, Andrew Baxter, Jr., Mason Ruffner,Randy Garibay and Cats Don't Sleep, Billy Bacon and the Forbidden Pigs , Mr. Walker.
2000 : Leon Russell, Savoy Brown featuring Kim Simmonds, Little Charlie and the Night Cats, Rick Moore and Mr. Lucky, Big Mike Griffin, Russell Jackson, Anthony Gomes, Brint Anderson, Sweet Miss Coffey and the Mississippi Burning Band, The Bluebirds and Mikki Honeycutt, The Headhunters, The Mofo Party Band , plus local bands .
2001: Kim Wilson and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Guitar Shorty, The Reba Russell Band, The Rockin' Highliners, Theresa Andersson, Joe "King" Carrasco and the Crowns, Andrew and Morgan Baxter and Serious Business, and Voodoo Healin' and other local bands.
2002 : Koko Taylor and Her Blues Machine, W. C. Clark, The Silent Partners Reunion featuring Russell Jackson, Tony Coleman, and Andrew"Jr. Boy" Jones, Joe Louis Walker, Anders Osborne, The Reba Russell Band, The DeRailers, The Radio King's Brian Templeton, Joe "King " Carrasco and the Crowns, and Ponty Bone and the Squeezetones.
Where we were is reflected in this: HOB Radio Hour June 1, 2002
In 2003, Alleyfest took a new direction, booking fewer national bands and deleting one of the stages.
2003 Headliners 38 Special, Percy Sledge.
2004 Eddie Money and Marshall Tucker Band.
2005 Mickey Thomas and Delbert McClinton.
2006 Three Dog Night and several local and area bands.
2007 Little River Band and KISS ARMY, a tribute band.
2008 Fabulous Thubderbirds and more tribute bands
What was your favorite year? You can leave a comment in the comments section below.
