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Music Fans Are Singing the Blues — In a Good Way

WHEELING – Describing himself as “a farm boy from Adena,” Gregg Arnett said attending the Heritage Music BluesFest in downtown Wheeling each year helped him realize he was a fan of the blues genre.

“Once you hear blues music, you are a fan,” he said Saturday, while preparing to enter the festival gates at Wheeling’s Heritage Port alongside other devotees. “The blues is in your blood.”

One of those joining Arnett was Akron, Ohio resident Nancy Lorenzo.

She said while many of her neighbors were ecstatic to see professional basketball superstar LeBron James return to his hometown Friday, she was equally excited to head south for BluesFest.

“I just love it. The location right here on the Ohio River is so beautiful,” she said. “It’s a wonderful time.”

Parkersburg resident Kris Bonnell said this is her fifth year making the drive north to enjoy BluesFest.

“There is such a great variety of music and food here,” she said. “There are so many fun-loving people to meet.”

Wheeling resident John Barbaley said numerous rock music artists cite blues as one of their major influences.

“Almost all modern music can trace its roots to the blues,” he said.

Artists scheduled for BluesFest today include Jerome Godboo, Jonathan Boogie Long, Seth Walker, Billy Branch & Lurrie Bell, Ana Popovic and the Spin Doctors.

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