16^th Annual Westport Rock, Rhythm & Blues Festival will feature eight bands!

EverythingWestport.com

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Click here to view photos and read article from last year.

Mark your calendars for September 11, 12 and the 13 because you don’t want to miss a single day of this party.

For 15 years Frankie Ray and friends have made many wishes come true with funds raised from this popular Westport festival. Drinking beer under the hot sun with rock & roll and soul music blaring on the makeshift stage just doesn’t get any better when it’s all for a good cause.

The inaugural festival brought in $658. Frankie Ray, a cherished friend of A Wish Come True, announced at the end of last year’s festival that they raised $27,763 with nearly 1,000 music lovers in attendance. Contributing to that total was a $3,035 donation by the New Bedford Moose Lodge #914, and $5,800 generated by a University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth Sports Marketing class fundraising project. The check was presented by Professor Nicole Castonguay. The 2008 festival boosted the event’s fundraising total since inception, to well over $360,000.

A Wish Come True, Inc. is Rhode Island’s oldest wish-granting nonprofit. The organization grants wishes to kids aged 3 to 18 from Rhode Island or southeastern Massachusetts who have a life-threatening illness.

Mount your hogs at Dave’s Beach.

The festival weekend starts with a Friday night barbecue and music by Bud Smith & Friends Bluegrass Band. Tickets, $15, are sold separately from Saturday and Sunday and must be bought in advance.

On Saturday, the 6th annual motorcycle run from Dave’s Beach in Fall River will start the festival (rain date September 13). Bikers will leave the beach at 11 a.m. and arrive at the festival grounds at noon. A two-day admission and bike registration fee costs $20. Registration is from September 9 through 11.

For the 16th year, Frankie Ray and other area musicians will be doing their part to help terminally ill kids have their day in the sun.

The Westport Rock, Rhythm & Blues Festival, Sept. 7 to 9, will feature nine bands spread over three days at the Holy Ghost Club, 171 Sodom Road, with proceeds benefitting the Tiverton-based A Wish Come True. The organization grants wishes to kids ages 3 to 18 from Rhode Island or southeastern Massachusetts who have a life-threatening illness.

“We researched various organizations,” said Ray, a member of the 11-piece band Soul Power. “A Wish Come True seemed to really hit home with a lot of people. I was impressed that 95 cents on the dollar goes right to the kids.”

On Saturday, music will begin at 1 p.m. with performances by Louie Leeman and Cheap Sneakers, and it just gets better from there.

The blues cover band Blues Train, with members from Westport and Dartmouth, picks up at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

A two-day admission costs $10.

Festival-goers may purchase alcoholic beverages and hot food items at concessions. Family picnic baskets (non-alcoholic beverages) and lawn/beach chairs are welcome.

Additional festival fund-raising efforts include daily raffles and auctions.

There are also activities for the kids, like face-painting, arts and crafts, hot dogs and soda, and a bounce ride, all courtesy of the Rutowski family of Fall River. Children 12 and under are admitted free.

For tickets or more information, call (508) 636-8346, e-mail holidaytravel1@wmconnect.com or visit www.awish.org .

Friday night barbecue and music

Bluegrass night featuring Bud Smith & Friends Bluegrass Band and a chicken BBQ with all the fix’ins. Tickets, $15, are sold separately from Saturday and Sunday and must be bought in advance.

Saturday Schedule

1:00 Louie Leeman & Cheap Sneakers

2:30 Blues Train

4:00 Shot in the Dark

5:30 Wolf & the Jam Dandies

Sunday Schedule

1:00 Eat A Peach

2:30 Detroit Breakdown

4:00 Wild Nites

5:30 Sanctuary

Donations: $10 Pass covers both Saturday and Sunday. Kids 12 and under free. Friday BBQ tickets are $15. Main gate opens at 12 noon. For more information call (508) 493-0915.