With a sensory overload of diverse roots music - from the soul of Al Green and Bettye LaVette, to the bluegrass and Cajun sounds of Hot Rize and BeauSoleil - the Tall Stacks Music, Arts and Heritage Festival kicked in Wednesday night under a smoky full moon, fireworks display and twinkling lights of the riverboats.
The cold front and rain almost held off for the entire evening. Just as Al Green hit the stage at 11 p.
m. for the night's closing set, the rain started to fall. Green sang on until midnight and a couple of thousand fans stayed and danced in the rain to his gospel-tinged soul set.
Overall, there was almost a humid, swampy feel to the evening that was appreciated by legendary Louisiana French Cajun outfit BeauSoleil.
"Feels like a Louisiana night on the Ohio," said band front man Michael Doucet. "It does look like home, although you have too many bridges.
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Indeed, some Cincinnatians were having trouble recognizing the place, finding it hard to believe that this wealth of music - with 46 national acts over five days - was featured along the central Cincinnati riverscape, rarely used as a concert venue.
"I love the way they are using the riverfront," said Martha Giott of Over-the-Rhine. "And there is some kind of music for everyone down here.
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"I still can't believe we get this for this price. It's almost a joke," said Mike McCaffarty of Mount Adams. "There is so much music, if you don't like one act you can go on to the next.
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Admission for the event is $25, which is good for all five days and all the acts. Riverboat cruises are sold separately.
It was a mellow, steady crowd that showed up for opening night, taking in the sparkling evening glow of the riverboats and many lounging on the grass at Sawyer Point Park listening to the music at the P G Pavilion stage, something that will be harder to do when the expected bigger weekend crowds show up.
Many appreciated being able to get up close and personal with some of the performers.
"I have never been that close to Buckwheat Zydeco until tonight," said Louis Cockerham of Liberty Township, Ohio, about seeing the zydeco legend, "and I've been to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 22 straight years."
Even performers liked the access.
Slide guitar ace Sonny Landreth sat in for a song with Buckwheat then followed with his own sizzling set, telling the audience, "How about Buckwheat? He is my hero, my mentor."
Such surprise jams could happen a lot the next four nights as many of the artists take advantage of the rare festival where they get to hang out with their musical friends.
Opening night's musical highlights included a sizzling R B set from veteran Detroit singer Bettye Lavette, who had to admonish a fan up front about smoking.
"I can't sing if that smoke's blowing in my face," she playfully scolded the man. "I'm old enough to be your grandmother, so remember, in this house it's grandma's rules.
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Tall Stacks organizers have said they would like to make the roots music component of the festival an annual event, if the five-day event is supported by the large number of fest-goers needed to justify the cut-rate admission charge.
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