Blues festival amplifies Noxon park

More than 600 people from all across the Northwest filled Noxon's Pilgrim Park over the weekend for the 9th annual Big Sky Blues Festival.

Festival organizer Lorne Riddell said everyone was having a good time and he was getting a lot of positive feedback from performers and guests.

"I love the blues. I'm having such a good time," said Kathryn Davis of Missoula, who had never been to a blues festival before. Davis enjoyed Sheri Roberts Greimes and her "hot, smoking Janis Joplin voice."

Brenda Owens, who helped organize this year's event, said there were more than 25 vendors selling handmade goods, food and beverages.

"We have a wide variety of arts and crafts, which we've never had," Owens said.

The festival opened with a BBQ and performances Friday, and continued through mid-day Sunday. Also Sunday morning, the festival sponsored educational workshops for kids. Some of the funds raised at the Big Sky Blues Festival go to music programs at local schools.