HANFORD -- The 8th Annual Blues and Roots Festival will be held Saturday at the downtown Hanford Civic Center Park. This years opening act will be The Linda Bracamonte Band from Sacramento. This band was voted the best new blues band in Sacramento last year and has been busy touring all over the state entertaining at festivals, fairs and clubs.

Next on stage will be the incomparable Craig Horton from Oakland. Over the years Horton has earned the respect from just about everyone.

His accomplishments are critically acclaimed. He earned Best Debut Album of 2001 from Living Blues magazine. In 2004, The Bay Area Blues Society named Horton "Blues Guitar Player of the Year" and named him and his band "Blues Band of the Year."

Last but not least comes Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers from Sacramento. For the sixth straight year Real Blues magazine from Canada has honored Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers as the "Best West Coast Blues Band."

The group has been cited on three occasions as the "Best Blues Band" by the Sacramento Area Music Awards (SAMMIES). This led to Mick Martins induction into the Hall of Fame in 2001. Just this year Mick was picked by Real Blues magazine as "Best West Coast Harmonica Player," sharing the honor with Mark Hummel.

8th Annual Blues and Roots Festival

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the music will get started at 6 p.m.

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets along with your dancing shoes.

Admission is free.

(Sept. 18, 2008)