Brown and blues

On weekend shows at Bluesfest I like to wander around and take in the occasional blues performance. For some reason this year's festival didn't seem to have as many blues men and blues women as in previous years, though that may be more fact than perception ... that aside, after taking leave of That's The Spirit I rambled over to the Subway Stage to see Michael Jerome Brown, snazzily attired as always (Brown, that is - as usual I was dressed like a 12-year-old).

Mr. Brown and his fancy jacket.



His band includes fiddler Michael Ball, bassist Rachel Melas and pedal steel player Burke Carroll.



John McColgan mans the traps.



Melas can also be seen in Swamperella, among other combos.



Brown strums!



Carroll steels away.



Brown slides!



Jody Benjamin sings some. Almost didn't recognize her without the cowboy hat.



Bonus Carroll and Melas action.



Brown breaks out the 12-string.



More of that other Michael.



I liked what I heard at his last Bluesfest performance, and I liked him even more this time around.

• Show reminder: Blind Witness, Chelsea Grin, Attila, Sleep Is For The Dead and Accursed Creation bring happy thoughts to Mavericks; Wilst & Keturah and Nick Miller perform at The Rainbow.