Fort Scott is a pre-Civil War frontier town, with many 1800s buildings preserved and the Fort itself is now a National Historic Site, fully staffed and ready for tours from schools and tourists near and far. The town also hosts the Gordon Parks Museum and the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. Just over an hour KC, Fort Scott is an easy day trip from KC, and its small town charm and world-class museums are a draw any time of year. Add in Care to Share’s Fundraiser Blues Festival called FortFest, and the last weekend of September ranks as the best weekend to visit, bar none.
Starting Friday September 27th, visitors were treated to two bands, including local favorites Two-Lane Highway and a hard-driving blues band featuring Tim Hoggard of Jonesboro, AR. Two Lane Highway features Erika Gilbert on vocals, her husband Bryan on drums, and Bryan’s father Will on guitar and also a super cool pedal steel guitar. Hoggard played a brilliant set of blues covers featuring harmonica and a washboard in addition to the standard guitar, bass, and drums. Working in classics like Hank Sr and Johnny Cash, Hoggard keeps the crowd on it’s toes and was a fast favorite for the hundreds of attendees.
Saturday featured over 50 food, arts, and crafts vendors, a motorcycle show, a Kids Festival, and 4 bands. The kids festival was a smash hit with over 1000 attendees, and the 1st annual bike show had 78 bikes and raised almost $2000 for Care to Share. A bake sale hosted by KCBS Board Member Cory Bryars’ wife Cecilia raised over $1700.
KC’s own IBC-semifinalists Big Luke and the Soul Disciples kicked off Saturday’s Music, followed by 18-year old Alyssa Galvan from Carl Junction, MO and a veteran of the Pinetop Perkins Foundation workshops for kids. Through the workshops, Alyssa has worked with other teens from France and with blues master Bob Margolin, long-time guitarist for Muddy Waters. Next up was Hamilton Loomis who wowed the Fort Scott crowd, many of whom are new to the Blues. And the crowd came from well beyond Fort Scott, with KCBS having 5 of 7 board members present, and dozens of KC Blues Friends joining in the fun.
Lee Mott of the Paola Roots Festival has graciously allowed Care to Share to promote FortFest at the 2023 and 2024 Roots Festivals, so a following has begun in Paola and we know of at least 10 attendees from the Miami County area. We had visitors from SW Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Illinois, Nebraska, and more. In just its third year, FortFest is fast becoming a must-see on the Midwest Fall Blues Schedule.
For the second year in a row, the Divas on Fire closed the Saturday music, with fantastic R&B and Blues covers as well as originals. Led by Lectric Liz Lottman, the Divas comprise 5 women vocalists singing amazing harmonies and rotating lead vocals, and a talented accompanying band.
For this 3rd edition of FortFest, Care to Share added a Sunday gospel celebration and a Car Show featuring over 100 classic cars and hot rods.
If you made it to FortFest24, Care to Share thanks you. If you missed us, now is the time to plan for FortFest25: Friday Sept 26 through Sunday Sept 28. Several bands are already booked, and a major announcement could be forthcoming about a Grammy-award winning Blues performer Saturday night who will also perform Gospel on Sunday. On the books so far are Amanda Fish, Randy McAllister, and a fun band called Martin & The Dead Guys. See You There!!!
