Contributed photo Rory Block will play in Bethel. (Click for larger image)

Singing the Cobalt blues

By CHRIS CONROY

BETHEL, NY — Something new is coming to a field in the town of Bethel.

No, it’s not rock and roll. It’s blues.

On June 28, more than a month before the big-time Ben and Jerry’s One World One Heart concert sets up on the Woodstock site, the Cobalt Blues Concert will take place on a much less notorious field located at the corner of Walt Bishop and Royce roads.

Headlining the show is blues singer Rory Block, well known in the blues community for her award-winning performances. Rounding out the rest of the day are Paul Hershell, Annie Raines and Robert Hill.

“The original idea came about in 2001,” said Mike “Zoot” Finamore. That was when Cobalt Studios founder Rachel Keebler told him about her dream to hold a blues concert on a field she owned.

According to Zoot, the process has been going smoothly. All the permits are in order, the town planning board gave final approval on June 10 and the performers are ready to play.

He sees this concert as a prototype for small venue events organized by community members. When it’s all done, he said, he hopes to be able to point to it and say, “This is what I’m talking about” when speaking to others about the topic.

The venue is purposely small. He doesn’t want anything that can get out of hand or that raises concerns of neighbors or other residents.

“I will be delighted if 50 people show up,” he said.

“We have some tremendous acts booked,” he said. “That’s what I’m proudest of.”

Plus the community support has been great.  Zoot has that in abundance. “The Smallwood Fire Department is the biggest help,” he said. They’ll be barbecuing during the afternoon.

Those planning on attending the event are encouraged to bring food and drink (no glass or pets) and lawn chairs or blankets. Just down the road, on 17B, is the 17B Quickstop, which Zoot says makes “wonderful sandwiches.”

“What people need to realize,” he said, “is that there are three acts playing.” Zoot said he hopes this event will spur others. If that happens, he’ll be able to spend more time in an area he’s come to love. In the past, his Woodstock Stage and Screen business has kept him on the road setting up sound and lighting equipment in a number of different places. Locally, he has done a lot of work with the arts community in Narrowsburg and Callicoon and would like to add more jobs in Bethel to his schedule.

“This is the future of Bethel, we hope,” he said noting how the town has come to embrace the idea of being a performing arts destination.

So what will the future hold? If all goes well, the Cobalt Blues Concert may become a regular event. “It’s hard to talk about larger things,” Zoot said, “without having established a foundation of trust and knowledge.”

The concert will happen rain or shine starting at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 each and will be available at a number of locations prior to the event.

For more information call 845/252-3177.