Guitarist Sean McKee performs on stage alongside drummer Ron James during Brandon Santini’s set at the 33rd River City Blues Festival at the Lafayette Hotel in Marietta Saturday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

MARIETTA – Accompanying the warm spring weather were the sounds of blues, rock, and jazz filling the air from the Lafayette Hotel in Marietta as hundreds gathered for the 33rd River City Blues Festival Saturday.

The event entered its second and final day Saturday with over 300 people from across the nation gathering to hear live musicians from across state and international borders perform.

Headliners included Bernard Allison and Wayne Baker Brooks who performed later in the evening.

Vocalist McKinley James said this was his first time in the area and he had a great time performing.

“We had our tour booked and these people from River City Blues Fest reached out … said they’d love to have us,” said James. He performed guitar and vocals alongside drummer Jason Smay and bass guitarist Rick Johansson.

Musician Brandon Santini, right, plays harmonica while Sean McKee strums the guitar on stage during their performance at the 33rd River City Blues Festival in Marietta Saturday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

The band’s bass guitarist had backed out a week before the tour due to schedule conflicts so they got in touch with Johansson who promptly joined the tour only days before River City Blues Festival.

The group originated in Nashville which is where James has resided since moving there from Rochester, New York in 2016.

“There’s a lot of really cool opportunities that I’ve gotten to do just by being there,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

James said with it being his first time in Marietta, he really enjoyed the atmosphere along with the residents. He described the people he met as “not uptight about anything” and very accommodating.

“This is technically our fifth day on tour but fourth show with maybe six or seven more to go,” he said. “We’re in Annapolis, MD tomorrow (Sunday).”

From left, guitarist Sean McKee, drummer Ron James, vocalist Brandon Santini, and bass player Geoff Murfitt perform at the 33rd River City Blues Festival in Marietta Saturday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

James said 99% of the songs he performs are originals and he draws inspiration from anything he listens to whether it’s ’90s R&B, Chicago blues, West Coast blues, and classic rock.

“I was always surrounded by music, this is what I want to do,” said James. “I never contemplated ‘do I want to do this,’ I just always knew.”

James, twenty-something, said he applies music styles from his age group with inspiration from old-school music.

“Occasionally, we’ll jump-off the set list like today, we jumped off the set list like one or two times here and there,” he said. James said he’ll switch it up if he feels like it or he has another song in mind in the moment.

James’ passion for blues has taken him across the country to the West Coast all the way to headlining in Europe. He said he’s played in large arenas in Spain as well as tiny, quaint clubs in Norway.

He said even though playing for a large audience of a few hundred people can feel really good, performing for a small crowd at a venue in the middle-of-nowhere is rewarding.

“You get on stage and you’re like, ‘let’s just have fun,'” he said. “One person doesn’t deserve anything less than a full house.”

Cambridge resident Tony Smith said he’s been attending the River CIty Blues Festival for all 33 years.

“I heard about it on NPR Radio one Saturday night,” said Smith. “I’ve been coming here ever since.”

Smith said he loves the music and he was really particularly excited to see Bernard Allison who headlined the festival. He described how he had seen Wayne Baker Brooks’ dad and brother perform at earlier festivals so he was excited to see him perform as well.

“I play a little harmonica,” said Smith. “The music is what it’s all about.”

Although he doesn’t travel around as much anymore, Smith visits Marietta every-so-often but always makes time to attend the festival.

He said the second the festival ended Saturday, he already was planning to purchase next year’s tickets and book a hotel.

The event is put on by the Blues, Jazz, & Folk Music Society, whose board President Jay Phillips said was largely successful this year.

It’s a lot of work but is made possible through donations and volunteer help, Phillips said. He said they start booking and advertising the event soon after the current festival concludes.

“Almost every year people will say this was the best festival ever and they’re looking forward to next year,” he said.

Phillips said there were almost 400 people attending Saturday night to see Bernard Allison since he plays full-time overseas.

“We had a lot of people buy individual tickets for just tonight,” he said.

According to Phillips, there were attendees from all across the country flying in for the weekend to attend the festival. He said the crowd volume fluctuates each year and depends on who’s headlining.

“People really enjoy this because it’s just a weekend away and it’s at the beginning of spring,” he said. “The emphasis has always been on providing live music for people to see up close.”

Phillips said people will book their tickets the second the festival concludes because they trust the board will book great set lists for the next year.

“This is something people really do enjoy coming to,” he said.

Visit bjfm.org for more information.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com