Seventy nine year-old Chicago blues harmonica pioneer, “Little” Sammy Davis, will be administering a large dose of the blues to folks young and old at The Caroline Street Association’s 7th Annual Arts & Blues Fest on Sunday, June 3.

Davis and his band are headlining the free event which runs from 1-7 p.m. They will be performing on the main stage, located on Caroline Street between Broadway and Henry Street.

A Little Walter Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Davis has performed with legends such as Albert King, Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins and Jimmy Reed, and served throughout the 1990s as front man for the “Imus In The Morning” radio program house band. In 1996, the blues icon was named Living Blues Magazine’s “Living Blues Comeback Artist of the Year.”  

Aside from Davis, a number of local acts are playing at various downtown venues. The festival will also offer 23 regional artists the chance to showcase their work, whether it’s photography, ceramics or jewelry.

Saratoga County Arts Council Executive Director Joel Reed believes the fine arts exhibition and sale in the Saratogian parking lot is much like a miniature version of the Art in the Park shows. Reed said usually just shy of 500 people take a look at the artwork.

“The pieces all come together for this,” he said. “It’s a fantastic event for the whole town.”

For kids, the Children’s Museum at Saratoga will have an arts station set up for face painting and creating watercolor paintings. The children’s activities are all free, but the museum will be accepting donations.

Director of Education Ashley Terwilliger said a ton of kids visited their station last year and she hopes their second year participating will produce successful results once again.

“I’m really excited to be participating again,” Terwilliger said. “It’s fun to see the whole community out. This is a fun way to get back into summer in Saratoga Springs.”

In addition, festival attendees can look forward to the annual Chili Cook-Off. The Bullpen, Clancy’s Tavern, Doc’s Steakhouse, Esperanto, Gaffney’s, Peabody’s, Saratoga City Tavern and thirteen are all vying for bragging rights to having the best chili in Saratoga. Sample cups are $1 and ballots can be dropped off at any participating establishment.

Local musician George Fletcher booked Davis, an old friend, this year, and has previously helped bring high-caliber artists such as Bill Perry and Popa Chubby. Fletcher knows a lot of people from performing, but also because he used to publish a music magazine and host a regional music radio program downstate.

“This event, more than any of the many other local festivals I participate in, means the most to me in terms of my personal history here in Saratoga Springs. The Caroline Street Arts & Blues Fest was my first high exposure booking after I moved here from Poughkeepsie and really got the ball rolling for me,” Fletcher said. “After that first year (the 4th Annual fest), I decided to volunteer some time to the festival in part out of gratitude for the opportunity to get my new band rolling, in part to further the “Blues Mission,” which is simply to help create an atmosphere that is supportive of the Blues.”

His band, George Fletcher’s Bourbon Renewal, has been re-tooled and will be playing at Saratoga City Tavern. The new lineup consists of Fletcher, bassist Per “Bacco” Bergquist, drummer Dennis Cotton, keyboardist Robert Aronstein and guitarist Peter Pashoukos. Former band mate, “Little” Robert Do, will sit in as a guest to lend his harmonica playing talents, as will guitar prodigy Brandon James. 

Scheduled performances:

• The Bullpen – Sean Rowe (5-9 p.m.)
• Clancy’s Tavern – Big Tuna (noon to 3 p.m.) and Folding Sky (5-9 p.m.)
• D’Andrea’s Pizza – Danny Garcia
• Gaffney’s – LB Walker (11:30-2:30 p.m.) and Delia (5-7:30 p.m.)
• Saratoga City Tavern – George Fletcher’s Bourbon Renewal (1-6 p.m.)
• Saratoga Guitar – TBA
• thirteen – TBA