Patty McGehee - Juke Joint Junkie: 2022

Bluesberry Fields, Carencro, Louisiana

Hello fellow music lovers - lovers of Louisiana music in particular. The music scene has pretty much wound back up from the dregs of COVID wasteland. Dan and I have been hunkered down on our little piece of Ponchatoula paradise, growing a few Strawberries, Blackberries, and a few veggies. Our Blueberry bush has not ripened yet. Dan has the water Lilly gardens spruced up. We had some squash, tomatoes, and eggplant, and Strawberries. I was unable to tend to much because I slipped in the kitchen in the middle of Strawberry season and suffered a bad concussion. I have recovered almost all the way now. Sadly, I missed Jazz Fest, Jazz Fest night shows, French Quarter Fest, and Bayou Boogaloo. Concussions suck.

My grandchild came and helped me harvest what the Raccoons did not eat. My flower garden is overrun with Crocosmia. They are so invasive. Weeds are taking over because bending down makes me too dizzy to work out there.

Well, Come Father's day, we were about to go stir crazy. As a family we just get nice phone calls because our family is so far away. So, Dan was up to taking a road trip to Pat's in Henderson for seafood. We had a fine dinner and headed to Bluesberry Fields in Carencro, La. afterwards to an outdoor music event.

The Bluesberry Fields is run by Kerry Ritter and his step father, Mike Melancon. They have opened it up during berry picking season to include music event every Sunday in June featuring the musicians from The Blue Monday series run by Mr. John Williams. Bluesberry Fields have plans for expanding these events to include artist vendors and much more.

This event was so special to us. The music featured on Sunday the 19th was Michael Juan Nunez on guitar, Gino Vallecillo on drums, and Charlie Wooton on bass. The place was easy to find off just a few miles east of Interstate highway 49 north of Lafayette, Louisiana in Carencro.

We arrived at 4:30 because the information stated that music would start at 5:00. We checked in to the table after easy parking. We learned that berries were u pick for $3.00 a bucket. For us, being older and my situation of still recovering from a concussion, we opted to find a place in the shade of an Olive tree and chill out. Dan went and purchased two ice cold bottles of water for us. We went to say hello to Michael Juan Nunez and Mr. Lee Allen Zeno. At this point the heat was brutal. I sat fanning myself. The cool water helped a lot. The music started and there was a two hour set of very fine blues. It was not too loud. Kids, puppies, and grown dogs milled all around and everybody got along well. Many people were picking berries out in the fields. As the sun retreated it became easier to tolerate the heat.

When the music was over, we milled around visiting and meeting new people. It was a very pleasant time.

They will be open on June 26th with Charlie Wooten, Lee Allen Zeno, Gino Vallecillo, and a a surprise vocalist.

I highly recommend bringing bug repellant and your own chairs. The rest room is very nice and air conditioned. The food booth was nice. People looked like they were enjoying the food, but we had eaten a big meal already so I can't say how good it was. I watched Charlie Wooten eat a burger and go back for a second one and he seemed to enjoy it a lot.

Rather repeat a lot of stuff about Kerry and Mike, I suggest you go read their website and find out more about the place. It is a very interesting story and it is a special place.

Go to their site: www.bluesberryfields.com

Hours for u pick and music is 5:00 until 8:00, Sunday, June 26th, 2022.