Weekend full of highlights

BIBLE HILL - John MacDonald attends concerts all across the Maritimes and into Quebec, but for the Antigonish resident, nothing compares to the Dutch Mason Blues Festival, that is held each year in Bible Hill.
"This, this is good. This is home," said MacDonald, on Sunday afternoon at the festival which drew in thousands of fans this past weekend. "This one is for sure my favourite."
MacDonald attended a Dutch Mason concert nearly 25-years-ago, and started following the blues legend from that point on.
"It's actually a family thing, my mother went to one of his shows almost 50-years-ago," he laughed, "She absolutely loved him."
Naturally, the Dutch fan began attending Garrett Mason shows and was instantly hooked on him as well. Garrett is Dutch's son and a solid blues musician in his own right.
"A highlight of the weekend was certainly seeing Garrett, along with Sue Foley, and Downchild," he explained, "They're all just exceptional artists."
But when asked to pick a favourite act from the weekend, MacDonald was stumped.
"Oh I couldn't choose," he explained. "Each of them are so different and have their own thing I just enjoy them all."
MacDonald is already anticipating next year's festival.
"Oh I'll be back," he said.
For Wally and Janet Litwin of Mulbring, Australia, the Dutch Mason Blues Festival has been the highlight of their cross-Canada tour.
"I just retired and we thought we'd make the trip over," explained Wally. "We saw it in a newspaper and I said to my wife 'lets go, lets do it lets go'. It has been years since I've been to a concert quite like this one."
Wally was impressed with the show from the moment he first arrived.
"It has just blown me away," he explained, "I love blues. I loved everything I heard, and Dr. Hook, I love him too."
The Litwins decided to spend the weekend in a trailer parked at the festival campground.
"It's great up there. Everyone is having the time of their lives and then a short walk and you've got this," he said as he pointed to the crowd.
The couple, who hadn't planned on visiting Nova Scotia, has enjoyed every minute they've spent in town.
"I'd tell my friends if you want to go to Canada go to Truro," laughed Wally. "We've been here since March and are staying until January."

jfowler@trurodaily.com