August 11, 2008

Dancin’ in the streets

Dancin’ in the street was the norm at downtown Campbell’s first Big Band and Barbecue Festival presented by the Downtown Campbell Business Association. Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

First annual Big Band and Barbecue a success

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Editor

Downtown Campbell turned into a fabulous party on July 12 with lip smacking barbecue and toe tapping music at the first annual Big Band and Barbecue Festival.

“We [Downtown Campbell Business Association DCBA] wanted for a longtime to do something different and fresh,” said DCBA president Neil Collins. “And we wanted to do something culinary and have all the wonderful smells permeate downtown. We were very happy with the outcome.”

And with that idea of something fresh and different the first annual Big Band and Barbecue Festival genesis started with the help of the 100 percent volunteer DCBA whose membership is a compilation of the businesses in Campbell. All types of bands were booked and barbecue restaurants contacted. There was even a contest for best food out of the five restaurants who participated with the Tiki House taking the award. Everyone who attended enjoyed the finger lickin’ ribs, brisket, chicken and hotlinks at the picnic tables, chairs and umbrellas that turned the downtown into a barbecue and music festival.

Clay Lewis gives a thumbs up for the food and music at DCBA’s Big Band and Barbecue Festival. Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

Attendees who liked to dance were not disappointed either with four outdoor stages and two specially constructed hardwood dance floors on the streets of downtown Campbell. Papa Hugs was perfect for children and their parents but many genres were represented on an additional three stages playing music. Salsa band Edgargo and Candela, jazz and blues Lavay Smith and the Red Hot Skillet Lickers, country Careless Hearts, the Silicon Valley House Rockers, The Hot Rods and Redwood kept the crowds dancing in the streets.

“We are real happy with the first Big Band and Barbecue Festival,” said the Olive Bar’s Ed DeSoto. “We wanted to get people to come to downtown Campbell and experience its rebirth.”

DCBC did exactly that with 1,000s attending and enjoying the music and food. So successful was the inaugural event, Collins is confident the Big Band and Barbecue Festival will become a yearly tradition with many additional bands and food added for next year’s bash.