Pairing award-winning ribs from near, far and wide with three days worth of high quality music, Ribfest returns for its 23rd year and starts with a blues licking kick as led by legendary Chicago blues singer and axeman Buddy Guy, whose technique and showmanship has influenced decades of artists, from icons like Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix to imposing younger talents like Jonny Lang. The latter, a 31-year-old with the deep souful smoky vocals and gospel-soaked blues rock sound, warms up the Ribfest crowd before Guy takes the stage. Come Back Alice, a jammy funky rock band from Sarasota, opens.
— Leilani Polk