Kristi Kates - Mix It Up - Chicago

Another successful Lakeside New Music Festival this year, year four of the outdoor event, featured a number of great returning performers, and a few standout new ones. Adrian Reid was back, this time with his new band Calamity, a funky punk outfit that had the crowd dancing in spite of the rain. New to the Festival were bands Hippy Dust, who played eclectic roots rock reminiscent of Rusted Root, and Envy, an unlikely, but effective mix of grunge and hip-hop. Cutting Roses returned for their third year, always a crowd pleaser, and singer Kristi Kates was also back this year with her band, and put on as captivating a show as she did last year, but with a number of cool new songs from her newest CD, The Avenue A Sessions (independent release). Wrapping up the show as the rain began falling in sheets was headliner The Ocean Blue, who managed to keep everyone in attendance through the nasty weather and on to the conclusion of their exceptionally energetic 1/2 hour-plus set. Better weather might be a positive factor next year, but it will take a lot to surpass this year's gathering of great talent; we'll be waiting.