Thunder on Sodom Road – a weekend of rock, rhythm and blues

By Jon Alden

Community Events of Westport

The roar was thunderous when about 170 motorcycles arrived at noontime on Saturday, Sept. 8, for the 14th annual Rock, Rhythm & Blues Festival in Westport. Motorcycle enthusiasts have supported the festival since its inception.

The 14th Annual Rhythm & Blues Festival at the Holy Ghost Club fairgrounds at 171 Sodom Road featured a motorcycle run, chicken barbeque, and eight bands over two days of music and fun-filled family activities. Proceeds from the popular music fest benefited A-Wish-Come-True Inc., a Tiverton-based nonprofit that has been granting wishes since 1982 to children with life-threatening medical conditions. www.awishcometrue.org

The festival opened on Friday evening with a 6 to 10 p.m. chicken barbeque that featured dancing and music by the Bud Smith & Friends Bluegrass Band.

The festival continued at noon Saturday with a $10 gate donation for adults and no charge for children 12 and under. The event kicked off with the noon-time arrival of about 170 motorcyclists which had assembled at 9 a.m. at Dave’s Beach in Fall River for their 11 a.m. departure. Each rider paid a $20 bike registration fee that included the motorcycle rally as well as a two-day admission to the festival. A raffle and other events at Dave’s Beach plus their entry fee lifted the total donations this group made to A Wish Come True to over $4000. Great job guys!

The RR&B festival is the brainchild of Westport's Frank Ray and friends. When Mr. Ray, a member of the band Soul Power, originated the idea for the festival, he wanted the proceeds to go to charity. He picked A-Wish-Come-True, a nonprofit that has been granting wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses since 1982. To refer a child, contact A Wish Come True Inc. at (401) 781-9199 or HUawishcometrue@cox.net.

Among the bands playing over the three-day weekend was Mr. Ray's band, Soul Power, Blues Train, Louie Leeman and the Cheap Sneakers, Bob Demers Group featuring Monica Ambroziac, Shot in the Dark, horn band of Mr. Chubbs, Wild Nites and C and B Horns, and Hawg Wild.

Festival goers purchased alcoholic beverages and hot food at concessions. Family picnic baskets (non-alcoholic beverages) and lawn/beach chairs were welcome. Free activities for kids included: bubble-bounce, face-painting, arts and crafts, hot dogs and sodas, courtesy of the Rutowski family of Fall River; as well as pony rides by Lil’ Critters. The Raffle and live auction on Sunday afternoon was terrific.

For more information on the festival, contact Frank Ray at (508) 636-8346, (508) 493-0915 (cell) or holidaytravel1@wmconnect.com