Magic City Blues 2022 is an exciting music festival that showcases the talent and diversity of the blues genre. Taking place in Billings, Montana, this event is a must-attend for any music lover. The festival brings together renowned artists from various corners of the blues world. From traditional blues to modern interpretations, attendees can expect a wide range of performances that cater to different musical tastes. In addition to established musicians, Magic City Blues also provides a platform for up-and-coming artists to showcase their skills and gain recognition. One of the main highlights of the festival is the vibrant atmosphere it creates.
“Magic City Blues by Bobby Mathews is a down and dirty exaltation of what I love best about crime fiction. Bad people doing bad things for what they think are the right reasons. Bobby has written a fantastic book.”
Magic City Blues is raucous and raw, focusing on the exploits of tough-as-nails Kincaid, a muscle for hire with a philosophical streak and a knack for smartass one-liners. The first is veteran-turned-low-level-street-thug Kincaid, and the second is the city of Birmingham, Alabama, a city that has deserved its time as a worthy crime-fiction locale.
One of the main highlights of the festival is the vibrant atmosphere it creates. The event takes place in the heart of downtown Billings, filling the streets with energy and excitement. Festival-goers can explore local shops, restaurants, and bars, providing a unique opportunity to experience the city's culture while enjoying fantastic live music.
Magic City Blues
Crime writer Bobby Mathews knows Birmingham from back alley to bougie. His new book, Magic City Blues, explores the city in all its variety, serving at times as a travelogue as well as a hard-boiled whodunnit. Mathews’s self-proclaimed “checkered past” includes award-winning journalism and short crime fiction; his crime novel about professional wrestling, Living the Gimmick, was published in 2022.
Magic City Blues is raucous and raw, focusing on the exploits of tough-as-nails Kincaid, a “muscle for hire” with a philosophical streak and a knack for smartass one-liners. Kincaid’s first-person narrative is always entertaining; at one point, a problem he encounters “required thinking,” he quips, “and thinking was my worst subject.” He prefers problems that “can be solved with an application of well-timed violence.” Magic City Blues, true to its genre, includes creative and well-timed violence in abundance.
The primary plot begins when Kincaid is summoned to the office of Carlton Doyle, a Birmingham crime lord, who hires Kincaid to protect his 24-year-old daughter, Abby. Abby proves to be an athletic, spoiled, and boozing charge. She’s also elusive, and the plot revs up when Abby’s frat boy fiancé turns up murdered on the floor of her pristine Pizitz apartment.
Forced to call the police to investigate the murder, Kincaid meets Laura D’Agostino, a detective with the Birmingham Police Department, and the attraction is grudgingly instantaneous between the cop and the tough guy. When D’Agostino is inexplicably pulled off the murder case, she goes rogue and teams up with Kincaid to get to the bottom of what’s going on in Doyle’s sleazy world. Along the way, they hit the highlights and lower depths of the Birmingham landscape and uncover a crooked development deal at the abandoned Carraway Hospital property (not to be confused, please, with the actual development deal at Carraway that was recently announced). What ensues is a non-stop caper that rings all the righteous crime noir bells.
Mathews has clearly paid attention to crime masters like Robert B. Parker, Donald Westlake, and Elmore Leonard. The tropes of good crime fiction are abundantly present, and Mathews’s clear and clever approach renders them fresh and modern. Mathews captures the complexity of the city of Birmingham, which becomes an essential presence in Magic City Blues, while making frequent digs at gentrification, “white flight,” and hipsters. The Collins Bar, Kincaid tells us, “is everything the hipsters want modern Birmingham to be … overpriced and bougie.” Late at night, a downtown street smells of “the dank, complicated odors of the dark city.” Kincaid delivers a warning to an adversary in a voice that is “as flat and hard as a Republican’s heart.” A massive thug falling during a fight becomes “a tree in the forest of a back city alley.”
Magic City Blues has a surprising development lurking around every dark corner and Kincaid’s narration provides a seedy point-of-view; he has a troubling tendency to contemplate whether he should kill those he beats up. Even so, he exposes his vulnerable side, confessing that “I’d been a solitary, lonely man for a long time.” Kincaid has a likable bad boy charm that the reader can root for and that D’Agostino, despite her “good cop” cred, might possibly fall for.
Mathews populates his “Magic City” with well-drawn and memorable miscreants and locations. In Laura D’Agostino, he creates a worthy complement to Kincaid and a strong and independent cop. His villains are creepy and contemptible and familiar. Don’t underestimate Abby Doyle, either; she carries a harrowing secret and emerges as far more than a petulant cipher.
Magic City Blues is a book that makes you want to overquote. Mathews has a knack for unobtrusive exposition and chapter endings that make you want to read just one more page. Once the reader is engaged, and for me that was immediately, it’s hard to put the book down. Magic City Blues is a must-read for aficionados of crime fiction, and Mathews’s clever and assured narrative skills make it a book that other readers will appreciate as well.
“The action comes early and often in Magic City Blues and the energy of this spellbinding novel cannot be denied. Bobby Mathews is a first-rate writer point blank and the crime poet laureate of Birmingham. A master craftsman of new-south noir, who deftly balances crackling dialogue, sly humor, grit and tenderness with smart and wily plotting paired with hard-boiled suspense and the kind of complicated (anti) hero in Kincaid we can all get behind. Somewhere at the great poker game in the sky, Donald Westlake, Robert Parker and James Crumley are raising a glass to Magic City Blues … as should we all.”
Magic City Blues is not only about the music; it also offers a great selection of food and drinks. Local vendors and food trucks offer a variety of delicious options, ensuring that attendees can satisfy their hunger and thirst throughout the day. The festival's organizers aim to provide a family-friendly environment, making it suitable for people of all ages. With a dedicated area for children, families can enjoy the festival together, creating lasting memories. In addition to the main stage performances, Magic City Blues also includes smaller stages, allowing attendees to discover hidden gems and enjoy intimate performances. This setup ensures that there is always something happening, providing non-stop entertainment throughout the festival. To enhance the overall experience, the festival offers various ticket options, including VIP packages for those looking for a more exclusive experience. These packages often include perks such as access to designated viewing areas, special seating, and additional amenities. Overall, Magic City Blues 2022 promises to be a fantastic event for blues enthusiasts and music lovers alike. With its diverse lineup, lively atmosphere, and unique location, attending this festival is sure to be a memorable experience..
Reviews for "Rediscovering the Magic of the Blues: Magic City Blues 2022"
1. John - ★☆☆☆☆
I was really looking forward to "Magic City Blues 2022" but I was left extremely disappointed. The lineup was lackluster and didn't include any big names that I was expecting. The performances were also subpar and lacked energy. The overall atmosphere was lacking, with a small crowd and minimal interaction between the artists and the audience. Overall, it felt like a forgettable experience and I wouldn't recommend attending this festival.
2. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
I attended "Magic City Blues 2022" with high expectations, but unfortunately, it fell short. The scheduling was chaotic, with overlapping performances making it difficult to see all the acts you wanted. The sound quality was also a major issue, with distortion and muffled audio throughout the event. Additionally, the food and beverage options were limited and overpriced. I was expecting a vibrant and memorable blues festival, but it ended up being a mediocre and underwhelming experience.
3. Mike - ★★☆☆☆
As a long-time fan of blues music, I was excited to attend "Magic City Blues 2022". However, the organization of the event was a disaster. The stage setups were poorly managed, resulting in frequent technical difficulties and delays between performances. It was also frustrating that there were no designated seating areas, making it difficult to find a spot to relax and enjoy the music. The event felt overcrowded, and the lack of ventilation in the venue made it uncomfortably hot. Overall, I was disappointed with the execution of this festival and felt it didn't live up to the expectations of a blues enthusiast like myself.