Red hot and cool

Heat getting to you? The 11th annual Northern California Blues Festival is coming up with ways to help you chillax. With large outdoor “cool-down areas” containing twin-tower misting fans and water rides for the kids, the reasons to attend this year extend beyond the talented lineup of musicians.

This year’s stage features an abundance of talent, including Kenny Neal (pictured) who, born and raised in Louisiana, began playing music at a very young age. Taught by his harmonica master father, Neal’s work as a blues multi-instrumentalist has earned him numerous awards, including the Monterey Bay Blues Artist of the Year award. Also on the bill: Big Brother and the Holding Company who, with frontwoman Janis Joplin at the reins, helped to inspire San Francisco late-’60s psychedelic scene.

Now, despite the absence of Joplin and psychedelic guitarist James Gurley, Big Brother still exudes the sound that helped redefine rock ’n’ roll so many years ago.

Northern California Blues Festival happens August 5-6, at Auburn Regional Park, 3770 Richardson Drive in Auburn. Tickets range from $25 to $150. For more information, visit www.norcalbluesfest.com.