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Joe Orozco considered several local events to which to invite his brother Sal before deciding on the Lizard Creek Blues Society Blues Under The Trees blues festival.

It was an easy decision.

"Blues Under The Trees is it," he said.

Then he had to get his brother here. That was easily taken care of with a credit card and then picking him up from the Fort Dodge Regional Airport. His brother lives in California - Spring Valley to be precise.

Sal Orozco was enjoying his afternoon. Besides a chance to listen to some great music, he was also busy catching up with his brother.

"It's like a once in a lifetime chance," he said.

Orozco wasn't the only one who had a long journey, Randy Pavlock - who played the first gig of the afternoon - is from Navasota, Texas.

He was enjoying the unusually cool weather and the lack of humidity on the Mineral City Speedway property, south of Fort Dodge.

"I love it up here," Pavlock said.

After playing, the band members began loading their instruments into a 1999 Chevy Astro with more than a few miles on it, carefully stacking equipment cases into the back. Everything has a certain place it fits.

"It's like Tetris," he said. "We make sure we put the drums in back in case somebody rear-ends us."

While they were loading the gear, several audience members came up to talk to the band. The access to the musicians is a hallmark of the festival and both the band, and the fans, enjoy it.

One of those was Rod Friesth. He only had to journey from Badger to attend the festival, but he brought his autograph shirt with him. He's been bringing it to the festival since it began, each year adding more and more autographs.

Pavlock added his autograph to it.

Friesth attends for the music and the company.

"I've made friends here," he said.

There are several colorful traditions at the blues festival. Couches set around the grounds are one, as are ties some people might consider out of style.

Susan Ricke was helping keep both traditions going strong. She had several pieces of comfy living room furniture - end tables, a coffee table, a rug and even a lamp with baby Mickie and Minnie Mouse characters.

"We're going to light it later," she said.

She also had an old ironing board set up covered with ties she got from thrift stores. They were free to any audience member willing to wear them.

Contact Hans Madsen at (515) 573-2141 or hmadsen@messengernews.net