The experience of seeing top blues artists at a very low price, cheaper than some cover charges to other local blues clubs is great. Many of these acts play in other cities for $20 per ticket.

We keep them fed. We've been told lots of times that we're the festival that feeds the artists the best. A lot of other festivals, they just get sandwiches because it is hard. I guess because the type of city Lafayette is we're able to do this for them.

The choirs left the main tune and soared two octaves past heaven in a descant to rattle the bones and surge the heart.

We have experience this year. After getting it together last year, it was definitely easier this year.

It's so disappointing it has to come to an end. After having the experience of playing for SMS, an incredible coaching staff and with an incredible team, it's been a great ride and I didn't want it to end.

Many young artists today only experience copyright as an obstacle, a source of incomprehensible demands for payment, cease and desist letters, legal transaction costs. This is a shame because copyright can be a valuable tool for artists and creators of all kinds -- even for those who are trying to share their work without charge.