One of the headliners of last weekend’s George Portz’s Festus Traditional Music Festival personified the adage “The show must go on,” event organizer Portz says.
The extravaganza featuring several styles of music took place Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 27-28) at West City Park in Festus. An arts and crafts show accompanied the music.
“Wailin Wood had some of his harmonicas stolen,” said Portz, a national fiddle champion from O’Fallon, Ill. “While he checked out of his hotel Sunday (before that day’s performances), somebody took harmonicas he had in a box on the front seat. It did not deter him at all. He had spare harmonicas in the trunk. But he got up on stage and gave his best performance.
“He was a little down at the start, but the folks, I think, got his spirits up. That’s how it is with country people. The theft got around by word of mouth.”
Festus Police Chief Tim Lewis said his department will continue to investigate the theft, which occurred around 11 a.m. Sunday at the Festus Comfort Inn, where Wood, 55, had stayed.
Wood was checking out and left his rental car, a 2013 Kia Forte, unlocked, and when he came out of the hotel, he found his suitcase, clothes and some musical instruments stolen,” Lewis said. “He also had some medicine stolen.”
Wood, one of around 20 singing and dancing acts in the show, performed both days, as did Portz and his group, George Portz & His Friends of Bluegrass. Other performers took the stage either Saturday or Sunday.
Portz said the crowds and quality of acts thrilled him. He moved the festival to Festus two years ago after a long run at Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site in Ellis Grove, Ill.
“It was great,” he said. “It was our second year here after 23 years at Fort Kaskaskia, so it was our 25th anniversary. We estimated we had 3,000 people attend over the two days.”
He said all of the festival’s headliners – Wood, the Redhead Express, the Punches Family Band and Dennis Stroughmatt-Et L’Esprit Creole – drew rave reviews from the crowd.
“The Redhead Express gave a great show on Sunday,” Portz said.
“On Saturday, the Punches Family Band played. They’re a national act now. They’re from Fredericktown, so it’s kind of a homecoming for them. Wood was great. The fourth big performer was Dennis Stroughmatt. The crowd really liked that Cajun music from Louisiana.”
The Festus Parks and Recreation Department sponsored the event.
Festus City Administrator Happy Welch said municipal officials see Portz’s festival as a yearly attraction for the community.
“It went great. We had great weather,” Welch said. “He wants to have it here again next year. We’ll keep doing it as long as he wants to come back. It will be the last weekend of September again.”
Anyone with information about the theft from Wood’s rental car is urged to call Festus Police at 636-937-3646.