With double-digit unemployment and the highest foreclosure rate in the nation, Cape Coral is no stranger to the blues.
On Saturday the city got a soundtrack for the current hard times, as blues musicians descended on downtown Cape Coral for the Red, White, and Blues event.
“We’re playing blues all night long,” said Lisa Maglione-Chenault, events coordinator for the Pearl Lounge.
Conceived by the Cape Coral Community Redevelopment Agency, the event was a twist on the Red, White, and Brew beer tasting event held last year.
This year’s pre-Independence Day pub crawl was aided by the use of trolleys, which toted patrons from bar to bar.
“We ride the trolley all the time, it’s wonderful,” said Cape resident Carmela Donegan after sitting down for drinks at Twisted Conch.
Despite the dour economic times, patrons of The Dek were treated to a more upbeat version of the blues by musician Mario Infanti, known as the “Catman.”
The event itself was an attempt to provide some solace in a downtrodden town – as blues music has done for decades – and that was reflected in the mood of the patrons.
“They’re a lot of fun, everyone’s having a good time,” Donegan said of Cape Coral’s downtown events.
The event was a precursor to the Cape’s annual Red, White, and Boom fireworks bash, to be held Saturday.
Maglione-Chenault said the blues event was a way to encourage repeat business at next week’s larger spectacle.
“We want them to come back next week and relax and hang out,” she said.