Sorry, I was using a trope known as an "analogy". Sorry, I'll add two emphases to make that point impossible for anybody whosoever to misunderstand.

"That for me is *LIKE* not bothering to listen to any *ROCK* bands after the 1960s because they could only be a pale imitation of The Beatles"

There's already an exhaustive thread about Seasick Steve. I see no point in rehashing it. Sidestepping any discussion of the merits, or lack of, in his music, the one thing that is undeniable is that he is beyond question a big commercial force in Europe: he has sold literally hundreds of thousands of albums.

"However the point of this thread I believe is that someone is mourning the death of a long established blues FESTIVAL"

Yes, and, as I said in the post above, I agree with you that it seems to be no longer viable to put on a BIG festival of blues anymore. Seems like I'm having to say everything twice: could the SF Blues Festival not downsize? If your Blues Festival Model is to bank on big name ageing blues stars to be the principal draw every year, then you will inevitably come a cropper when said musicians retire or die.

But you yourself hadn't exactly stuck to the point. You'd made some quite claims that struck me as being quite dismissive about contemporary blues musicians.

Personally I think all of the following are well worth a listen, and would make a much more
interesting blues festival than most of the line-ups I see touted around. And I haven't even mentioned some of the old-school blues musicians who are still playing, such as Robert Belfour or Cedell Davis.
(in fact, is Cedell Davis still playing?!)

www.myspace.com/sugarsmallhouse
www.myspace.com/jdogsblues
www.myspace.com/dukegarwood
http://tinyurl.com/5nyswu
www.myspace.com/pepebelmonte
www.myspace.com/thebobmeyer
www.myspace.com/stevenfinn
www.myspace.com/smokefairies
www.myspace.com/hatfitzanditchy
www.myspace.com/boblog111
www.myspace.com/sambarrett
www.myspace.com/madeforchickensbyrobots
www.myspace.com/jasonsteelmusic
www.myspace.com/bcce