Based on the success of the show, the 2002 Reel Blues
Fest moved to a larger venue of Cape Cod Community College.
The show opened with comic Lenny Clarke, 
setting
the stage for the immortal Johnny Winter. The packed house
couldn’t get enough of Johnny who was joined by
James Montgomery to make it a memorable night. Mr. K.D.
Bell and blues diva Shirley Lewis opened the show. The
Fest included a screening of a documentary work-in-progress
I Love You B.B. – about blues and hip-hop.
Labor
Day Weekend 2003 on the revolving stage of the Cape Cod
Melody Tent brought the crowd to their feet with an all-star
lineup. Grammy Award winner and New Orleans legend, Dr.
John, Delbert McClinton, James Montgomery and friends,
Weeping Willie Robinson, Shirley Lewis, Danny Kortchmar,
John Butcher, LA blues sensation Jessie Payo, Peter Hackel,
Matt Woodburn, Steven Paul Perry, Stu Kimball, and Dan
Kenny
Under
a separate tent, the Reel Blues Fest featured a sneak
preview screening from filmmaker Martin Scorsese of the
PBS Series "The Blues."™ Also screened
was the documentary Honey Boy, about the life and times
of Honey Boy Edwards.
In
2004 the festival branched out with Dickie Betts, Koko
Taylor, G. E. Smith, & Entrain playing at the Cape
Cod Melody Tent and a two day blues fest at Six Flags
Agawan headlining Koko Taylor, Johnny Winter, and Wilson
Pickett.
In
order to enhance our outreach capability, The Reel Blues
Fest is growing. For the future, we are looking forward
to national and international growth. Your help and support
will make this happen and help ensure that independent
musicians and filmmakers are able to continue to produce
the work that bring pleasure to so many.
Seeing
a need to promote the Blues and a chance to raise money
to assist in the needs of older musicians and younger
filmmakers, blues musician James Montgomery and Woods
Hole Film Festival founder Judy Laster founded The Reel
Blues Fest in 2001. The first festival was held at the
Air Station on Cape 
Cod.
Playing to the sold-out crowd was the legendary “Superharp”
James Cotton, teaming up with the talented blues musician
James Montgomery. Also taking the stage were Jim Belushi
and New England favorites Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish,
Shirley Lewis and guitarist and producer extraordinaire
Danny Kortchmar. The concert was preceded by a screening
of the critically acclaimed film Genghis Blues, about
an amazing journey by blues musician Paul Pena.