Robert Cray Band co-founder Curtis Salgado to headline Apple Blossom Festival in Sebastopol

Curtis Salgado, blues harmonica star and co-founder of the Robert Cray Band in the '70s, is the headliner at this year's Apple Blossom Festival at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 19, in Sebastopol's Ives Park.

Salgado's newest album is the award-winning 'Soul Shot' from Alligator Records, featuring songs by Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, Otis Redding, George Clinton and Bobby Womack, as well as Salgado's own compositions.

After leaving the Cray band in the early '80s, Salgado was front man for Roomful of Blues, then started his own band, the Stillettos, in Oregon, his home state. He has performed with Carlos Santana, backed the late blues guitar legened Albert Collins, opened for Steve Miller and appeared on NBC's 'Late Night with Conan O'Brian.'

The 69th annual Apple Blossom Festival runs 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, April 18, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, April 19, at Ives Park and Sebastopol Center for the Arts.

The festival's beloved parade through downtown Sebastopol, starting from Analy High School at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Admission costs $6-10 in advance and $8-$12 at the gate per day, with children age 10 and under admitted free.

Other music acts scheduled are David Luning at 1:30 p.m. and McKenna Faith at 4 p.m. on Saturday; Bay Area blues trio HowellDevine at 12:30 p.m. and Lady Bianca at 2 p.m. Sunday.

You can reach staff writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. Read his Arts blog at arts.blogs.pressdemocrat.com.