By James Lomuscio

On the Levitt Pavilion stage, the Memphis, Tennessee band Southern Avenue was firing up the mostly adult, afternoon crowd today. Original, smokey and somewhat raw tunes rang out while the lead female vocalist rocked and gyrated.

Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band, a soul band based in Burlington, Vermont, were early performers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Down below and under a tent in the Westport Library’s parking lot, the group Infinity Edge belted out the more familiar tunes of such as the Doobie Brothers’ “Without Love” and the Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”

Under crisp azure skies and a sharp, late summer sun, the 12th annual Blues & Views Festival on the east bank of the Saugatuck River was in full swing. Opened at 11 a.m., it goes through 10 p.m. today and continues Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a $40 admission charge.

Started by Bob LeRose as the Blues, Views and BBQ Festival, this year due to late approvals, the event was scaled back from including its signature barbecue competition run by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.