PHOTOS: Blues On The Fox 2018

Photos: Howard Greenblatt

Samantha Fish won over the Blues On the Fox audience when she first played the festival in 2014.

Four years later, as her songwriting becomes more diverse and her lyrics matured, her fan base has exploded.

Still only 29 years old, she’s already won twoBlues Music Awards, most recently as Best Contemporary Female Artist in May.

Samantha is touring with a seven-piece band: violin, keys, trumpet, sax, bass and drums in addition to her lead guitar.

As the band left the stage for Friday's opening night of the 2018 edition of the festival, many in the audience were hoping to see her return as the headliner next time.

But this time, that role was held by Elle King, who hit the stage with a beer, a vape and a swagger.

Fittingly, her first song was “Chain Smokin, Hard Drinkin Woman". The three-time Grammy nominee blended pop, blues, rock n roll, country into a sound all her own.

Her band consisted of two guitars, keyboard, bass, drums and occasionally Elle’s banjo.