Young students tuning up to play at Rockland's North Atlantic Blues Festival

Students are getting bluesy at the Midcoast Music Academy in Rockland this week.

Vocals, guitar, piano, sax and more these kids form a full band at the week-long Blues Intensive camp.

They learn blues theory and style and play music of legends like John Lee Hooker and Big Mama Thornton.

Organizers say the camp provides an immersive experience in all things blues including its history.

Director Tom Ulichny says, "What we talk a lot about is that blues is actually the foundation for a lot of the music that they're listening to whether it's rock or pop the jazz influence is huge. But blues really is the basis for a lot of the music we hear today so, it's good to study the tradition of music and where things came from as well."

The week's work culminates in an exhilarating opportunity as students will take the big stage at the North Atlantic Blues Festival this weekend in Rockland.

Acts from all over the world are will peform there and these students will open the show.

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