Next Saturday the Delta Blues Festival celebrates its 35th anniversary with a great lineup that features traditional blues, some of the leading contemporary bands in the state, and soul-blues stars Bobby Rush, Denise LaSalle, Clarence Carter and Sir Charles Jones. It takes place at the Washington County Convention Center Fairground.
It’s by far the oldest festival in the state — the Sunflower River Delta Blues Festival is the second oldest, and just celebrated 25 years — and had its beginnings in a Civil Rights protest. For many years the festival was held in “Freedom Village” outside of Greenville, where protestors had occupied a former air force base in 1966. There’s more history on the event on the Mississippi Blues Trail marker for Freedom Village.
LINEUP
12:00 – Sharde Thomas & The Rising Star Fife & Drum Band
12:15 – Opening Ceremonies
12:30 – Eddie Cusic
12:45 – T-Model Ford
1:15 – Mike & Jerry Kattawar
2:00 – Butch Mudbone
2:45 – Eden Brent
3:30 – Nathaniel Kimble
4:15 – Lacee
5:00 – recognition of sponsors
5:15 – Homemade Jamz
6:00 – Grady Champion
6:45 – Clarence Carter
7:45 – Bobby Rush
8:45 – Denise LaSalle
9:45 – Sir Charles Jones