Thursday, October 29, 2009

Delta State takes Mississippi Center for Justice on heritage tour

The Mississippi Center for Justice brought their staff, members of their advisory board, and representatives of various foundations that fund their programs to the Delta last weekend.  Many of the 60 participants were lawyers, and came from as far as Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York City.  They were escorted on a two-day tour by Dr. Luther Brown of the Delta State University Delta Center for Culture and Learning.  The group visited Indianola, Cleveland, Merigold, Mound Bayou, Ruleville, Greenwood, and Greenville.  The tour include stops at the B. B. King Museum, the Delta State campus, Po’ Monkey’s Lounge, the Taborian Hospital, Fannie Lou Hamer’s grave, Warfield Park, Greenville’s Hebrew Union Temple, and the Flood Museum, among other places.  On Saturday night, the group tasted several varieties of Delta tamales at the Turnrow Book Store in Greenwood and listened to musician Duff Dorrough play the blues at Robert Johnson’s grave at midnight. 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Gold Coast

Wilson and Pinson

Leigh Portwood

Heritage Trails

 

 

 

6th Annual Mississippi Delta Regional Blues Challenge

The Grady Champion Band from Canton, MS won on Saturday, October 24th at Club Ebony in Indianola. Grady's band members are from left to right - Caleb Armstrong, Grady, Xavres Good, and Marquis Champion. They will represent MDBSI, Inc. at the IBC in Memphis, TN.

6th Annual Mississippi Delta Regional Blues Challenge

Alan Jones - Inverness, MS
Solo Winner
Alan will represent MDBSI, Inc. at the 26th Annual International Blues Challenge in January 2010. More info on the IBC can be found at www.blues.org/ibc.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Cat Head Mini Blues Festival Returns To Clarksdale This Sunday

Clarksdale, Mississippi -- As thousands of international blues fans descend on nearby Helena this week for the Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival, Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art in Clarksdale prepares for its biggest Sunday of the year.  The music at Cat Head spans three days, starting Friday at noon, but the premiere event is clearly 2009's last of three Cat Head Mini Blues Fests this Sunday from 9am till.  "We started doing these mini fests seven years ago and now do them three times a year," according to Stolle. "They are always free and held 'rain or shine' under tents out front of the store."  Barbecue will be for sale on the sidewalk nearby.

"This Sunday's mini fest will showcase the 'new generation' of bluesman with performers like Big A, who's in his twenties, as well as the 'older generation' with guys like Big George Brock, who's 77 years old," said Stolle. "Lucious Spiller is also one to watch. He's middle-aged and coming in from across the river in Arkansas to perform."  Other Cat Head events this week include live music on Friday by LA LA (12 noon) and KM Williams & Washboard Jackson (2pm) as well as Saturday by Sean "Bad" Apple (12 noon). All of the live blues shows are free at Cat Head and held out front -- regardless of the weather.

After the Cat Head festival on Sunday, Hopson Commissary will host the Pinetop Perkins Homecoming, and Red's Lounge will host an evening blues jam. Ground Zero Blues Club and Tricia's also have Sunday events.

CONTACT:

Roger Stolle

Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art

252 Delta Avenue

Clarksdale, MS 38614

roger@cathead.biz

662-624-5992, 662-902-6796

 

 

 

Friday, October 2, 2009

Ace Records - Jackson, MS

Leigh Portwood

Heritage Trails

Mississippi Development Authority/Division of Tourism

P.O. Box 849

Jackson, MS 39205

Phone: 601.359.3061

Fax: 601.359.5048 

lportwood@mississippi.org

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