It’s one of the oldest Blues festivals in Mississippi and draws people to Clarksdale from across the country and world.
The 34th Annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival is set for Thursday, Aug. 11 through Sunday, Aug. 14 with 29 acts tentatively set to play.
The fun kicks off Thursday with the traditional Grits, Greens & Barbecue VIP Party and is followed by two days of Blues. The Sunflower Festival wraps up Sunday with gospel music at the City Auditorium.
The Sunflower Festival is known for bringing together local and national Blues musicians as well as new talent and old favorites.
And as always, the music is offered free and it is funded by donations and sponsors.
The first Sunflower River Blues Festival took place in 1988 and was funded primarily by Clarksdale's downtown merchants and organized by Jim O'Neal and Dr. Patricia Johnson. It featured dozens of musicians performing on outdoor stages on the banks of the Sunflower River beneath the Riverside Recreation Center and in the open space between Sunflower and Delta Avenues.
Thursday, August, 11.
7:00 p.m.- 7:45 p.m. – Stan Street & Jacqueline Gooch
8:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. – Sean “Bad Apple”
9:00 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. Terry “Big T” Williams
Friday, August 12, Main Stage
7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – Delta Blues Museum Band
8:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. – Heather Crosse: Heavy Suga & the SweetTones
9:00 p.m.- 9:45 p.m. – Lucious Spiller
10:00 p.m. – 10: 45 p.m. Steve “Lightning” Malcolm
11:00 p.m. – 11: 45 p.m. – Anthony “Big A” Sherrod
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. – James “Super Chikan” Johnson
Saturday, August 13 - Acoustic Stage (Outside under the VIP Tent)
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Pat Thomas
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. – Mississippi Marshall
12 noon – 12:45 p.m. – Ms Honey Bee (Australia Jones)
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Kenny Brown
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Howlin’ Madd Bill Perry & Shy Perry
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. – Bill Abel
4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Little Willie Farmer
5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. – Terry “Harmonica” Bean
Saturday, August 13 – Main Stage
6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. – Larry Newson & Band
7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – Mark “Mule Man” Massey
8:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. – Jimbo Mathus
8:45 p.m. – Awards
9:00 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. – Terry “Big T” Williams
10:00 p.m. –11:00 p.m. – Mr. Sam
11:15 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. – l. J. Echols
Sunday, August 14, 2022 Gospel Stage, Civic Auditorium
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – G-Hope Mass Choir of Clarksdale
3:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. – The Sensational Travelers of Batesville
4: 30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – The Spiritual Soldiers of Coldwater
5:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. – The Myles Family, Clarksdale natives
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. - The Well Brothers of Earle, Arkansas
6:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – Pastor Marcus Newson and the Newson Singers
8:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. – The return of the Spiritual QC’s – Son of the late Lee Wiliams – CC Williams) of Tupelo.
