STOVALL — The Mississippi Delta’s newest major festival, the Mighty Roots Music Festival returns for its third iteration Friday and Saturday, Sept. 22-23 at historic Stovall Farms, just outside of Clarksdale.
And new this year is “KIDS FREE” where all kids 10 years old and younger can get in free of charge on Saturday Sept. 23.
“Mighty Roots features a great daytime lineup of family friendly music, and we have heard from a lot of young families that they would like to attend but need someone to watch the kids,” said Howard Stovall, event organizer. “By allowing kids 10 and under in free on Saturday and, we hope to create an opportunity for a fun family live music outing that doesn’t break the bank.
KIDS FREE will see the Mighty Fund Zone set up to help entertain the youngsters with face painting, a petting zoo and pony rides.
Also this year festival organizers will also offer Coahoma County residents half-price general admission tickets by ordering in advance on the festival website (www.mightyrootsmusicfestival.com) and showing proof of residency at Will Call located at the entrance to Mighty Roots. A weekend General Admission pass will be only $35 for Coahoma County residents!
The third annual event promises music, revelry, art, food and even yoga!
The community’s major fall festival is once again asking locals to volunteer. The festival is seeking volunteers to work three hour shifts in exchange for a t-shirt and free festival ticket. Sign up is available on the web site.
Mighty Roots is a unique event, firmly connected to the agricultural community of the Mid-South and celebrating the many genres of music that can fit under the “roots” umbrella.
While the music and artists for the Mighty Roots Music Festival are of the utmost importance, attendees can take advantage of a wide array of items on offer by this unique event, including:
● Great music, including late night stages until 2 a.m.
● Discounted tickets for local residents
● Camping (with the first 40 campsites offered for free to ticket buyers!)
● The return of the curated Delta Artists Market
● Food trucks from Doe’s Eat Place, Sweet Brown Sugar, and more!
● Onsite yoga to start the festival on Saturday
● Full bar service including specialty drinks
● The traditional “burning of the guitar” at midnight Saturday
The music starts Friday September 22 at 5:30 p.m. featuring:
● The Vegabonds
● New Orleans musician Watson
● Papa Top’s West Coast Turnaround
● Country/Folk newcomer Alexis Jade and the Gemstones.
● After the main stage ends at 10:30, late night stages will feature blues by The
Stone Gas Band in the gin and singer/songwriter Trey Gardo (and friends) at
the Stovall Store.
Saturday’s lineup offers an amazing array of music and genres:
● “Rock with roots touchstones” from Nashville-based Moon Taxi
● High energy and eminently danceable music from The Stews
● Vermont native Hans Williams who is exploding onto the American festival
scene
● Country tinged Few Miles South (also a 2022 returning act)
● Reggae from Chinese Connection Dub Embassy
● Down-home bluegrass from the Delta String Band.
● Late night stages will feature Terry “Big T” Williams in the gin and a special
reunion of the New Orleans band Tuxedo Park (with special guests) in the
Stovall Store till the wee hours.
Because the venue has Qualified Resort Status in Mississippi, bars will stay open until
well after midnight.
Tickets are available as Weekend Passes and as single day tickets. Both VIP and
General Admission tickets are available. Weekend passes cost $140 VIP / $70 GA,
Saturday tickets are $100 VIP / $50 GA, and Friday tickets are $60 VIP / $30 GA.
Delta Yoga Collective will offer a one-hour yoga session before gates open Saturday. Tickets for “Mimosas on the Mat” (which includes a free mimosa cocktail after the session) are available as an Add-on to any festival
ticket.
2023 also marks the return of the wildly popular Delta Artists Market, a curated offering of painting, sculpture, photography, foods and hand-made items from Delta artisans with two dozen artists expected to participate.
The festival will continue its “Delta Burning Man” tradition at midnight on Saturday with the burning of a giant wooden guitar effigy on the famous “redneck tower” near the Stovall Store. This signature event has become the emblem of Mighty Roots and a great celebration of a festival well enjoyed.
The festival has again partnered with Delta Council, an area economic development organization representing the 19 Delta and part-Delta counties of Northwest Mississippi.
Delta Council will bring its Young Delta group of farmers and agribusiness stakeholders to an educational and social gathering at Mighty Roots on Friday night. Celebrating area agribusiness is a unique facet of Mighty Roots and fundamental to the event.
For more information on the region, go to VisitMississippi.org and VisitClarksdale.com.
