The weather was perfect and the crowds were big, but it was the music – as always – that people came to hear.
The 34th Annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival went off without a hitch over four days and nights in the city that is the birthplace of the blues this past weekend.
It started Thursday with locals and hardcore festival fans from out of town enjoying the Grits, Greens and Barbecue VIP Party on the lawn of the Delta Blues Museum and was followed by two days of blues music that saw 29 acts performing around Clarksdale. The festival wrapped up Sunday with the sweet sounds of thankful Gospel music at the City Auditorium.
“I can’t say we come every year, but we have been seven times,” said Laura Hausley, of Nashville who with her husband James said they started coming more than 15-years ago.
“It’s the music, that’s what brings us back,” said Hausley. “I go home and listen to the songs I heard live here and I’m right back in Clarksdale.”
It started Thursday night with the traditional Grits and Greens VIP Party. A nice breeze and smooth acoustic blues music brought out the local crowd to this laid-back event.
Friday saw temperatures in the 80’s and again a cool breeze as the music began to heat up at venues around town.
Heather Crosse, who heads Heavy Suga & and the Sweet Tones, joined with multi-talented Walt Busby on the Main Stage downtown Friday night. Local talent Lucious Spiller, James 'Super Chikan' Johnson and LaLa also wowed the crowd.
On Saturday, Kenny Brown, the master of the 'Hill Country Blues' played to a strong crowd. Brown was tutored by early bluesman Joe Callicott and later performed with R. L. Burnside. Pat Thomas of Leland, son of the late blues great Son Thomas, opened the Sunflower acoustic stage.
Saturday night saw Jimbo Mathus play the blues under a cowboy hat.
One of the Sunflower's newest headliners, 'Mr. Sam' from Memphis brought his dancers and the finale headliner L. J. Echols, was so popular extra security was required to hold back his crowd of fans.
Saturday’s evening also had the Early Wright Blues Heritage Award presented to Coahoma Community College and its Lyceum Committee, one of the festival's longest major sponsors.
The festival also honored the late Sunflower volunteer Maxine Harris for her longtime support as chairman of the Sunday gospel dinner and as a “Sunflower Supreme” serving Grits and Greens for years.
Both awards were presented by Sunflower Festival Chairman Melvita Presley.
Sunday's Sunflower River Gospel Festival kicked off in the cool City Auditorium to a very large and enthusiastic crowd celebrating life, love and their Lord.
Among the performing choirs were longtime favorites and Clarksdale natives, The Myles Family; the energetic Wells Brothers in brilliant floral attire; and the Newson Singers. The return of the Spirit QCs were the gospel finale.
The Sunflower Festival is known for bringing together local and national Blues musicians as well as new talent and old favorites.
Event organizers booked a wide variety of talent this year to represent the many different genre of Blues music and please a broader audience.
As always, the music was offered free and was 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.
