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08/07/11: Getting’ ready for ‘Grits, Greens, & Barbecue’

Press Release from The Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival - 8/7/2011 - Panny Mayfield, publicist - pannywriter@yahoo.com

Photos from the 2010 Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival

Getting' ready for 'Grits, Greens, & Barbecue'

Getting ready for the annual Thursday night 'Grits, Greens, and Barbecue' supper for VIP sponsors of the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival is chef extraordinaire Louise Campbell (right) of Flowers Manor with her supervisor Karen Belding. Famous for her turnip greens extolled by international visitors and music celebrities including Charlie Musselwhite, Campbell has been preparing 'green's and cornbread for the event for more than 15 years. The menu of cheese grits, barbecue, and turnip greens was adopted in 1996 to acquaint Norwegians from the Sunflower's blues sister city of Notodden, Norway, with soul food, and quickly became a favorite with all.

Sunflower Festival night scene

With a VIP tent for sponsors in the background, international visitors from many countries and every state crowd Blues Alley for the 2010 Sunflower Festival . Between 20,000 to 25,000 music fans attend the three-day free event staged by volunteer members of the Sunflower River Blues Association. Volunteers are being requested to call the Chamber of Commerce (627-7337) to help.

Chapel Hill Mens Chorus

Performing during Sunday's gospel festival at 5:30 p.m. in the Civic Auditorium is the Chapel Hill Men's Chorus who were featured during the Sam Cooke tribute in 2009.