Sarah Metcalf opens the Sunflower Thanksgiving Eve Blues Party with a bang.

Guitarists Big Dave Dunavent (left) and Walt Busby perform some of Dunavent's original compositions.

Music professor Dr. Alphonso Sanders on sax joins guitarist Omar Gordon and Josh 'Razor Blade' Gordon on stage at Ground Zero.

Heather Crosse returns in sparkles and high heels for curl-tossing vocals.

CLARKSDALE - Fresh new sounds emanating from Ground Zero during the Sunflower's annual Thanksgiving Eve Blues party promise a preview the festival's 25^th anniversary celebration August 10-13, 2012, according to festival organizers.

"We appreciate these super-talented young blues musicians performing Wednesday night;  audiences will be hearing much more from them in August in combination with a spectacular lineup of celebrities," commented John Sherman, Sunflower Fest VIP chairman.

Sherman says posters announcing the 25^th anniversary celebration are going up now , and updates will be announced on the Sunflower website: www.sunflowerfest.org

Among the new faces drawing applause at the holiday party were Sarah Metcalf who opened the show followed by Big Dave Dunavant performing some of his original works with talented Walt Busby who works double-time as Ground Zero's sound engineer.

Guitar prodigy Omar Gordon and veteran Josh "Razor Blade" Stewart were joined on stage by Heather Crosse on bass with music professor Dr. Alphonso Sanders on sax.

Returning in sparkles and fuchsia satin heels as Heavy Suga' & The Sweet Tones, Crosse treated the audience with curl-tossing, intense vocals backed up by Busby and Lee Williams, heir to the late Sam Carr's title as "the best blues drummer in the Delta."

Anthony Sherrod, a Mr. Johnnie Billington-educated prodigy, who's appeared with Buddy Guy and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, closed the party.