SUNFLOWER ARTIST AND MEDIA CHECK-IN SET IN FORMER GREYHOUND BUS STATION Artists and media participating in the 28th annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival in Clarksdale will check in Friday and Saturday inside the former Greyhound Bus Station in downtown Clarksdale, on the corner of Issaquena and Third. The building will open at 2:20 … Read more

SUNFLOWER FESTIVAL PROMISES ‘MOST AUTHENTIC’ MUSIC THREE-DAY FREE CELEBRATION KICKS OFF FRIDAY IN DOWNTOWN CLARKSDALE CLARKSDALE –The 28th edition of one of America’s Most Authentic blues events – the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival – gets under way here this week in the hometown of musical giants Muddy Waters, Ike Turner, Sam Cooke, and … Read more

‘WOMEN IN BLUES’ BRINGS INTERNATIONAL FLAIR TO SUNFLOWER COMMUNITY PANELS CONTINUE AS FESTIVAL FAVORITES   CLARKSDALE – Ask festival fans to name their favorite feature of Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival, and the acoustic stage may edge out educational panels but only by a hair.   The music, commentary, and philosophy of Arthniece Jones … Read more

WITH ELVIS, TINA TURNER AS ROLE MODELS, SWEET ANGEL PROMISES A UNIQUE SHOW Memphis vocalist combines saxophone, glamour at Sunflower Fest CLARKSDALE – With the gyrations of Elvis Presley and Tina Turner as role models, it’s not surprising to hear Sweet Angel emphasize, “I don’t just sing on stage, I bring a song to life.” … Read more

EXPECT TRIPLE-DIGIT SHOW FROM NATHANIEL KIMBLE Sunflower headliner’s ‘Bad Mama Jamma’ wins Critics Award CLARKSDALE – If temperatures hit triple digits during the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival, don’t expect relief Friday night, Aug. 7, when headliner Nathaniel Kimble takes the stage. “But the audience won’t notice; they’ll be smiling,” promises Kimble. Speaking on … Read more

Fine-tuning details and fund-raising projects to keep the 28th annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival free and open to the public are core association members meeting weekly at the Delta Blues Museum including (from left) Nancy Foley, Malvita Tillis Presley, Georgianna Smith, Maie Smith, Johnny Kinnard, gospel chairman; Checo White, John Sherman, chairman, Dave de … Read more

Among family, friends, and admirers sharing music and recollections of the late guitar master Robert Belfour at his funeral Saturday is vintage musician Leo “Bud” Welch playing next to Belfour’s guitar inside Mt. Newell Baptist Church of Red Banks. Both were favorites on the acoustic stage at Clarksdale’s annual Sunflower River Blues Festival, and both … Read more

Bluesman Robert “Wolfman” Belfour, well-known internationally for his North Mississippi Hill Country style of music, died at his home in Memphis Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015, following a long illness. He was 74.   Funeral services will be held at noon Saturday, March 7, at Mt. Newell Church in Red Banks, near Holly Springs. Visitation will take … Read more

All smiles over their official designation as Clarksale’s Musical Ambassadors at Monday’s board meeting of the Mayor and City Commissioners are five members of the Delta Blues Museum Band who performed recently at the White House. Awarded a plaque by First Lady Michelle Obama as one of the country’s most outstanding After School programs, the … Read more

Following their memorable performance at the White House, members of the Delta Blues Museum Band enjoy congratulations and t-shirts from the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival before returning to practice this week. The Sunflower shirts feature the late Big Jack Johnson, one of the early after-school teachers with Mr. Johnnie Bollington. Pictured are Isaac … Read more