Sunflower River Blues Association Home of the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival Post Office Box 1562, Clarksdale, MS 38614 – www.sunflowerfest.org The Sunflower River Blues Association is a registered nonprofit 501 c 3 organization Staffed entirely by volunteers; donations are tax-deductible Letter to the Editor 8 /19/2012     Sunflower Festival rockets Clarksdale into global recognition Many … Read more

CLARKSDALE – A Robert Plant Supernova exploded here August 11, 2012, and skyrocketed the 25th Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival into music legend history. “It was beyond awesome,” agreed festival co-chairs Melville Tillis and Maie Smith. Robert Plant   Before a crowd estimated from 15,000 to 30,000 in downtown Clarksdale, the former Led Zeppelin superstar … Read more

CLARKSDALE – Vintage-style trolleys, buses, and shuttles will be offering rides from parking lots to downtown Clarksdale’s 25th Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival, Melville Tillis, festival co-chairman, announced Monday   “With record crowds expected,  we are delighted DARTS and Rebel Rides will be offering this service to hundreds of visitors; they can drive to town … Read more

A guitar signed by legendary bluesman/Clarksdale native John Lee Hooker is being raffled ($5 ticket) at the 25th Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival.  After the celebrated guitarist with his distinctive voice, was unable to perform at the Sunflower River Blues Festival with Charlie Musselwhite because of eye problems, he signed the guitar for the Sunflower River Blues … Read more

GLOBAL MEDIA PLUS CNN TO COVER THE SUNFLOWER RIVER BLUES FEST AUG. 10-12 CLARKSDALE – Although Clarksdale is not competing with London’s Summer Olympics, one of the UK’s native sons is creating “a bit of a stir” here headlining the 25th annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival. The draw is Robert Plant, voice of the … Read more

CLARKSDALE – The request procedure for media photography credentials at the 25th annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival is closed. The deadline for securing media photography credentials  published on the Sunflower website: www.sunflowerfest.org was Monday, July 16, 2012. “Space is limited for photography around the Main Stage; no additional photographers will credentialed,”according to the festival media committee … Read more

‘TRUE DELTA’ MOVIE SCREENING, ‘STATE OF THE BLUES’ DISCUSSION,‘CELEBRATING 25 YEARS’ PANEL,’ ‘GRITS, GREENS, & BARBECUE’ ON TAP CLARKSDALE –Matching the hype of Robert Plant, Charlie Musselwhite, and Bobby Rush headlining the 25th Sunflower River Blues Festival celebration Aug. 10-12, are two days of extraordinary bonus events, says festival co-chairman Melville Tillis. Included are the screening of an … Read more

CLARKSDALE – With the internet buzz over rock star Robert Plant headlining Clarksdale’s Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival approaching fever pitch, Homeland Security chief Randy Stewart is racheting up manpower to keep crowds safe while enjoying the show. “We originally planned to bring a team of 25 officers from Tunica, but have increased the … Read more

CLARKSDALE – With record crowds topping 20,000 expected in Clarksdale Aug. 10-11-12, for the 25th annual free Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival starring superstar Robert Plant, safety and security are priorities being fine-tuned by a joint task force, reports John Sherman, festival VIP chairman. Meeting  at Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, a major festival sponsor, … Read more

Grammy-nominated and Stellar-award winning gospel artist, Vickie Winans will headline the 25th Annual Sunflower River Gospel Festival. Sunday, August 12, 2012, Clarksdale, MS!   BIO (via vickiewinans.com) Born October 18, 1953 and the 7th of 12 children, who knew that a Billboard-charting gospel icon would be found in Vickie Bowman. While singing her first solo in … Read more