Press release from the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival Saturday, Nov. 17Contact: [email protected] Rocking blues party set Thanksgiving eve at Ground ZeroWednesday night event, a fund-raiser for the Sunflower River Blues Festival CLARKSDALE – Five Delta blues bands will be featured in a rocking Thanksgiving eve party fund-raiser for the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel … Read more

Despite sizzling triple-digit temps, 25,000 celebrate Sunflower Fest International music fans hail from Egypt, China, Australia, France, Italy, Mexico, England CLARKSDALE – Despite triple-digit, sizzling weekend temperatures, an international crowd of 25,000 music fans flocked to the 20th anniversary celebration of the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival, says co-chairman John Sherman. “We estimate 10,000 … Read more

Sunflower Fest promises to be ‘best ever’ Lineup packed with multiple headliner-caliber musicians CLARKSDALE – “This is going to be the best festival we’ve ever had,” promises John Sherman, co-chairman of the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival. “To celebrate our 20th aniversary, we have packed the lineup with outstanding musicians who could be multiple … Read more

FREE Sunflower River Blues & Gospel FestivalFRIDAY, AUG. 10 – MAIN STAGE – JOHN LEE HOOKER LANE4:20 p.m. – Jacqueline Harris Lenerd – National Anthem4:30 p.m. – Delta Blues Museum Students5:00 p.m. – Eddie Lee Coleman Band6:00 p.m. – Jimbo Mathus & Band7:00 p.m. – Lonnie Shields8:00 p.m. – Vicki Baker9:00 p.m. – David Brinston10:00 … Read more

CLARKSDALE – Renowned artist Cristen Barnard’s artwork for the 2007 Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival poster is a signature classic guaranteed to become a collectors item, promise organizers of Mississippi’s largest blues celebration. “Her portrait of Sam Carr pounding drums for the Sunflower House Party last year was outstanding,” agree festival co-chairman John Sherman … Read more

Quintessential stars Bobby Rush, Denise LaSalleheadline Sunflower’s Festival’s 20th anniversaryBilly Rivers, Angelic Voices of Praise promise amazing gospel CLARKSDALE – America’s top 2007 Soul Music Entertainer Bobby Rush with his amazing revue of dancers and musicians is headlining the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival’s Friday night stage in downtown Clarksdale Aug. 10. Reigning Saturday … Read more

Blues drummer cited for contributions to Mississippi’s heritage By Panny Flautt Mayfield JACKSON – Inside a white frame church beneath the Mississippi River levee in February of 2004, Sam Carr cried while receiving an extraordinary award for a blues musician; an engraved plaque and an invitation to perform music not normally welcomed by preachers. Thompson … Read more

Sunflower, Notodden Blues Festivals turn 20Leaders promise spectacular sister city celebrationsCLARKSDALE – The Sunflower and Notodden International Blues Festivals are turning 20 this summer, and joint sister city celebrations promise to be spectacular, report Clarksdale co-chairmen John Sherman and Melville Tillis. “Jostein Forsberg and Ed Murphy from Notodden met with our association last week, and … Read more

With an awesome celebration being planned for Clarksdales 20th Sunflower River Blues Festival August 10, 11, and 12, its not too early to make VIP reservations, say co-chairmen John Sherman and Melville Tills. “We had a tremendous demand for tickets under our VIP tent last year,” Sherman says. VIP tickets ($250 each), he explains, provide … Read more