CLARKSDALE – Standing ovations and a celebration cake toasting the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival’s success greeted festival’s co-chairmen at this week’s association’s evaluation meeting. “More, more, we need more years of this partnership (between co-chairmen John Sherman and Melville Tillis); it’s a great combination,” chanted Blues Association members meeting in the Delta Blues … Read more

CLARKSDALE – An account of Charlie Musselwhite’s entry into the Chicago blues scene while driving an exterminator truck is just one of the stories this international superstar will be spinning during the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival’s special educational program Sunday, Aug. 14. Although crowds will be packing Blues Alley for the harmonica master … Read more

By Panny Flautt Mayfield, Festival publicist    CLARKSDALE – No one’s whispering “Yankee” blues, but the pristine Sunflower’s down-home sound may have a few international notes from way, way up north this summer. Being welcomed to perform during Clarksdale’s 17th annual festival are cousins from sister festivals in Norway and Quebec, Canada. “Returning to Clarksdale is … Read more

By Panny Flautt MayfieldCLARKSDALE – For years Clarksdale’s Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival has been his favorite; now quintessential harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite has bought his own building practically next door to the main stage. It’s blue, two-story, and covers 50,000 square feet. It also borders the Sunflower River and stands across the street … Read more

CLARKSDALE – “Comin’ Home’” has become an anthem for Clarksdale’s 17th Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival August 13-14. “We’re elated to be featuring headliners from home as well as Big Bill Morganfield debuting in the hometown of his famous father, Muddy Waters,” Jonathan Masters and Melville Tillis, festival co-chairmen announced this week. Morganfield will … Read more

CLARKSDALE – Blues lovers and artists are invited to submit their special signature T-shirt design for Clarksdale’s 17th annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival. “Theme of this year’s festival is ‘Comin’ Home to Clarksdale,’” comment Jonathan Masters and Melville Tillis, co-chairmen. “We’re offering a $50 prize, a pair of shirts, introduction from the main … Read more

The 17th annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival will kick off Friday afternoon, August. 13, 2004, and continue through Saturday night, Aug. 14, 2004, in downtown Clarksdale.

Clarksdale’s 16th annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival has been selected a special event for the month of August during the Year of the Blues celebration and will be featured on theYear of the Blues Internet web site. “At the present time, we are planning a web feature (www.yearoftheblues) during August on Clarksdale and … Read more

Sunflower River Blues and Gospel     With less than a month remaining before Clarksdale’s 15th Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival, all area motels are booked solid, the lineup is complete, posters are going up and all systems are looking great, report co-chairmen Nat McMullen and Melville Tillis.     “This is shaping up to be … Read more

A trio of classic bluesmen – Bobby Blue Bland, Charlie Musselwhite andBig Jack Johnson – is headlining the 15th edition of Clarksdale’s freeSunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival Aug. 9-10.     Heading the gospel stage are the Jackson Southernaires, inducted thisspring in the 2002 Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame.    Although the smoky-pitched vocalist with his … Read more