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Record crowd pack Ground Zero’s Sunflower Festival Thanksgiving Eve fund-raiser

Dynamic keyboard artist LaLa Craig draws a record crowd opening the Sunflower River Festival’s annual Thanksgiving Eve blues party at Ground Zero.  Virtuoso guitarist Dave Dunavant joins musicians on stage at Ground Zero during the holiday fund-raiser benefiting the 33rd annual free Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival scheduled August 7-9, 2010. Music fans of … Read more

Five dynamite blues bands booked for Sunflower’s Thanksgiving Eve party

CLARKSDALE – Five dynamite blues bands have been booked for the Sunflower River Blues Festival’s annual Thanksgiving Eve party at Ground Zero Blues Club Wednesday, Nov. 27, according to booking chairman Maie Smith. “The event always attracts an international audience, and we are thrilled to have these talented musicians performing our annual benefit,” commented Melvita … Read more

Despite stormy weather, the 32nd Sunflower, a ‘howling success’

Although stormy weather attacked the 32nd annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival weekend, the show most definitely went on with vibrant music from Thursday night’s acoustic excellence to Saturday’s dynamic vibes from Terry’ Big T’ Williams and Anthony Sherrod and Sunday’s inspiritaional gospel tributes, says chairman Melvita Tillis Presley. She calls it ‘a howling … Read more

2019 Festival Photos

Sharde Thomas leads the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band in a rousing finale before a packed house at Saturday’s Ground Zero acoustic stage during the Sunflower Festival. The legendary drum and fife band was founded by her late grandfather Othar Turner of Gravel Springs. She has been performing with the group since she was … Read more

‘Everyone loves Chikan,’ Sunflower headliner

CLARKSDALE – “While he was living, Van Gogh never sold a painting; but following his death, his art was worth millions,” observes James “Super Chikan” Johnson, Clarksdale’s irrepressible blues musician and Friday night headliner for the 32nd annual Sunflower River Blues Festival. Inside his studio overflowing with handmade guitars and diddley bows in various stages … Read more

Big George Brock joins Sunflower Fest lineup

     Virtuoso harmonica artist Big George Brock will opening the Sunflower River Blues Festival’s Saturday night Main Stage, at 7 p. m. August 10, announces Maie Smith booking chairman.    “We are delighted George will be joining our 2019 lineup; he was one of our headliners in 2016, and is a crowd favorite,” she … Read more

Sunflower Fest promises international attractions Aug 9-11

32nd annual event dedicated to the late Anthony Saffold    CLARKSDALE- If it’s true Paris shuts down in August, Clarksdale’s 32nd annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival is poised to welcome, entertain the crowd, and prove its status as an international music destination August 9-11    More than 38 bands have been booked to perform … Read more

Super Nova Blues Musicians Ignite July 6

CLARKSDALE – Igniting additional fireworks to the long Fourth of July Weekend in Clarksdale at the Crossroads Cultural Arts Center Friday night are three super nova blues musicians performing at the July First Friday Sunflower event: ‘Daddy Rich’ Crisman, Mark ‘Muleman’ Massey, and Lightnin’ Malcolm. All three guitarists will be featured on stage August 9-11 … Read more

Sunflower Fest certified a ‘Southern Travel Treasure’

AAA’s magazine features 32nd celebration in July/August issue CLARKSDALE – More than 933,000 frequent travelers will be reading about Clarksdale’s 32nd annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival in the July/August issue of AAA’s Southern Traveler Magazine, according to managing editor Deborah Reinhardt. Reinhardt says the Sunflower has been certified an official “Southern Travel Treasure.” “Travel Treasures … Read more

February’s First Friday Blues Mixer features 4 super stars

Our Sunflower River Blues Association booking chairman Maie Smith has organized an outstanding lineup for February’s First Friday Monthly Mixer at the Crossroads Cultural Center next week: Louis “Gearshift” Youngblood, Bill Abel, Sean Apple, and The Lady Trucker as a finale.