CLARKSDALE – Clarksdale lost a colorful member of its blues community over the weekend with the passing of Josh “Razorblade” Stewart, 72, in the Memphis Veterans Administration Hospital Saturday, April 21. Despite semi-frail health following hospitalization in 2016 for back problems that confined him to a wheelchair for several months, Stewart still performed occasionally at … Read more

Norwegian Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Rita Engedalen (holding guitar), Margit Bakken, and 11 members of the award-winning Coahoma Community College concert choir under the direction of Kelvin Towers record Rita’s composition, ‘Heaven Ain’t Ready for Me Yet’ over the weekend at Gary Vincent’s Clarksdale Sound Stage Studio. The recording will be included in Engedalen’s album being … Read more

Clarksdale journalist/photographer and author of the book, LIVE FROM THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA, published by University Press, has been nominated for the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Award for photography, according to Nancy LaForge, MIAL president. LaForge says winners will be announced between March 15 and April 1, and will be honored at an awards … Read more

CLARKSDALE – The Annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival’s popular Thanksgiving Eve blues party is cranking up with top entertainers lined up to perform at Ground Zero Blues Club Wednesday, Nov. 22, says Melvita Tillis Presley, Sunflower chairman. Among the bluesmen already booked to play are James ‘Super Chikan’ Johnson, Josh ‘Razorblade’ Stewart, Dave … Read more

Clarksdale ‘very present’ in Norwegian sister city anniversary    CLARKSDALE – In its 30-year history, the Sunflower River Blues Festival has grown from an informal, enthusiastic band of music lovers following the lead of Living Blues co-founder Jim O’Neal and Dr. Patricia Johnson into a premiere celebration with international status, says Melvita Tillis Presley, festival … Read more

Expect a ‘living history’ Sunflower Fest finale with Musselwhite, Jim O’Neal Sunday, Aug. 13 Bicentennial grant supports free ‘Conversations with Charlie Musselwhite’ CLARKSDALE – Although its extraordinary lineup alone earns drum rolls and fanfares, the 30th Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival celebration will showcase living history in a unique Mississippi Bicentennial program titled, “Conversations with … Read more

August 11-13              The 30th Annual FREE Sunflower River Blues and Gospel FestivalA  Mississippi Bicentennial Event, the free Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival, kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, with a performance by the Delta Blues Museum Band on the Melville Tillis Delta Blues Stage and continues through … Read more

Charlie Musselwhite and Ben Harper celebrate their recent Grammy Awards. CLARKSDALE – Celebrating 50 years of nonstop recording, touring and performing in global venues from China and Brazil to the White House, Grammy winner Charlie Musselwhite will be headed south Aug. 12 to headline Clarksdale’s Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival. “We are excited Charlie … Read more

Visiting Clarksdale, their U.S. sister city and the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival, their sister blues festival over the weekend, Norwegian leaders and sponsors of the International Notodden Festival, enjoy a mini-concert by James Super Chikan Johnson and his unique handcrafted guitars on a front porch in the historic district. On his first trip … Read more

Joseph Morganfield (center), charismatic son of blues great Muddy Waters, is a top attraction Sunday at the Delta Blues Museum where he is interviewed by Muddy’s celebrated biographer, Robert Gordon of Memphis (left) and legendary WROX Radio’s Paul Wilson, a DBM board member. The DBM’s blues education venue was packed with music fans peppering the … Read more