CLARKSDALE – A break in triple-digit temperatures with only a few sprinkles welcomed an international crowd enjoying the 29th Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival and its four days of exceptional music culminating in a grand finale overflowing the Civic Auditorium Sunday night.    “It’s very powerful, emotional,” commented visitors who had never before attended a gospel celebration … Read more

More than 2,000 – a capacity crowd – packed Clarksdale’s Civic Auditorium Sunday for the 29th annual Sunflower Festival Blues and Gospel Festival starring celebrity musicians: Lee Williams and the Spiritual QCs. – Photos by Panny Mayfield

Laden with Welcome to Clarksdale souvenirs, 13 photographers from Italy arrive Wednesday for a 5-day stay covering the 29th annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival.

Favorite Saturday daytime acoustic stage expands into three cool locations     CLARKSDALE – Flooding their website in Italy are dozens and dozens and dozens of artistic photographs from last summer’s Clarksdale’s Sunflower River Blues and Blues Festival.     They range from musicians in action: William Bell, La La, “Bud” Welch, Super Chikan Johnson, … Read more

Clarksdale’s 3-day free event celebrates its 29th season        CLARKSDALE – “I’m ready to come home,” says bluesman Lonnie Shields commenting on his approaching trek from Pennsylvania to headline the Sunflower River Blues Festival’s  Saturday night stage here August 13.       Although the multi-talented guitarist, singer, songwriter has been a favorite at several Sunflower festivals including the … Read more

Delta Blues Museum initiates annual August tribute for superstar     CLARKSDALE – The Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival that celebrated its 12th anniversary August 13-15, 1999, with a hometown tribute to blues superstar John Lee Hooker, will be partnering this summer with the Delta Blues Museum in its observance of August as John Lee … Read more

Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival members are mourning the death of our blues friend  – Willie Seaberry – better known as ‘Po’ Monkey, owner of Po’ Monkey’s Lounge out from Merigold. Monkey always welcomed and entertained everyone and the many “overseas” visitors we took to his place. —Photo by Panny Mayfield

WROX Radio owner Paul Wilson, seated right, interviews Maie Smith, left, Sunflower Festival booking chairman, and John Sherman, co-chairman, about highlights of the approaching 29th annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival, for a 45-minute community documentary. Partnering with the festival scheduled in downtown Clarksdale August 12-13-14, WROX has been associated with the celebration since … Read more

29th FREE celebration scheduled August 12-13-14 in downtown Clarksdale     CLARKSDALE – “Approaching our third decade as one of America’s most distinctive music festivals, we are committed to remain FREE and to present only the best entertainers worthy of our blues and gospel heritage,” emphasize Melvita Tillis Presley and John Sherman, festival co-chairs.    “We are … Read more

Clarksdale’s Sunflower River Blues Festival members including Nancy Foley, secretary; musician Super Chikan Johnson, and state Rep. Orlando Paden, welcome a 10-member delegation from from the Notodden International Blues Festival from Clarksdale to the Mississippi Delta with a porch party in the historic district. Although many Norwegians from Notodden have visited here, it was a … Read more