CLARKSDALE – The Sunflower River Blues Festival’s tribute to Big Jack Johnson rocketed into history with a Blues Trail marker affirming his importance among legends to the Saturday finale packed with musical talent rarely assembled together on one stage.      “It was truly awesome,” commented Norwegian festival leader Jostein Forsberg, who participated in the celebration … Read more

CLARKSDALE – The Sunflower River Blues Festival’s tribute to Big Jack Johnson got an early start when Red Paden and Angenette Johnson hosted a birthday party for the Oilman Friday night, Aug. 1.   With news of the party spreading fast, Red’s Blues Club was packed with family, friends, and international visitors from Switzerland. “Jack’s actual … Read more

CLARKSDALE – Attorney John Schaefer and his lawyer buddies from Norman, Oklahoma have been coming to the Sunflower Festival for 14 years.   But this will be their first taste of Abe’s barbecue, Louise Campbell’s turnip greens, and Charlie Musselwhite’s favorite recipe for cheese grits. Fashioned initially to introduce Norwegian sister city cousins to Southern soul … Read more

CLARKSDALE – The check-in site for Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival artists and media covering the event has been moved to the former Greyhound Bus Station on the corner of Issaquena and Third Street. Located next to the parking bordering Clarksdale Station (historic passenger station) – the usual check-in-site, the Bus Station features a … Read more

CLARKSDALE – When Anthony Sherrod was five, he became a blues musician recognized by ZZ Top. At 16, he borrowed Buddy Guy’s spotted guitar and joined him on stage for a Delta Blues Museum benefit. Reaching 30, his 25-year career has earned him frontman status with the Big Jack Johnson Band at the Sunflower River … Read more

CLARKSDALE – A one-name wonder with recognition ranked alongside Cher, Madonna, Prince, Beyoncé, and Bono will be bringing his steamy soul show to Clarksdale Aug. 8 for the Sunflower River Blues Festival.     Latimore – The Man – is returning for the third time on John Lee Hooker Lane where he last packed 9,000 frenzied … Read more

CLARKSDALE – Celebrity wannabes at Blues Trail Marker celebrations often claim close personal relationships with the honored musician.  Few, however, can describe Big Jack Johnson winning a $100 bet for rasseling a bear and flipping him to the ground.  Except Red Paden.  “Actually Jack flipped the bear not once but two or three times,” says … Read more

Modeling the new Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival shirts arriving this week in advance of the 27th annual free festival in downtown Clarksdale Aug. 8-10 are music fans Hilary Cook, paralegal, and Landon Doster, office assistant. The Big Jack Johnson tribute logo was designed by artist Cristen Craven Barnard. Shirts are brick red and … Read more

International travel website recommends Clarksdale celebrationCLARKSDALE – The Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival has been rated one of Mississippi’s Top 10 Summer Events by “The Culture Trip,” an international travel website based in London. Editor Ellen von Wiegand, calls The Culture Trip (theculturetrip.com) the number one website for people interested in the best of … Read more

NORWEGIAN DIVA RECORDS INSPIRATIONAL GOSPEL;PERFORMS BLUES WITH BIG JACK JOHNSON’S BAND     CLARKSDALE – Returning to the Delta for her fifth visit, Scandinavian blues diva Rita Engedalen expanded her Mississippi fan base here recording inspirational gospel music and afterward raising the roof at Red’s as a guest with Big Jack Johnson’s Band, the Cornlickers.    A … Read more