Press release from the 23rd edition of Clarksdale’s Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival, August 25, 2010

THE 2010 SUNFLOWER RIVER BLUES FESTIVAL

Super Chikan Johnson, hometown celebrity and 2010 Blues Music Award winner for Best Traditional Album, plays Chikan guitar

Johnny Rawls,…..2010 Blues Music Award winner for Best Soul Album- pictured short greying hair in striped shirt pointing to crowd is a favorite

Johnny Rawls – crowd shot – mobbed on stage with VIP tent in background

Ryan Perry, lead singer and guitarist for nationally-renowed Homemade Jamz Blues Band, draws cheers Saturday night

Robert Bilbo Walker played Friday night on main stage

Lightnin’ Malcolm, Saturday night headliner with Cedric Burnside, red shirt, holding guitar and singing facing crowd

Big Jack Johnson and Company are favorites at Saturday’s acoustic stage in the Civic Auditorium

Lucious Spiller -a new face at the Sunflower – playing with super charged energy and such intensity that he cried on stage at the Civic Auditorium

Myra Turner, cousin of Ike Turner and a celebrity soloist with Clarksdale’s Chapel Hill Baptist Church Choir, sings a tribute to Ike as finale to the “Remembering Ike Turner and Rocket 88” at Ground Zero Blues Club.

Versatile musician Jimbo Mathus is a regular on the Sunflower’s main stage.

Eddie Cusic stars every year on the Sunflower’s acoustic stage.