SATURDAY NIGHT VENUES

APRIL 12, 2025

JJF Wristbands Required

Acts & Times are subject to change.

Delta Blues Alley II

348 Delta Avenue

6:00 pm

Terry 'Harmonica' Bean

One of Mississippi's hidden treasures: a contemporary hill country bluesman, lifelong resident of Pontotoc, who has created his own distinctive version of the harp-blowing, guitar-grooving one-man band. Although he's long past the dues-paying stage, Bean has played with some of the most important bluesmen to come out of Mississippi in the past two decades.

http://www.hillcountryharmonica.com/terry_bean.html

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Red's Lounge

395 Sunflower Avenue

6:00 pm

Little Willie Farmer

One of the most authentic bluesmen alive—Duck Hill, Mississippi's legendary blues recording artist Little Willie Farmer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Willie_Farmer

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Shack Up Inn (The Gin)

1 Commissary Road

6:00 pm

Bill Abel CD Release Show

CD RELEASE PARTY for "Waiting at the Station: Blues of Bill Abel"! Bill Abel originally hails from Pinetop Perkins' hometown of Belzoni, Mississippi. He plays solo and leads his own blues band, and he has played with a who's who of Mississippi blues legends including Honeyboy Edwards, Henry Townsend, Big George Brock, Hubert Sumlin, Cadillac John Nolden, Little Monroe Jones and more. Enjoy Bill's blues... and buy a new CD!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmHJpMjp2o0

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Auberge Hostel (Old Madidi Bar)

164 Delta Avenue

7:00 pm

Jimmy 'Duck' Holmes

One of the most culturally important bluesmen on earth today, Jimmy "Duck" Holmes is both a Grammy-nominated musician and a legendary juke joint owner. Born in 1947, his family opened the Blues Front Cafe in 1948. He was also featured on a U.S. Postal stamp representing Mississippi in 2017. Duck has been playing JJF for years, and we love him! You will, too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_%22Duck%22_Holmes

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Bluesberry Cafe

235 Yazoo Avenue

7:00 pm

Downtown Charlie Brown Blues Band

Veterans of the Chicago blues scene, the Downtown Charlie Brown Blues Band makes its Juke Joint Festival debut, y'all!

http://downtowncharliebrown.com/

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Clarksdale Sound Stage

313 Issaquena Av. Enter thru back door in Hooker Groc pk

7:00 pm

Gary & Carol Vincent

The owners of Clarksdale Sound Stage recording studio and event space, Gary & Carol Vincent, plus... Howard Stovall is bringing his Tuba, and Gary's favorite on the keys from Nashville, Chris Nole, (Played with, John Denver, Trisha Yearwood, Percy Sledge, and many more. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette wrote "Gary Vincent throws a party every time he walks on stage. A true professional, Gary has written songs for Mickey Gilley, Leon Redbone, Lynn Anderson, Gary Morris, John Anderson, Tompall Glaser, The Crickets, and many more. www.garyvincentmusic.com. Morgan Freeman Wrote "Gary Vincent is a sensational showman, and a great songwriter.” Charlie Musselwhite Wrote "His lyrics can make you bust out laughing or cause you to stop and reflect. He knows how to engage an audience and make them feel like he’s personally singing right to them.

https://www.garyvincentmusic.com/

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Crossroads Cultural Arts Center

332 Delta Avenue

7:00 pm

Robert Kimbrough Sr. Blues Connection

The youngest guitar playing son of North Mississippi blues legend Junior Kimbrough keeps his father's "cotton patch soul blues" sounds alive at jukes, clubs and festivals throughout the South. Robert and his band are regulars at Juke Joint Festival, having played the annual event for years. Ask him about his latest CD.

https://robertkimbroughsr.com/

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Delta Blues Alley Cafe (front bar)

352 Delta Avenue

7:00 pm

Terry 'Harmonica' Bean

One of Mississippi's hidden treasures: a contemporary hill country bluesman, lifelong resident of Pontotoc, who has created his own distinctive version of the harp-blowing, guitar-grooving one-man band. Although he's long past the dues-paying stage, Bean has played with some of the most important bluesmen to come out of Mississippi in the past two decades.

http://www.hillcountryharmonica.com/terry_bean.html

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Ebonay Events

225 Yazoo Avenue

7:00 pm

Marshall Drew

Marshall Drew was born on January 11, 1984 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He took an interest in music at a young age, learning to play guitar at age five and beginning to write songs at eight. He played in several local bands during his teens, often performing blues music throughout the Mississippi Delta. Drew, however, cites classic rock-era singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young as his primary influences. He is also heavily influenced by highly melodic rock bands such as The Beatles and Big Star.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Drew

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Ground Zero Blues Club

0 Blues Alley

7:00 pm

Harrell 'Young Rell' Davenport

The most talked about young, traditional Mississippi bluesman today has to be the one and only guitarist/singer/harmonica player Harrell "Young Rell" Davenport!

https://youngrell.com/

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Hopson Commissary (main stage)

1 Commissary Road

7:00 pm

Blue Mother Tupelo

Blue Mother Tupelo is Ricky & Micol Davis. That's us. Micol is pronounced "Michael", by the way, & we've been making music together since before we were married, back in 1994. Rising up from the bluffs of Memphis to the mountains of east Tennessee, through the Delta lowlands and muddy banks of Mississippi - Blue Mother Tupelo oozes a kind of southern soul & roots rock that defies boundary or definition.

https://bluemothertupelo.com

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Levon's Bar & Grill

232 Sunflower Avenue

7:00 pm

Frank 'Guitar' Rimmer

Frank Rimmer earned the money for his first guitar at age 11 years old by going to the Cotton Fields, and has been performing since age 14. . He still has the Guitar named Stella to this day. He founded his own Band Called "Exception To The Rule another band called Super Soul Sonic. Which consisted of Big Pete, {City Council} - Friends of Glen Harris. Some of their Big Influences were Earth-Wind & Fire; Motown; Isley Brothers. Frank has played with Magic Slim, and his father, Magic slim, Sr.

https://www.facebook.com/guitarrimmer

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Meraki Coffee Roasters

278 Sunflower Ave

7:00 pm

Ghalia Volt

Ghalia Volt is a force of nature who comes to Juke Joint Festival from New Orleans but originally hails from Belgium, where the blues bug bit early. After multiple visits to Mississippi and the American South in search of real-deal blues and roots musics, she moved here to join the scene. This year, she'll be featured as her amazing one-woman-blues-band. Be sure to ask about her latest CD and LP releases after her shows!

https://ghaliavolt.com

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The Blue Room

216 Third Street

7:00 pm

Dr. B

Dr. B is the piano player who runs the Clarksdale's cool, new listening room—The Blue Room—where he hosts a weekly Open Mic, film screenings and more. Plan now to attend his new Son House Tribute Festival from Thurs-Sat, 5/29-31, 2025!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565447039451&sk=photos

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The Den Again

220 Yazoo Avenue

7:00 pm

CRUZ The Dame

In the realm of music, where the echoes of the past harmonize with the beats of the present, emerges a figure who embodies both timelessness and timeliness. CRUZ The Dame, is a rising recording artist and songwriter whose work transcends genres, blending the rich essence of old soul with a fresh, contemporary sound. CRUZ's Vintage Music style is a testament to her artistry, seamlessly weaving together influences from gospel, blues, R&B, jazz, and pop. Her music evokes the nostalgia of classic tunes that once filled dance halls and jukeboxes while infusing it with her own unique flair and modern sensibility. Beyond her musical prowess, CRUZ exudes a magnetic presence, characterized by her signature Pin-Up Girl style and vibrant aesthetic palette. She effortlessly embodies seduction and sophistication, captivating audiences with her bold yet refined persona. CRUZ The Dame, the self-professed Southern Dame, embraces her multicultural background, using her music as a platform to bridge racial divides and celebrate diversity. Her lyrics resonate with passion and authenticity, reflecting her personal experiences and worldview. Critics praise CRUZ for her ability to revive the timeless essence of traditional Black American music (blues, gospel, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, rock and roll, soul, jazz, etc.), while infusing it with her own contemporary twist. With each performance, she captivates audiences of all ages, showcasing a depth of talent and charisma that transcends generations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3wD6Wl4mI8

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Travelers Hotel (lobby bar)

212 Third St.

7:00 pm

Mark 'Mule Man' Massey

Hard time leads to hard blues. That’s the story behind Mark “Mule Man” Massey. Growing up in the cradle of the Delta blues, Clarksdale, Mississippi, Mark Massey heard plenty of blues. But it took a stretch in Parchman Prison for Mark to discover the blues’ deeper meaning. It was there he met and befriended David Kimbrough, son of legendary Mississippi blues icon, Junior Kimbrough, who taught him the basics of the blues and got him a spot in the Parchman Prison Band. Upon his release, Mark was determined to turn his negative experience into a positive. In the early 1990s – when he wasn’t busy with farm work (hence the name “Mule Man”) – he began his career as a blues guitarist and singer playing every dive and juke joint he could in northern Mississippi. Eventually he honed his skills well enough to play in the International Blues Competition as well as the better blues clubs like B.B. King’s on Beale Street and Morgan Freeman’s “Ground Zero.” Along the way, he received support and encouragement from many regional musicians including longtime friend of the Center for Southern Folklore and blues harmonica player extraordinaire Blind Mississippi Morris. Morris schooled Mark in the rich legacy of the blues masters who came before him. As Mark puts it, because of Morris, “Today when I play their music, I can really feel those guys. I keep playing because I want to keep their songs alive.”

https://markmulemanmassey.com/

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Red's Lounge

395 Sunflower Avenue

7:30 pm

Edna Nicole & Delta Avenue

Edna Nicole is a singer, songwriter, published author, and entrepreneur. She was born and raised in the Mississippi Delta and has a passion for uplifting others through service and music. Edna is a mother of three and the owner of Suga Mama’s Sweets, LLC..

https://www.instagram.com/edna.nicole.music/

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Clarksdale Sound Stage

313 Issaquena Av. Enter thru back door in Hooker Groc pk

7:45 pm

Alessandro Ponti & Da Bones Man

Alessandro Ponti & Da Bones Man. If you've never heard a pro Bones player before, you should definitely check out Da Bones Man. A true master of the art. Joined by Alessandro, a native of Milan Italy is a virtuoso on his acoustic guitar. It's amazing to hear someone from across the world who can play authentic Delta Blues.

https://rhythmbones.com/player-profiles/sepalla-randy/

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224 Yazoo (BYOB venue)

224 Yazoo Avenue

8:00 pm

Stoop Down Rounders

Old-school acoustic blues 'n roots, y'all... from Libby Rae Watson, Bill Steber and more!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGvIVzPflGk

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8th Street Grocery

105 8th Street

8:00 pm

The Delta Kings

The leader of The Delta Kings—Preston Rumbaugh—is a veteran blues, roots and rockabilly musician who's played with Scotty Moore, Dale Watson, Lucinda Williams, Ronnie Hawkins, Robert "Bilbo" Walker, Big George Brock and many more. Don't miss him at JJF!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094063880947

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Big T's School of Blues

733 Riverside Drive

8:00 pm

Stud Ford & Will Coppage

Some claim to have "grown up in the blues," but Stud Ford actually did it. As the grandson of Greenville, Mississippi, blues legend T-Model Ford, Stud played many a late night drumming behind the self-proclaimed "Taledragger" at juke joints like Red's Lounge. Will Coppage also hails from Greenville, Mississippi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0qh8wz6HNo

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Delta Blues Alley Cafe (backroom stage)

352 Delta Avenue

8:00 pm

Deak Harp

Deak Harp has been playing harmonica since he was 12 years old. His biggest early inspiration came when his brother introduced him to the music of James Cotton. Deak followed Cotton's band along the east coast for close to five years before Cotton offered Deak a job driving his van. For the next six years, Deak toured with the James Cotton blues band, eventually opening acts and playing along with "Superharp" himself.

http://www.deakharp.com

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Ebonay Events

225 Yazoo Avenue

8:00 pm

Earnest 'Guitar' Roy

Earnest Roy, Jr. was born on September 25th, 1958 in Clarksdale, Mississippi under the watchful eye of his father, guitarist Earnest Roy, Sr., who worked with Jackie Brinston, Ike Turner, John Lee Hooker, Wade Walton, Raymond Hill and many of the other Clarksdale bluesmen. Earnest's father taught him bass guitar at five, and when Earnest turned eight, he began playing in his father's band, Earnest Roy and the Clarksdale Rockers, whose members included Big Jack Johnson. From 1993 to 2001, Earnest played for the international televangelist and pastor Rod Parsley, whose ministry aired on 320 nations around the world. In 2001, Earnest "Guitar" Roy returned to his blues roots when he began touring and appearing at blues and jazz festivals with Sam Carr. Earnest's most recent CD is Going Down to Clarksdale from 2011.

https://www.facebook.com/EarnestGuitarRoyClarksdaleMs/

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Hopson Commissary Courtyard (backyard)

1 Commissary Road

8:00 pm

Lightnin' Malcolm

North Mississippi Hill Country blues boogieman Lightnin' Malcolm (usually with his trusty sidekick Prayer Bailey on drums and second vocals) has been a fixture at juke joints like Red's Lounge (and yard parties like ol' RL Boyce used to throw) for years and years. He's also played on stage or in studio with everyone from Big George Brock and RL Boyce to Hubert Sumlin and CeDell Davis.

https://lightninmalcolm.com/home

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Messenger's

133 MLK Dr.

8:00 pm

Australia 'Honey Bee' Jones

The older sister of recording artist Paul "Wine" Jones, Miss Australia "Honey Bee" Jones is Mississippi's only 80-year-old guitar-playing, blues-singing woman currently playing the festival circuit. She learned guitar from her father, taught her brother to play, moved north for a career as a crane operator at a steel plant, before finally moving back to Mississippi to play blues in her retirement.

https://thedeltareview.com/black-history/australia-jones-honeybee-neal-a-powerful-new-female-voice-in-the-mississippi-blues/

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Pete's Grill

550 Sunflower Avenue

8:00 pm

Dwayne Burnside

Duwayne has been immersed in music since birth, as the sound of his father and friends’ playing regularly filled the Burnside household. At 12, he began to play drums, occasionally supporting R.L. and performing in the bands at Junior Kimbrough’s juke joint in the fields outside of Holly Springs. By age 14, he’d switched to guitar and became a member of his father’s band just in time for the recording of Sound Machine Groove. At 15, he moved to Memphis to make his own way in the dynamic and vital blues scene that sprawls from the Bluff City to Mississippi’s hills and Delta. He ricocheted between Memphis and the Holly Springs area in subsequent decades, settling in his hometown once again in the early 2000s. Duwayne has also supplemented his career as a guitarist, singer, and bassist by operating a series of juke joints in Memphis, Chulahoma, and Holly Springs. Just this spring he opened the latest: the Burnside Bar and Grill at 645 North Highway 7 in Holly Springs.

https://www.facebook.com/duwayneburnsidemusic/

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Pete's Grill

550 Sunflower Avenue

8:00 pm

Garry Burnside

The youngest son of R.L. Burnside, and member of the Junior Kimbrough Band, a passion for music and a talent for performance, Garry Burnside has been captivating since he was 11 years old. From intimate cafes to grand concert halls, Garry Burnside's versatility and range has left a lasting impression on all who have had the pleasure of hearing the music. I grew up playing in juke joints, and venues all over the world for my father, RL Burnside and Jr. Kimbrough. They taught me all of their blues licks and they taught me to take my music seriously. I moved to Ripley in 2019 and have been recording and writing all through the pandemic. I enjoy working with all kinds of musicians and writing my own brand of blues music.

https://garryburnsidemusic.com/

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Studio 305

305 Issaquena Avenue

8:00 pm

Mississippi Marshall Hopper

Mississippi Marshall (Hopper) has been labeled "The Delta's Son" for years and his guitar and vocal styling are reminiscent of the Delta as well as the Texas searing blues styling. Mississippi Marshall was born and raised right in the heart of the Mississippi delta and grew up playing both the black and white jukes along the Mississippi River from Memphis to New Orleans.

https://www.facebook.com/MississippiMarshall/

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The Blue Room

216 Third Street

8:00 pm

Little Willie Farmer

One of the most authentic bluesmen alive—Duck Hill, Mississippi's legendary blues recording artist Little Willie Farmer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Willie_Farmer

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The Delta Byrd

721 Riverside Ave

8:00 pm

Cash’s Juke Joint

Angel "Cash" Ocasio, Jr., a prominent figure in Macon's music scene, leads Cash's Juke Joint, a powerhouse band delivering soul-stirring music. Rooted in Blues, Sacred Steel, Soul, Funk, and Rock, their groovy fusion captivates audiences. Hailing from Macon, GA, the band, comprised of seasoned musicians, boasts a rich history playing diverse venues. Cash's Juke Joint has shared stages with icons like Patti LaBelle, Jill Scott and The Legendary Wailers, showcasing their raw and uncut sound. Known for getting straight to the nitty-gritty, experiencing the dynamic vibes of Cash's Juke Joint live is a must for music enthusiasts.

http://cashsjukejoint.com

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The Matchbox

311 Delta Avenue

8:00 pm

Phillip Carter

Guitarist/singer grew up in Bluestown, USA—Clarksdale, Mississippi. He's rooted in the local blues scene and taking his personal sound to new levels...

https://www.facebook.com/pcartermusic/

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Clarksdale Sound Stage

313 Issaquena Av. Enter thru back door in Hooker Groc pk

8:15 pm

Little Joe McLerran

Little Joe McLerran and his family band. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Joe_McLerran Joe is known around the world as a master of the Piedmont guitar style. He will be joined by his unbelievably talented family which includes his 11 year old prodigy son, Johnny . Really something to hear and see.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Joe_McLerran

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Auberge Hostel (Old Madidi Bar)

164 Delta Avenue

8:30 pm

Carlos Elliot Jr. ft. Bobby Gentilo

Carlos Elliot Jr. ft. Bobby Gentilo have been rockin' the North Mississippi Hill Country blues for years at Juke Joint Festival. Carlos hails from the country of Colombia, and Bobby hails from the state of Pennsylvania. Don't miss it, y'all!

https://jamhotradiofm.com/blues-magic-with-bobby-gentilo-carlos-elliot/

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Delta Blues Alley II

348 Delta Avenue

8:30 pm

Deak Harp

Deak Harp has been playing harmonica since he was 12 years old. His biggest early inspiration came when his brother introduced him to the music of James Cotton. Deak followed Cotton's band along the east coast for close to five years before Cotton offered Deak a job driving his van. For the next six years, Deak toured with the James Cotton blues band, eventually opening acts and playing along with "Superharp" himself.

http://www.deakharp.com

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Ground Zero Blues Club

0 Blues Alley

8:30 pm

Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band

"It ain't blues-rock. It's blues that rocks!" The trio of Reverend Peyton, his wife Breezy and their thumping drummer continue to tour the world from their little cabin in rural Indiana—making an annual appearance at Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale almost since the beginning!

https://bigdamnband.com/

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Messenger's

133 MLK Dr.

8:30 pm

Lucious Spiller

Lucious Spiller was born in St.Louis, MO. At an early age, he discovered that God had blessed him with a special gift. His dad gave him a guitar when he was four. Immediately he was a natural, he started out playing in church. Lucious has performed with countless well known musicians to include Bo Diddly, Larry “Totsy” Davis, Albert King, Eddie Clearwater, Robert Cray. He has been opening act for such artists as the legendary Ritchie Havens’ Bobby “Blue” Bland and the infamous Tower of Power, Zach Brown, and many others. His music is an energized mix of new blues and old school injected with a contemporary edge. His songs are brought to vivid life by his unlimited energy.

https://www.facebook.com/BlueSpiller/

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Ooze Bar

113 E 2nd Street

8:30 pm

HeartBreak Hill

This dynamic musical duo — Matt and Nikki Hill — plays sultry blues, rockin' R&B, and scorching roots rock with passion and a deep love for the music that defines the South. Based part-time in Memphis and part-time in Clarksdale, HeartBreak Hill is a new favorite in the land of the Crossroads...

https://www.facebook.com/MattHillMusic/

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Bluesberry Cafe

235 Yazoo Avenue

9:00 pm

Watermelon Slim & Heavy Drunk

Watermelon Slim is multi-award-winning, genuine character of the blues, y'all! His songwriting, vocals, harmonica and slide guitar are all his own. And his new musical partner Heavy Drunk is just adding to the rootsy sound. Be sure to pick up their new CD or LP at the show!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4fpzPIsd14&list=RDEMCWmkNk7qxDMNOzqD4LhXKw&start_radio=1

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Clarksdale Sound Stage

313 Issaquena Av. Enter thru back door in Hooker Groc pk

9:00 pm

Charlie Barath

This guy can blow. Charlie is renowned harp player who hails from Pittsburgh Pa. If you like Harp, you're gonna love Charlie. He's also a great singer/songwriter. Hohner artist, Charlie Barath, is a true student of traditional harmonica styles. His appreciation of and respect for those traditions is evident in his harmonica playing as well as his singing, and it shines brightly on the bandstand. Equally adept at both teaching and performing, Charlie makes the most of his 40+ years of experience with the harmonica

https://www.facebook.com/charliebarathharmonica/

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Ebonay Events

225 Yazoo Avenue

9:00 pm

Super Chikan & The Fighting Cocks

James “Super Chikan” Johnson grew up in the rural towns of the Mississippi Delta in a family of musicians including his uncle, "Big" Jack Johnson. He played in local clubs with his Uncle Jack’s band and went on to play bass and guitar for a number of Delta blues bandleaders, including Frank Frost, Ernest Roy, Sr., Sam Carr, and Wesley Jefferson. Johnson fuses the blues with a number of different musical styles, including country, funk, and rock. His lyrics also come from a unique perspective, providing both humorous and serious views of contemporary life in the Delta. He has also become a visual artist, building unique playable guitars from army gas cans, cigar boxes and other unusual objects.

http://www.arts.state.ms.us/folklife/artist.php?dirname=johnson_james

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Hambone Art & Music

111 E. Second Street

9:00 pm

Johnny Rawls

Johnny Rawls is a soul blues legend. In fact, the term “soul blues” was invented to describe his music. With a career spanning more than 50 years, he’s done it all. He’s an internationally recognized recording artist, music producer, and songwriter who tours extensively throughout North America and overseas. The Blues Music Awards, Blues Blast Awards, Living Blues Awards, and the W. C. Handy Awards have all acknowledged Johnny with multiple awards and nominations, including Soul Blues Album of the Year and Soul Blues Artist of the Year. Living Blues Magazine described him as a “soul-blues renaissance man” when he was featured on the cover in 2002. Johnny is honored to be mentioned on two markers along the Mississippi Blues Trail – one in Hattiesburg, MS marking the Hi-Hat Club, and another in Rocklin ME marking the migration of blues from Mississippi to Maine.

https://johnnyrawlsblues.com/

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Hopson Commissary (main stage)

1 Commissary Road

9:00 pm

Jesse Cotton Stone

Guitarist, Jesse Cotton Stone, is a Colorado-Born, American Highway-Raised, Blues Man. He began teaching himself to play blues guitar by ear, starting at the age of 11. And he's been pickin' his guts out all over the U.S. since 1994. Jesse has toured from Colorado to the Bayous of Southern Louisiana several times and has performed multiple shows at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, AR., the Juke Joint Festival and Deep Blues Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi, not to mention Juke joints Road houses and other small venues throughout the region.

https://jessecottonstone.com/home

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Red's Lounge

395 Sunflower Avenue

9:00 pm

Anthony 'Big A' Sherrod

Anthony “Big A” Sherrod is a young Mississippi bluesman, schooled by a noted blues teacher in the area, “Mr. Johnnie” Billington, who taught not only the music but the value of hard work and knowledge of the culture and history from which Mississippi blues emerged.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnsaLmGmWEw

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Shack Up Inn (The Gin)

1 Commissary Road

9:00 pm

Kenny Brown

KENNY BROWN IS AN AMERICAN BLUES SLIDE GUITARIST SKILLED IN THE NORTH MISSISSIPPI HILL COUNTRY BLUES STYLE. He began hearing Otha Turner, Napolean Strickland and others who played at picnics across the road from his home at 7 years old. Brown apprenticed with Mississippi Joe Callicott, who moved in next door to his home in Nesbit, Mississippi, from age 12 to 15, when Callicott died. Around 1971 Brown began playing with two other musicians. Johnny Woods would make an occasional playing partner until his death in 1990. More steady was Brown's learning with R. L. Burnside, who claimed Brown as his “adopted son,” In the early seventies they started to perform in their region, and would keep up as a duo for thirty years sometimes joined with Calvin Jackson on drums. Cedric Burnside joined their tours from about 1994, as Burnside's reputation surged in the 1990s and early 2000s. Brown first appeared abroad in Sweden in 1989.

https://www.kennybrownmusic.com/

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Studio 305

305 Issaquena Avenue

9:00 pm

Randy '19th Street Red' Cohen

Hi. I'm Randy "19th Street Red" Cohen. I play The Blues. The Mississippi Delta Blues is My specialty. T-Bone Walker was my First inspiration.

https://www.facebook.com/people/Randy-19th-Street-Red-Cohen/100064230600381/

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The Blue Room

216 Third Street

9:00 pm

Bear Ryan

Clarksdale's new "singing barber" Bear and her equally musical husband Ryan moved to Clarksdale in 2024 to soak up the scene and add their own spin to it! According to Bear, "I am a musician and songwriter who plays gritty country-blues with a story-telling bent." Ryan also builds guitars.

https://www.instagram.com/bear_ryan_music/

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The Den Again

220 Yazoo Avenue

9:00 pm

Eric Deaton Band

Oxford, Mississippi's Eric Deaton is a veteran of many blues bands and currently leads his own. He's played with a who's who of North Mississippi blues musicians since the 1990s.

https://ericdeatonmusic.com/

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Big T's School of Blues

733 Riverside Drive

9:30 pm

Terry 'Big T' Williams

Terry "Big T" Williams came up under "Mr. Johnnie" Billington's watch before graduating to "Big Jack" Johnson's band, The Jelly Roll Kings, The Stone Gas Band and his own Big T & the Family band. A favorite of big clubs and juke joints alike, Big T is a man to watch on guitar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhNmLuk-AMU

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Delta Blues Alley Cafe (backroom stage)

352 Delta Avenue

9:30 pm

John Primer

A true blue legend of Chicago blues—who was born in Mississippi—John Primer has played with everyone who's anyone in the blues and taken home multiple awards. Don't miss his very special performances at Clarksdale's Juke Joint Festival! Also, be sure to buy his brand-new CD, "Grown in Mississippi."

https://www.johnprimerblues.com

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Hooker Grocer + Eatery Courtyard

316 John Lee Hooker Lane

9:30 pm

Blackwater Trio

The Blackwater Trio is an Americana, folk, roots and rock band based in Clarskdale, Mississippi. Its members are Seth Stroud (lead vocals, guitar), Walt Busby (lead guitar, vocals) and Alice Hasen (violin, vocals). With influences ranging from Led Zeppelin to gypsy jazz, their original music and artful covers captivate audiences all over the country.

https://www.blackwatertrio.com

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The Matchbox

311 Delta Avenue

9:30 pm

Keith Johnson and Big Muddy Band

Johnson, the great-nephew of blues legend Muddy Waters and grandson of gospel singer Texcellar Fields, is building upon his family legacy with his own original songs and performances.

https://keithjohnsonenterprise.com/

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Clarksdale Sound Stage

313 Issaquena Av. Enter thru back door in Hooker Groc pk

9:45 pm

Guitar Frenchie

I was born & raised in the South of France and at an early age I knew that I wanted to be in America fullfilling my dreams of being a professional musician. I made the big leap in the spring of 2001 and moved to Hollywood, CA with nothing but a guitar, a change of clothes and $200 in my pocket. Call it luck or fate but 3 weeks into my stay in the City of Angels I ran into Shooter Jennings and promptly joined his band Stargunn. The first two years in California saw my dreams coming true by meeting and playing with some of my childhood heroes (Waylon Jennings, Slash, Tom Morello and James Hetfield to name a few…) Since my early American beginnings, I’ve played guitar for the likes of Stoney LaRue, Billy Joe Shaver and Jack Ingram as band leader! In the past few years, I’ve expended my craft to singing, writing, recording & performing my own music both as Frenchie’s Blues Destroyers and more recently as Guitar Frenchie. To pursue my career as a solo artist, I’ve moved full time to Clarksdale, MS arguably the home of the Blues to continue pushing my boundaries, recognizing and respecting the tradition of the birthplace of America’s music!

https://www.facebook.com/guitarfrenchie/

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Clarksdale Sound Stage

313 Issaquena Av. Enter thru back door in Hooker Groc pk

10:00 pm

All Strar JAM!

Come Jam with the real deal!

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Delta Blues Alley II

348 Delta Avenue

10:00 pm

John Primer

A true blue legend of Chicago blues—who was born in Mississippi—John Primer has played with everyone who's anyone in the blues and taken home multiple awards. Don't miss his very special performances at Clarksdale's Juke Joint Festival! Also, be sure to buy his brand-new CD, "Grown in Mississippi."

https://www.johnprimerblues.com

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Messenger's

133 MLK Dr.

10:00 pm

Sean 'Bad' Apple

Baptized in the fire water of Clarksdale, MS., Sean “Bad” Apple began his spiritual journey of learning the blues by seeking out the old blues musicians that were willing to share their years of knowledge. Sean is working hard to keep Hill Country Blues alive and well. People are always in for a good show and never leave disappointed when the Bad Apple is on the stage

http://seanbadapple.com

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Ooze Bar

113 E 2nd Street

10:00 pm

The Mojo Hands

Miami Florida based blues band, fronted by Miami born artist Christopher Mullins. Embracing a roots blues tradition, “The Mojo Hands” perform all over Miami and the United States, playing Rockin’ Blues, Boogie, and Country Blues. See less

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Ground Zero Blues Club

0 Blues Alley

10:30 pm

John Horton

The son of an obscure country bluesman called Farmer John, Greenville, Mississippi's heavy-equipment-operator-by-day and bluesman-by-night has been a favorite of juke joints, house parties and blues festivals for decades—Mr. John Horton, y'all!

http://digital.livingblues.com/publication/?i=671806&article_id=3753491&view=articleBrowser

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