Pellet Fan

All Things Considered => General Discussion--Non food Related => Topic started by: Bar-B-Lew on April 07, 2018, 09:07:45 PM

Title: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on April 07, 2018, 09:07:45 PM
http://www.jukejointfestival.com/

I decided yesterday to cash in some frequent flyer miles from all of the work travel I have been doing, and going to meet up with my wife to go to this festival.  It is in her hometown, and she is already down there with her Mother for the last week.  Probably not many artists that you have heard of unless you are deep into modern Mississippi blues.  Supposed to draw people from all over the world to this festival.  Will be interesting to see what it is like.

For those who do not know what a juke joint is - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juke_joint.
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bentley on April 08, 2018, 02:20:56 PM
I know what a juke joint is, I do not believe I have ever been in one, but I have been in a couple of Road Houses and Dives...Enjoy the trip!
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Canadian John on April 08, 2018, 02:37:48 PM

 B-B-L: Have fun!   :D
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on April 08, 2018, 03:06:10 PM
This is the only juke joint I have ever been inside of.  There was no music playing.  The owner was just opening up.  I was taking pics of a blues marker across the street and he hollered for me to come over for him to show me around.  It was the Cozy Corner Cafe in Indianola, MS past down to him by his parents.  BB King spent a lot of his early life in Indianola and the BB King Museum was erected there within the last 10 years.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/892/26452748507_af8a77f642_c.jpg)

I have been to the more upscale juke joint, Ground Zero, in Clarksdale, MS which is part owned by Morgan Freeman.  I plan to go to Red's Lounge while I am there which is supposed to still be an old school style juke joint.
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Goosehunter51 on April 08, 2018, 05:57:45 PM
Sounds like fun, enjoy the trip.
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on April 14, 2018, 10:20:56 AM
Got into town early evening and got to see some live blues. 

An outdoor stage ;D
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/892/26579791267_ecee5e62d0_z.jpg)

The guy that owns the Mississippi saxophone (aka harmonica) store performing with a 3 string homemade cigar box guitar and an electrified harmonica at the same time.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/882/40557104265_a2372fc298_z.jpg)

Red's Lounge probably the most famous juke joint in Clarksdale, MS
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/883/26579786327_76cc7916c2_z.jpg)
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bentley on April 14, 2018, 10:38:19 AM
So do they serve Shine?
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on April 14, 2018, 10:49:14 AM
So do they serve Shine?

I didn't look for or see any.  It is in the downtown section of town.  If it was out in the farm areas like back in the 40's-50's then I would have expected some.
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: triplebq on April 14, 2018, 04:46:04 PM
http://www.jukejointfestival.com/

I decided yesterday to cash in some frequent flyer miles from all of the work travel I have been doing, and going to meet up with my wife to go to this festival.  It is in her hometown, and she is already down there with her Mother for the last week.  Probably not many artists that you have heard of unless you are deep into modern Mississippi blues.  Supposed to draw people from all over the world to this festival.  Will be interesting to see what it is like.

For those who do not know what a juke joint is - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juke_joint.

Oh this would be so fun to attend.
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on April 15, 2018, 08:59:34 AM
Interesting day yesterday during the main festival.  The daylight outdoor portion was going great until about midway through the day.  Then, the power went out in the majority of the town.  Took about 3 hours to restore causing plenty of performers to have their shows cancelled.  One place was able to get a generator going and have about 2 hours of music.  It was also a big disappointment for the vendors too who could not accept credit cards that needed electricity to process.  Fortunately, the evening shows went on as planned.


The Hoodoo Men...2 piece band with a guitar player and drummer who both also played harp while playing their main instrument.  They performed on a small stage in front of what formerly was Wade Walton's barber shop.  Wade cut the hair of some famous blues musicians back in the day when they lived or came through Clarksdale.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/896/39662582130_13b74b6c92_z.jpg)

Cadillac John performing on his 91st birthday inside a garage in the outdoor portion of a garden center.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/787/26599386237_79c7e863f1_z.jpg)

Monkeys riding dog put on a short performance herding sheep.  I was able to watch this during the power outage.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/902/40578090225_6d76a6a772_z.jpg)

I also caught the pig races during the power outage.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/808/26599384847_48315a368b_z.jpg)

I spent the evening at Ground Zero which is owned by Morgan Freeman, a local lawyer/former mayor, and a family member of Stovall Farms where Muddy Waters grew up and was a tractor driver before he moved to Chicago.  My wife and mother-in-law volunteer working the door selling wristbands for entrance.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/814/40578087305_d361263e50_z.jpg)

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/806/40578085355_6f61d60342_z.jpg)

Three acts performed there last night.  The opener was a band fronted by a guitar player who played and wrote with Ted Nugent for 30+ years.  The band performed "Strangehold".  The headliner was Super Chikan who played the most famous song of the day, "Rock Me Baby", which I heard 3-4 time performed by other artists yesterday.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/881/26599383387_238f1f14f5_z.jpg)

Boy, I remember 20+ years ago when you could have a $300 35mm camera with a $200+ lense and you couldn't take picture as good as you can with a cell phone nowadays.

Good time so far and I am glad I went.  Now to decide if I go to any of the shows today (Sunday).
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bentley on April 15, 2018, 10:01:21 AM
I was looking at that Ground Zero menu...at least not pretentious food...and fairly reasonable, even for a cheap screw like me!
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: silverbullet on April 15, 2018, 10:05:16 AM
Looks like a very enjoyable trip! Thanks for taking us along!
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on April 15, 2018, 10:22:10 AM
Some more pics from yesterday since there seems to be some interest.

Cat Head Stage - google Roger Stolle and Cat Head to read about what this guy has done for the city of Clarksdale and blues in MS
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/785/41430191622_8a9a8d2074_z.jpg)

Little Joe Ayers
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/883/39664340890_060c789c18_z.jpg)

Pat Thomas - this guy played a private 3 song show for me at the Highway 61 Blues Museum a few years ago in Leland, MS after coming up from behind me playing his guitar while I was reading the blues marker about his father Son Thomas. A pretty surreal moment.  The Johnny Winter blues marker was across the street in Leland.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/863/41430188322_a00bd1ee86_z.jpg)

Wade Walton stage and blues marker
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/873/40579797365_44a0a74f48_z.jpg)

Deak Harp playing at the Paramount Theater Stage
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/892/27601496468_6254fae304_z.jpg)

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/802/39664336470_f290a3747a_z.jpg)

Miss Del's Stage where the 91 year old Cadillac John played on his birthday
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/804/27601492318_44e7ae60cb_z.jpg)

Stone Pony Pizza stage while the power was out and they ran things from a generator
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/899/27601490398_e0f5fe47a5_z.jpg)

Chicago's Eddie Taylor Jr playing a classic blues cover set at the Stone Pony during the power outage
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/807/27601488468_b13aafdf3e_z.jpg)
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: yorkdude on April 15, 2018, 10:50:02 AM
One of the guys I work with is a huge Blues fan. His office is right across the hall from mine and I get to hear his music. If it is something I don't like I just turn up my old rock and roll and move on. More times than not though I ask him to turn it up a touch, am really starting to like more and more of it.
I will have to ask him who he listens to as favorites, I am not at all versed on the artists.
It is a fun and interesting type of music to listen to.
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bentley on April 15, 2018, 12:49:23 PM
Blind Melon Chitlin is not schedule to play is he?
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on April 15, 2018, 04:37:06 PM
Wind chills in the high 30s down here today.  A little cold for an outdoor event, but the show went on.

Outdoor stage of the Cat Head Mini-Fest
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/866/26608869127_56f89c92db_z.jpg)

Reverend Peyton's Big D*** Band from Free Mr Tony's state of IN

Nice 5 gallon bucket for a drum
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/803/41438160612_2801ac1349_z.jpg)

Washboard
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/884/39672058850_68d260edf9_z.jpg)

Cigar Box Guitar
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/870/41438181102_aa306173e0_z.jpg)
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: yorkdude on April 15, 2018, 05:26:05 PM
That just looks like a good time.
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on April 15, 2018, 05:37:55 PM
That just looks like a good time.

Here are the bands that I got to see.  Most are local so your co-worker may never have heard of them.  I only watched 10-15 minutes of most so I could move to another stage to see someone else.  I just wanted to see as many different artists as I could for the weekend.

Black Water Trio
Deak Harp
Stone Gas Blues Band
David Dunavent
Little Joe Ayers
Mississippi Stomp
Kent Burnside
Pat Thomas
Robert Kimbrough Sr
Hoodoo Men
Bill Howl-N-Madd Perry
Cadillac John
Sean Bad Apple
Terry Harmonica Bean
RL Boyce
Dicky James
Eddie Taylor Jr
Derek St Holmes
Heavy Suga and the Sweetones
Super Chikan
Hezekiah Early
Reverend Peyton's Big D&&& Band

Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: yorkdude on April 15, 2018, 06:21:54 PM
Shoot, just reading the names makes it sound even more fun.
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: yorkdude on April 16, 2018, 02:14:26 PM
I showed him your list and he knew a few, Reverend Peytons big darn band, black water trio and deak harp. We watched the reverends video when the guy was coming out of the bar with his clothes lit, then the pot belly pig and then a motorcycle. He said he thinks they are married? Funny thing is she is dressed the same and same hair bow as your picture. He got a kick out of it and said you’re alright if you want his opinion.
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on April 16, 2018, 05:03:12 PM
Yes, the Rev and Breezy are married.  They played the song of the video you watched.
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on March 26, 2024, 11:23:11 PM
Heading back down there again this year and taking my buddy and his wife with me for them to visit the deep south.  I think this will be my 5th time for the festival.  I am going to take them around the area to visit some historic blues related places that I have been to over the years. Can't wait to get their feedback after they spend five days in MS and Memphis.
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: reubenray on March 27, 2024, 07:32:56 AM
I know you will have fun again.  It was fun when we met you there.
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bentley on March 27, 2024, 11:24:43 AM
Where do you stay? I am assuming any lodging in Clarksdale is taken.  You are about an hour south of Memphis?
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: reubenray on March 27, 2024, 12:31:26 PM
When I met BBL there I stayed at a state park in my rv.  I don't remember where he stayed at.  Batesville is the next closest town which has quite a few motels.
Title: Re: Juke Joint Festival - Clarksdale, MS
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on March 27, 2024, 07:38:17 PM
Where do you stay? I am assuming any lodging in Clarksdale is taken.  You are about an hour south of Memphis?

It is about 90 minutes south of Memphis.  My mother-in-law lives just outside of town in Clarksdale and we stay with her during the festival. My step daughter lives about 20 minutes northeast of Memphis and I will stay with her the night before I fly back home.

There are not many places to stay.  Most folks that have been going to the festival for years book their say room before they leave the festival so they have it for the next year.

You could drive about 30-40 minutes north and stay at some casino hotels in Tunica, 30-40 east to Batesville, or 30-40 minutes south to Cleveland for some other options if you want to drive that far each day.