NEWS
By Poor William
Email: poorwilliam@deltabohemian.com
CLARKSDALE, MS (deltabohemian.com) – Clarksdale might have lost Morgan Freeman’s Madidi Restaurant last Thursday, but hearts and hopes were assuaged this past weekend upon hearing the incredible lineup slated for this year’s Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival: Plant, Musselwhite, and Rush. Kinda sounds like flora and fauna!
Robert Plant promoting his new Band Of Joy album. Photo courtesy of RobertPlant.com
Most of the known world…okay, folks who love the Mississippi Delta, the blues, Clarksdale, juke joint music, Red’s Lounge, Ground Zero Blues Club and last but not least—cold beer and BBQ—is already aware that Robert Plant, the quintessential, unparalleled, voice of the 70’s rock phenomenon Led Zeppelin will be headlining the 25th annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival in downtown Clarksdale, Mississippi this August, 2012. Grammy winner Patty Griffin, renowned guitarist Justin Adams and West African musician Juldeh Camara will be joining Plant on stage.
Poor William wrote an article for the Clarksdale Press Register over two years recounting a serendipitous encounter with Robert Plant on Magical Madge’s and Poor William’s engagement day go to: CLICK HERE to read ALL THAT GLITTERS article by Poor William on the Clarksdale Press Register website. (viewable by Subscribers Only.)
BUT THAT AIN’T ALL FOLKS…
Charlie Musselwhite. © Photo by Michael Weintrob 2010. Photo courtesy CharlieMusselwhite.com
Mississippi born, Memphis-raised, and Chicago-schooled Harp playing Maestro and Delta Bohemian Charlie Musselwhite, close friend of Charles Evans, owner of the Clark House Residential Inn in downtown Clarksdale, will be back for another performance. Charlie—a former festival headliner—hosts a weekly radio show, on KRSH-FM in Santa Rosa, California. “Charlie’s Backroom,” is streamed at KRSH.com Sundays, 6 p.m. PST. Charlie’s awards and accolades are too numerous for a lazy fellow like Poor William to enumerate here, but for some insight into this prolific, down-to-earth, gifted and kind Southern Musician, CLICK HERE. The guys a legend folks! A freakin’ legend, but most importantly, he is a Prince of a Man!
Charlie’s good friend and fellow Delta Bohemian, Bill Bowker, who loves some Clarksdale, hosts “Blues with Bowker” beginning at 7 p.m. on Sundays, right after Musselwhite’s hour. Check out these lives streams prior to festival time to increase your historical knowledge about the blues, but most importantly, to get a “feel” for the blues.
Bobby Rush and his Hoochie Mamas. Photo by Robert Barclay. Courtesy of BobbyRush.net
Bobby Rush, 50-year veteran of the stage and past headliner of the festival, will be back as one of the main acts. For those who have never seen a Bobby Rush show, a treat is in store for you. Bobby puts on a show replete with costume changes, skit-like-acts, and dancers with more ass than a burro farm. Hell, Poor William is scared of ‘em! He just thinks he is a grown-ass man! Bobby and the girls is a show not to be missed! For more on the tenacious entertainer, CLICK HERE. Mr. Rush performed at Ground Zero Blues Club. Check out a portion of that performance on YouTube.
Stay tuned Bohemians, more to come weekly leading up to the 25th Anniversary Sunflower River Blues Festival and April’s Juke Joint Festival, all taking place in and around Clarksdale, Mississippi—birthplace of the blues!
Robert Plant performing at Tuborg Green Rock Castle Fest in Trakai, Lithuania. Photo by Martynas Sirusas. Courtesy of RobertPlant.com
Robert Plant performing at the Festival De Nimes – Nimes, France. July 22, 2011. Photo by G. Trew. Courtesy of RobertPlant.com
Robert Plant attending the unveiling of the Tutwiler Blues Marker dedication as part of Mississippi’s Blues Heritage Trail. Photo by Panny Mayfield, publicist – pannywriter@yahoo.com
WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE COMMENTS ON THIS POST AND SHARING TO YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA OF CHOICE!! Thanks. 😎
This is going to be the most fantastic weekend of the year!!!
Dbohemians…thanks for the shout out and pics of your wedding(you’re the one with the sword eh, Poor William?)! Can’t wait to get out to Clarksdale at the end of the month to fill you in on the MISSISSIPPI BLUES EXPERIENCE we’re putting on in Northern California in Aug. with Lightnin’ Malcolm and Cameron Kimbrough and others! See you soon!
Bill Bowker