All That Glitters … Robert Plant to Headline 25th Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival 2012 in Clarksdale

NEWS

By Poor William

Email: [email protected]

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 25^th 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 25^th 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 – [email protected]

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