Red's Old Timers Blues Fest Genesis

Red’s Old Timers Blues Fest Genesis

Red’s Old TImers Blues Festival

Red’s Old Timers Blues Fest Needs a Little Help from Some Friends

(CHECK OUT SPONTANEOUS VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH RED PADEN SHARING HIS THOUGHTS ON THE FESTIVAL)

Red Paden, head straw boss and proprietor at Red’s Lounge—the iconic downtown Clarksdale juke joint and coolest, most intimate music venue in the whole wide world—is putting on his inaugural Red’s Old Timers Blues Fest on Saturday, September, 22^nd, and Big Red could use a little help from some of his friends.

Desiring to honor the more-seasoned blues musicians who are still plying their trade, Red has decided to start the first Red’s Old-Timers Blues Fest in a little over a month, where FREE blues music performed by bluesmen age 60 to 100 will be heard all day on the Martin Luther King Park Stage just down the street from Red’s Lounge in downtown Clarksdale.

Zig Ziglar said there ain’ no such thing as a free lunch, and that’s the truth, so for the event to be FREE for anyone desiring to attend, it is imperative that some of us who have broken bread with Red and have benefited musically, emotionally, culturally, financially, etc. from his commitment to keep the blues alive in the place where it first reared its head, support his selfless endeavor.

I have heard Red mention numerous times over the years how much the older blues guys mean to him, to the music, to the ‘raisin’ of the younger musicians, and to this community. His desire to honor the musicians who have spent a lifetime tenaciously faithful to their gifting, often with little recompense, is admirable, important and instructive.

Normally not a fan of “GoFundMe” campaigns, the Delta Bohemian wholeheartedly supports this one, as Red’s contribution to the socio-economic viability of Clarksdale’s creative economy and his desire to faithfully honor the faithful ones is not measurable. Daily, folks from all over the world tell us how blown away they are when they visit Red’s Lounge, often saying it was the “best time they have ever had”…let that bad boy sink in.

“As a blues fan and Clarksdale resident, I really and truly appreciate Red’s commitment to blues music and history,” said Roger Stolle, owner of iconic Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art and co-organizer of Juke Joint Festival in April. “I strongly encourage folks to support Red’s new GoFundMe campaign.”

If you love some Red, his club, his commitment to so many roots-based and community development ideals, or just love some old-time blues music, and you have the disposable income, then chew on “helping a brother out!” If you don’t feel led or cannot help out, then that’s ok, Red just wants you to come on out on Saturday, Sept. 22^nd and enjoy some incredible music by some steadfast cats who have been around the block for a minute. Gonna be a ball, y’all! chilly

Music fans who want to help Red in his latest mission can go to
https://www.gofundme.com/red039s-oldtimers-blues-festival

According to Red, questions about the festival can be emailed to his assistants, Orlando Paden at [email protected] and Mac Crank at [email protected].

According to Stolle, “…For those of you who don’t like to make online tran$actions, you can also mail checks made out to “Red’s Old-Timer’s Blues Festival” to my Cat Head store address (252 Delta Ave., Clarksdale, MS 38614), and I will make sure Red gets them.”