Clarksdale, Mississippi's 9th annual Juke Joint Festival is "half blues festival, half small-town fair and all about the Delta"

JUKE JOINT FESTIVAL CELEBRATES MISSISSIPPI LIVING DELTA'S BLUES HERITAGE

April 12, 2012 (Clarksdale, Mississippi) – Clarksdale, Mississippi’s Juke Joint Festival & Related Events may only be on its 9th edition, but it is already the stuff of blues legend.

“Last year was the biggest Juke Joint Festival yet, and this year looks to top it,” according to co-organizer Roger Stolle. “There were attendees from at least 21 foreign countries, 45 US states and 53 Mississippi counties... and not a hotel room to be found.”

This year's main event is Saturday, April 14th -- all day and all night -- with official related events kicking of Thursday and continuing on through Sunday. The official line-up of events can be found on-line at www.jukejointfestival.com.

MULTIPLE STAGES PLUS RELATED EVENTS

“We’ll feature over a dozen daytime stages and 21 nighttime juke joint venues on Saturday,” according to co-organizer, Nan Hughes. “Plus, we there will be tons of wonderful related events all weekend long -- for both familes and music fans. Then, there are all the nighttime juke joint venues as well.”

Tonight, Thursday, April 12th, the festival weekend kicks of early with just such a related event in the Delta Cinema lobby at 6pm. It's the annual Juke Joint Festival poster signing by artist Cristen Barnard plus free live blues by KM Williams. At 7pm, Grammy Winner Jimbo Mathus performs his iconic "Songs for Rosetta Patton" album live on the cinema’s main stage.

Then, on Friday, April 13th, related festival events include a Clarksdale Blues Hero marker dedication for the bluesman late Foster "Mr. Tater" Wiley, “Conversations with Big George Brock & Gearshifter” at the Delta Blues Museum, and a special free movie premiere of We Juke Up in Here: Mississippi's Juke Joint Culture at the Crossroads at Delta Cinema (11 Third St., downtown Clarksdale).

"It is the follow-up to 2008's M for Mississippi blues documentary and features Clarksdale's Red's juke joint prominently as well as several of the Delta's surviving, real-deal bluesmen," according to Stolle, also one of the film's producers. "We'll offer a free reception starting at 5:30pm along with live blues performances by some of the film's stars. Then, the free screening starts at 7pm." More information is at www.wejukeupinhere.com.

HALF BLUES FESTIVAL, HALF SMALL-TOWN FAIR

Saturday’s Juke Joint Festival itself will offer up more than just blues, notes the event’s third co-organizer, Goldie Hirsberg.

“Oh, we’ve got something for everyone – from visiting tourists to area families,” she explained. "Most of the daytime fun is free, and the nighttime 'Juke Joint Crawl' is just $15."

After Saturday’s Juke Joint Festival itself, a Sunday of additional related events will cap off the weekend – including the annual free Cat Head Mini Blues Fest from 10am till out front of the Cat Head blues store at 252 Delta Avenue.

“We want to thank all of the sponsors, volunteers, attendees and performers in advance for all of their contributions that make this event happen every year,” said Hirsberg. “The local community support in particular continues to amaze us. Clarksdale is not only a great place to live, it’s also a great place to hold a festival. Thanks to everyone, and see y’all there!”

Full music line-up, event schedule, pre-sale wristbands and much more available on-line at www.jukejointfestival.com. Festival hotline (Mon-Sat, 11am-4pm), 662-624-5992.

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