Pop Ferguson Blues Heritage Festival in Lenoir, N.C.

Nitro and Slim Beverly Guitar Watkins Bill Perry Wanda Johnson

Pop Ferguson Blues Heritage Festival is a living documentary that makes every attempt to promote, preserve and advance the culture of Blues music as an art form in America. The festival gives its audiences an experiential day with the sights, sounds, and smells of authentic Blues music. If you have attended the festival in the past, then you know and understand what Pop Ferguson Blues means when we say experiential. Pop Ferguson Blues believes that you "educate first, then entertain;" so, we present all educational and fun Blues shows.   What is a Pop Ferguson Blues Heritage Festival like?   When you come to a Pop Ferguson Blues Festival, you will feel like you have gone back in time expecting that you will hear and see Ma Rainey or Son House with Mississippi John Hurt at any time. Maybe the Delta Gang is in the next venue. You will find guys like Bukka White, Skip James, Lonnie Young, or the guitar master Lonnie Johnson. Do not forget Big Mama Thornton, Victoria Spivey, and Big Mae Belle with Pink Anderson singing “Baby Please Don’t Go.” Just maybe the gals and guys from the Carolinas will show up. Carolina Slim, Blind Boy Fuller, or Rev. Gary Davis. It sounds like a make believe event, but that's what we wish for you.   This is our 7th year. Our theme is - "Keep The Jook Joint Jumpin," – and we have included some of the last Blues artists to actually play in an Authentic Jook, whose ages range from 72 to 87 years old. These guys and gals lived and sang while "Jim Crow" was alive and well. Jim Crow may be a little quieter, but the JOOK JOINT Blues they play is alive and well - and just as low down as they were back in the day.   The Lineup includes: Sarasota Slim and Nitro Bosman, Barbara Carr, Mac Arnold and a plate full of Blues, Wanda Johnson, Don Vappie, Trudy Lynn, Big Bill Morganfield, Beverly “Guitar” Watkins, Terry “Big T” Williams, Gaye Adegabalola and The Wild Rutz’s, Bill Perry, Kat Williams, Pop Ferguson, along with 6 other Blues bands to round out our roster of 18 blues performers.   Pop Ferguson Blues will also award one young performer (or group) with a $5,000 scholarship, in its second year "Cuttin' Heads" challenge. The rules are simple. Contestants must be amateurs 18 years old or younger and will perform two traditional blues or gospel songs of their choice. Performances will be adjudicated by their peers and a select panel of judges. The winner will perform on stage at the festival. For more information go to cjblues.com.