DEEP BLUES FESTIVAL 2014 MOVES DOWN SOUTH TO THE CRADLE OF THE BLUES THIS OCTOBER!
THREE-DAY
FEST IN CLARKSDALE, MS TO FEATURE SPECIAL REUNIONS FROM SOLEDAD
BROTHERS & SOUTH FILTHY, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER GREAT DEEP BLUES
ACTS!
Seven years after Chris Johnson started his first official Deep Blues Festival
in the Twin Cities, the fest organizer and owner/operator of Bayport
BBQ in Bayport, MN is moving the fest to Clarksdale, MS for three days
in October.
The core of the fest will be held at Shack Up Inn's Juke Joint Chapel
and will boast a wealth of talented Deep Blues artists, such as Scott H. Biram, Kenny Brown (RL Burnside's slide guitar player for 30 years), Charlie Parr, Elmo Williams & Hezekiah Early, Dale Beavers, Guadalupe Plata from Spain, James Leg (aka Black Diamond Heavies' John Wesley Myers), Boogaloosa Prayer and two very special reunions shows from Soledad Brothers and South Filthy.
This year's fest won't be limited to just this venue and these acts,
however, as it will continue to grow right up to its October residency,
with many other Clarksdale venues and blues acts to be added. These new
additions will be announced over the coming months as they're
confirmed.
Johnson, a passionate fan of Deep Blues music, gives an insight on how
the fest originally took root, "The first official festival was August
2007 with 18 bands. It was on a golf course driving range just outside
the Twin Cities. The summer before, I had a block party in my
neighborhood with Scott H. Biram and the Black Diamond Heavies
performing. I had done this type of thing each summer for years, and it
was Scott that suggested I rent a room and have tickets so I didn't have
to pay for it all myself. I thought that sounded like a good idea, and
thought I might have a few bands and make a night of it. I wrote to 18
bands and asked if they were interested and every one replied
immediately that they wanted in. I couldn't say no to anyone, so that's
how we ended up with an all day event."
"I really like the opportunity to share all these outsider bands with
new fans," Johnson admits. "Once people hear them, they're hooked. All
these bands should be so much more popular. I think the whole world
should know their music. The two reunion events of South Filthy and the
Soledad Brothers this year are very special. Also, the return of Scott
H. Biram to the Deep Blues Festival is very special to me personally. I
consider him to be the epitome of deep blues or punk blues."
Johnson is also doing something a bit different this year, as he's
asking for "benefactors" to help fund the fest with $100 donations. All
benefactors will also receive perks, such as the first opportunity to
reserve rooms at the Shack Up Inn, along with guaranteed admission to
the late night shows at the Chapel. "We've been fortunate to have many
generous fans already make these contributions," Johnson said. "I'd say
we're about a third of the way there already."
"As with all of the Deep Blues Festivals, we anticipate fans and bands
to join us from all over the world," Johnson said. "Hope you'll think
about joining us too."
THU. OCT. 16 LINEUP
CLICK ON AN ARTIST TO LISTEN TO THEIR MUSIC & FOR MORE INFO
FRI. OCT. 17 LINEUP
CLICK ON AN ARTIST TO LISTEN TO THEIR MUSIC & FOR MORE INFO
SAT. OCT. 18 LINEUP
CLICK ON AN ARTIST TO LISTEN TO THEIR MUSIC & FOR MORE INFO
ENTIRE FEST EMCEED BY DJ HWY 7
FOR MORE INFO ON THE DEEP BLUES FESTIVAL 2014:
FOR MORE INFO ABOUT BECOMING A BENEFACTOR OF THE DEEP BLUES FESTIVAL CONTACT:
Chris Johnson: bayportbbq@comcast.net