Headliners include Jody Williams, the last surviving member of Howlin’ Wolf’s band, Sam Mosely, and Ben Wiley Payton
by Sarah Reddick & Nature Humphries
Oxford, Miss. (TLV) – The 3rd Annual Oxford Blues Fest will take place July 20–22, 2012. Organizer Darryl Parker has worked tirelessly to bring the festival to the people of Oxford.
Darryl explains, “The mission of the Oxford Blues Festival is to preserve, protect and promote blues music and culture. This is achieved through education in school programs, community events, and workshops culminating with the production of an outdoor festival uniting our diverse citizenry in a celebration of American blues-based music. The Oxford-based festival entertains while educating on the role of the blues in the development of popular music in the United States and around the world.”
This year, the University of Mississippi has offered Darryl their support and most of the events will take place on campus at an outside stage on the grounds of the Historic Walton-Young House / University Museum (a.k.a. Mary Buie Museum), located on University Ave. and South 5th Street.
The on-campus events will take place Friday from 4–8pm, and Saturday from 2–8pm, beginning with a free Blues Panel discussion with Blues insiders Jody Williams (the last surviving member of Howlin’ Wolf’s band), Dick Waterman, and Sam Mosely. (The entirety of Friday’s event is free to museum members, so if you aren’t one already, you can find out how to become a member by clicking the link on the website: www.OxfordBluesFest.com.
Then, the festival will continue into the night with later concerts around the Oxford Square Friday and Saturday, with shows at Rooster’s Blues House, Ajax Diner, The Blind Pig, and Soulshine Pizza, and concludes with a concert at Foxfire Ranch in Waterford, Mississippi Sunday evening.
The line-up is fantastic. One major highlight will be Clarksdale native Jacqueline Nassar, who is somewhat of a prodigy, having been presented with the Robert Johnson Award for Youth Excellence by Morgan Freeman at the young age of thirteen. Now 18, she plays bass and keyboard, but guitar remains her instrument of choice. She has a voice that is rich and wise beyond her years, and her music is heavily blues tinged but also inspired by her love of rock and roll.
Also scheduled to play is Oxonian Effie Burt. Effie has also been performing since she was thirteen. Born into a large family of gifted musicians, Effie now sings internationally. Her talents include being skilled at working in a large range of musical genres, including jazz, gospel, and R&B, and she puts on a show that shouldn’t be missed.
Some other stellar performances include Adam Gussow, Jimbo Mathus & The Tri-State Coalition, Sam Mosely & The Mosely & Johnson Band, and Blind Mississippi Morris.
Events like this are what make Oxford such a great place to live and should be supported. Go and listen to the musicians discuss their art at the Blues Panel discussion at the University Museum, and enjoy some catfish afterward. Or enjoy some barbeque while catching one of the many scheduled live blues performances.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Outdoors at The Mary Buie Museum on the Ole Miss campus
3:30 pm Adam Gussow
4:00 pm JODY WILLIAMS, DICK WATERMAN and SAM MOSELY (Blues Panel Discussion)
5:10 pm NATIONAL ANTHEM
5:15 pm “THE GREAT” EFFIE BURT & MARK “MULEMAN” MASSEY
6:15 pm MARK YACAVONE BLUES ALLSTARS
7:00 pm JODY WILLIAMS & FRIENDS (the last living member of the original Howlin’ Wolf band)
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Outdoors at The Mary Buie Museum on the Ole Miss campus
2:00 pm CadillacFunk
3:15 pm RL BOYCE
4:00 pm MOLDY FIG featuring EFFIE BURT & DAMIEN WASH
5:00 pm BLIND MISSISSIPPI MORRIS
6:00 pm SAM MOSELY & THE MOSELY & JOHNSON BLUES BAND
7:15 pm BEN WILEY PAYTON (special VIP performance)
Sunday, July 22, 2012
At FOXFIRE RANCH in Waterford, Mississippi
5:00 pm Terry “Harmonica” Bean
