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Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
Reba RussellThere's no fest like it, anywhere to be found. It's now known as the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival, but we'll always call it the 'King Biscuit'! It's a mix of the culture of the Delta, and the event itself that draws so many each year. It's a genuine musical magnet! Get your rooms early, as there's more Blues lovers than hotel rooms. The one-of-a-kind establishment known as The Cotton Gin / Shack Up Inn, which sits on the grounds of the Hopson Plantation, served as the STLBlues base of operations. It's also where they hold the Pinetop Homecoming the Sunday after fest, for those who need one more day of music.....like me.

The weather drew one of the largest Thursday crowds ever, with the weekend forecast calling for more of the same.

The lineup was spectacular -
Charlotte Taylor & Gypsy Rain
Memphis Snake Doctors
Mess of Blues
South Saturn Delta
Arsen Shomakhov– 2007 Emerging Artist Winner
The Brethren – 2008 SBBS Winner
Trampled Under Foot. – 2008 IBC Winner
Mark Sallings & The Famous Unknowns w/Guest Danny Lancaster
Reba Russell Band
Webb Wilder & Beatnecks
Tinsley Ellis
The Champions of R&B featuring: Earl Gaines, Charles Walker, Johnny Jones, Al Garner, James Nixon

It's not too late to get here, Friday and Saturday promise to be amazing. Get your crew together, jump in the car, and head South! Of course, the fest is not complete without experiencing a bonfire jam session over at Tent City, which can turn into a 'who's who' of talent. Be sure to say hello to Mayor Mike! Other 'must-dos' - The Riverside Hotel and 'Rat', the Delta Blues Museum, Ground Zero Blues Club, Red's Juke Joint, The Depot Blues Club, Sarah's Kitchen, Cat Head, Abe's BBQ, the list goes on and on. The Crossroads sign at the intersection of Hwys 49 and 61 is always a good kodak moment, and no, it's not the true crossroads, but the turista's sure love it!

Stop and visit with Super Chikan of the Blues Berry Cafe, Super Chikan's place on Yazoo Ave. in downtown Clarksdale. Try both the muffuletta and the eggplant parmigan, both come Watermelon Slim and STLBlues recommended! If you're in need of a coffee house, try Miss Del's general store, where there's a lot more than just coffee.


Pinetop Perkins & Bob MargolinDays 2 and 3, and it was just more of the same great weather to welcome all the festgoers. The lineup is spectacular, as is the norm for this event. Multiple stages, so much great music on the stages AND on the streets of Helena.

It was great to see a St. Louis band on a stage here at the Biscuit, in the form of Arthur Williams and the Blues Masters. And the 17 year old St. Louis prodigy Marquise Knox was seen playing in a booth on Cherry St. as part of the Grammy winning Blue Shoe Project. Here's Friday and Saturdays lineups, photos are in the gallery below, enjoy!

Main Stage
12:00/1:00 - Earnest "Guitar" Roy
1:15/2:20 - Hamilton Loomis
2:35/3:45 - Sam Carr & The Delta Jukes w/ Dave Riley
4:00/5:10 - Carl Weathersby
5:30/6:40 - Pinetop Perkins & Bob Margolin
7:00/8:15 - Mem Shannon & The Membership
8:45/10:00 - Michael Burks
10:30/11:45 - Severn Records 10th Anniversary Soul & Blues Revue: Featuring Lou Pride, Darrell Nulisch, and Tad Robinson

Houston Stackhouse Acoustic Stage
12:00/1:00 - Elam McKnight & Bob Bogdal - SBBS Duo Winners
1:20/2:20 - Bert Deivert
2:40/3:40 - Samuel James
4:00/5:00 - Moreland & Arbuckle


Robert Lockwood Jr. Heritage Stage
5:30/6:40 - Freddie & The Screamers - 20th Anniversary Reunion Show
7:00/8:10 - Arthur Williams & Eric McSpadden
8:30/9:40 - Willie King & The Liberators
10:00/11:15 - Guitar Mac. We'll be reporting in tomorrow, as the fest ends, and Pinetop's Homecoming at the Hopson Plantation begins!

Here's the Saturday lineup, photos are in the gallery below, enjoy!

Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith
Main Stage - Saturday


12:00/1:00 - Shawn Kellerman
1:15/2:20 - Eb Davis w/ Nina Davis, Jay Bailey & Band
2:35/3:50 - Eddie Turner
4:05/5:20 - Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
5:40/6:55 - Janiva Magness
7:10/8:25 - Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets with Special Guests
8:45/10:00 - Hubert Sumlin & Willie "Big Eyes" Smith Band
10:30/11:45 - Bobby Rush

Houston Stackhouse Acoustic Stage - Saturday - 10/11/2008
12:00/1:00 - Davis Coen
1:20/2:20 - Roger "Hurricane" Wilson
2:40/3:40 - Ben Prestage
4:00/5:00 - Satan & Adam

Robert Lockwood Jr. Heritage Stage - Saturday - 10/11/2008
5:30/6:40 - Willie "Big Eyes" Smith
7:00/8:10 - Bobby Rush - Raw
8:30/9:40 - Juke Joint Duo - Cedric Burnside & Lightin Malcolm
10:00/11:15 - Mojo Buford & Don McMinnn

Click on the checkerboard panel, move thumbnail panel anywhere,and enjoy the show!
 
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Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Reba Russell at the ABHF
    Reba Russell at the ABHF
  • Deak Harp at the ABHF
    Deak Harp at the ABHF
  • Sunshine Sonny Payne with film crew
    Sophie of London video crew doing Sonny Payne documentary
  • Big City Blues magazine booth
    Reverend Robert at Big City Blues magazine booth
  • Mike Dyson of the Blue Shoe Project
    Mike Dyson of the Blue Shoe Project
  • Jeff Dyson of the Blue Shoe Project
    Jeff Dyson of the Blue Shoe Project with Jurgen Lottman
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival

  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Crafts at Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Crafts at the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Bill Abel
    Bill Abel at the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Terry 'Harmonica' Bean
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Blues Shoe Project at the ABHF
  • Street music
    Street Music at the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Carl Weathersby
    Carl Weathersby playing in the crowd at the ABHF
  • Carl Weathersby playing in the crowd at the ABHF
    Carl Weathersby playing in the crowd at the ABHF
  • The ABHF
  • Carl Weathersby at the ABHF
    Carl Weathersby at the ABHF
  • Carl at the ABHF
    Carl Weathersby at the ABHF
  • Proud Sponsor
    STLBlues.net :: A Proud Sponsor of the ABHF!
  • At the ABHF
    At the ABHF
  • Pinetop Perkins at the ABHF
    Pinetop Perkins at the ABHF
  • Pinetop Perkins band at the ABHF
    Pinetop Perkins band at the ABHF
  • Bob Margolin :: Muddy Waters Alumni
    Bob Margolin :: Muddy Waters Alumni
  • Willie Smith :: Muddy Waters Alumni
    Willie "Big Eyes" Smith :: Muddy Waters Alumni
  • Pinetop and Bob Margolin
    Pinetop and Bob Margolin
  • Arthur Williams
    Arthur Williams at the ABHF
  • John May and Bob Lohr
    John May and Bob Lohr
  • Big City Blues booth
    Big City Blues magazine entertainers
  • Michael Burks
    Michael Burks
  • Willie King
    Willie King
  • Willie Kings bass player
    Willie Kings bass player
  • Severn Records 10th Anniversary Soul & Blues Revue
    Severn Records 10th Anniversary Soul & Blues Revue
  • Severn Records 10th Anniversary Soul & Blues Revue
    Severn Records 10th Anniversary Soul & Blues Revue

  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Bikers are welcome!
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Rick Estrin
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Butch Mudbone
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Street Music
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    Lil Reed
  • Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
    The Hiser Brothers
  • Janiva Magness
    Janiva Magness
  • Bob Margolin and Janiva Magness
    Bob Margolin and Janiva Magness
  • Anson Funderburgh
    Anson Funderburgh
  • Anson Funderburgh
    Anson Funderburgh
  • Bob Margolin, Hubert Sumlin and Willie Smith
    Bob Margolin, Hubert Sumlin and Willie Smith
  • Bobby Rush
    Bobby Rush
  • Bobby Rush
    Bobby Rush
  • Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith
    Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith

Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival
 
 

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