Formerly known as the King Biscuit Blues Festival and under the director of the Sonny Boy Blues Society, the festival is now in it’s twenty first year of existence. The festival has become the third largest blues festival in the country and one of only a few to remain free solely made possible by community minded sponsors and hundreds of volunteers.

The festival, with an estimated attendance of 85,000-100,000, is held on Columbus Day weekend every year setting the 21st annual event for October 5-7, 2006.

The musical celebration takes place in historic downtown Helena-West Helena, Arkansas situated between the buildings of the Cherry Street Historic District and along side the levee of the majestic Mississippi River. Isle of Capri Casino and Entertainment Resort in Lula, Mississippi is the event’s primary and presenting sponsor with sustaining sponsors being the Delta Cultural Center, Coco Distributing, and the The Daily World. Major sponsors making the event possible are Helena Regional Medical Center, Sonicbids,
First Bank of the Delta, NA, and Champion Awards.

2006 Line-Up

Sonny Boy Williamson Main Stage
Thursday, October 5th
12:00 – 12:25 p.m. 2006 Emerging Artist TBA
12:30 – 12:55 p.m. 2006 Emerging Artist TBA
1:00 – 1:25 p.m. 2006 Emerging Artist TBA
1:30 – 1:55 p.m. 2006 Emerging Artist TBA
2:00 – 2:25 p.m. 2006 Emerging Artist TBA
2:35 – 3:10 p.m. Dan Sanchez & The Kings of Pleasure–05’ Emerging Artist Director’s Pick
3:25 – 4:00 p.m. West Bank Mike Band – SBBS Battle of the Bands Winner
4:20 – 5:25 p.m. Joey Gilmore – IBC Winner
5:45 – 6:55 p.m. Eric “Scrappy” Hughes
7:15 – 8:30 p.m. The Bluebirds
8:50 – 10:05 p.m. Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone
10:30 – 11:45 p.m. Tab Benoit

Friday, October 6th
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Richard Johnston
1:15 – 2:20 p.m. Sweet Betty
2:35 – 3:45 p.m. Sam Carr & The Delta Jukes w/Dave Riley
4:00 – 5:10 p.m. Paul delay Band
5:30 – 6:40 p.m. Pinetop Perkins & Bob Margolin
7:00 – 8:15 p.m. Charles Wilson
8:45 – 10:00 p.m. Eddie Shaw
10:30 – 11:45 p.m. Jimmy Thackery & The Cate Brothers w/ Special Guest Reba Russell

Saturday, October 7th
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Kenny Brown Band
1:15 – 2:25 p.m. Watermelon Slim & The Workers
2:40 – 3:50 p.m. Larry Garner
4:10 – 5:20 p.m. Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials
5:35 – 6:50 p.m. Robert Lockwood, Jr.
7:05 – 8:20 p.m. Michael Burks
8:45 – 10:00 p.m. Phillip Walker
10:30 – 11:45 p.m. The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Houston Stackhouse Acoustic Stage
Friday, October 6th
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Bill Abel
1:20 – 2:20 p.m. Waymon Meeks
2:40 – 3:40 p.m. Chris Cotton
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Sid Selvidge

Saturday, October 7th
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Joe Price
1:20 – 2:20 p.m. Grayson Capps
2:40 – 3:40 p.m. David Jacob-Strain
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Robert “Wolfman” Balfour

Robert Lockwood, Jr. Heritage Stage
Friday, October 6th Saturday, October 7th
5:30 – 6:40 p.m. Billy Gibson Band 5:30 – 6:40 p.m. Mississippi Heat
7:00 – 8:10 p.m. Dave Riley 7:00 – 8:10 p.m. Texas Johnny Brown
8:30 – 9:40 p.m. Willie “Big Eyes” Smith 8:30 – 9:40 p.m. Daddy Mack Blues Band
10:00 – 11:15 p.m. The Fieldstones 10:00 – 11:15 p.m. Super Chikan