Duwayne Burnside Live at the Cat Head Stage #JukeJointFest2014

After Garry Burnside performed, his brother Duwayne Burnside came onto the stage in front of Cat Head Delta Blues to perform his set. Duwayne performs many of his father’s classic Hill Country blues compositions, and frequently performs in and around North Mississippi. He is also the co-owner of Alice Mae’s Cafe just north of the square in Holly Springs on North Center Street.

Hattiesburg Musician Wes Lee Live at #JukeJointFest2014

Hattiesburg blues musician Wes Lee has a following in the Southern part of Mississippi, but this was my first time encountering him at Juke Joint Festival. He played a version of the traditional spiritual “John The Revelator” AKA “The Book of the Seven Seals” , which caught my attention because I had just heard a quartet version of it on Spotify a few days before.

CeDell Davis Live at Miss Dell’s General Store #JukeJointFest2014

Arkansas blues musician CeDell Davis, born in 1927, overcame both the ravages of polio and the crushing of his legs during a nightclub stampede in the 1950’s, and still today plays the blues, though confined to a wheelchair.

Otis “TCB” Taylor and His Band At the New World Stage #JukeJointFest2014

Clarksdale blues musician Otis “TCB” Taylor is not to be confused with the Denver blues musician Otis Taylor, but he is a frequent performer in Clarksdale year round. This year, he and his TCB Blues Band were playing the New World Stage in front of the New Roxy Theatre during the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale.

Mr. Sipp (@MrSippMusic) Live at the Wade Walton Stage at #JukeJointFest2014

The Wade Walton Stage, named for the man who owned the blues club and barber shop on the spot when he was living, is always one of the most crowded and boisterous stages during Juke Joint Fest each year, and this year was no exception, as young blues artist Mr. Sipp performed with his band and drew a crowd of dancers directly in front of the stage. Unlike many older blues artists, Mr. Sipp is as equally at home with Jimi Hendrix as he is with traditional blues, and the people loved all of it.

The Future of The Blues #JukeJointFest2014

The large permanent stage near the Delta Blues Museum is reserved for youth and school groups during the Juke Joint Festival, and as I walked past it on Saturday afternoon, I saw a group of young people on stage playing the blues. I was amazed at how little some of them were, but they sounded really good. At a time when many have questioned the health of the blues, it is encouraging to see these young children learning to enjoy and play this style of music.

David Kimbrough Jr. Playing at Cat Head Delta Blues at #JukeJointFest2014 @Kimbroughville

David Kimbrough Jr. is another of the sons of Junior Kimbrough, an amazing guitarist whom we don’t see quite as often since he moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, but I recall his dulcimer playing at last summer’s North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, and a memorable concert last year at The Cool Spot in Holly Springs with his brothers Kent and Robert. Any opportunity to see him should not be missed.

Robert Kimbrough Performing at the Cat Head Stage at Clarksdale’s #JukeJointFest2014

Robert Kimbrough is one of the many sons of the late legendary bluesman Junior Kimbrough, and a frequent performer at the Juke Joint Fest each year in Clarksdale. This year, he performed on the Cat Head stage in front of Roger Stolle’s Cat Head Delta Blues shop, and after his set posed for a picture with two of his brothers that are also musicians, Kent (a drummer) and David (a guitarist). Robert Kimbrough has also released a new album this year called It’s Your World.

Charlie Patton’s War Live on Issaquena Avenue at #JukeJointFest2014 @CPWBlues

I had never heard of the blues-rock band called Charlie Patton’s War, but I was intrigued by the unusual name and I liked what I heard as I walked past them playing in front of a club on Issaquena Avenue. A little online research yielded the information that they are from Bloomington, Indiana, but they are clearly fans of the Delta blues.

Arriving In Clarksdale for #JukeJointFest2014 Sponsored by @CSpire

Although the weather wasn’t totally sunny, it wasn’t raining either, and lots of people and bands were out on Issaquena Avenue in downtown Clarksdale on the Saturday of Juke Joint Fest, the annual festival of art and live music that brings people from all over the world.