As Jackson prepares to make history as the first Mississippi city to host the National Folk Festival, more artists are being announced for the first of three years the fest will call the capital home.
On Tuesday, officials with the traveling arts event revealed the latest slate of over 300 artists set to take the stage or have displays, including a handful who know Mississippi arguably better than anyone else.
Longtime and legendary bluesman Bobby Rush, now 91 years old, isn’t slowing down. Coming off his latest album fittingly called “Young Fashioned Ways,” Rush has continued traveling across the country and has earmarked early November for an appearance at the National Folk Festival.
Other Magnolia State artists announced include Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom of the South marching band, Choctaw social dancing group Oka Hamma Alla Hilha Alhiha, and Bay Springs-based southern songstress Ms. Jody.
“Mississippi, with its rich musical legacy, is heavily featured in the artists announced today, highlighting the state’s indigenous culture, its considerable influence on soul and blues, and the prominence of HBCU marching bands in southern life and culture,” a portion of the announcement reads.
Other artists announced Tuesday include Jeff Little Trio alongside Wayne Henderson all the way from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and romantic trio Tres en Punto out of Mission, Texas.
Over 30 musical acts will perform on as many as six outdoor performance venues set up throughout downtown. Hundreds of storytellers and craftspeople will also take part.
What is the National Folk Festival?
Serving as the longest-running traditional arts event after being founded in 1934 and championed by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in its early years, the National Folk Festival travels around the U.S. and highlights the roots, richness, and variety of American culture.
Recent stops have included Nashville, St. Louis, Greensboro, N.C., and Salisbury, Md. In May 2024, it was announced that Jackson would be the first Mississippi city to host the event.
When is the National Folk Festival?
The 2025 National Folk Festival will take place Nov. 7-9. Exact dates for future years have not yet been announced.
No tickets are needed as the event is free to the public through a combination of private and public funding.
How long is the National Folk Festival in Jackson?
The National Folk Festival will be in Jackson for the 2025, 2026, and 2027 editions.
Throughout the three-year residency, the National Folk Festival is expected to draw over 330,000 visitors while generating $60 million in economic impact. Year one is estimated to see up to 80,000 visitors as attendance grows to the 150,000-person mark in year three.
Newly inaugurated Mayor John Horhn called the festival coming to Jackson “a special opportunity” to showcase not only different cultures but also the potential the city has to become a regional hub for future events.
“The National Folk Festival is a special opportunity for Jackson and the state of Mississippi to demonstrate that we’re ready to host a world-class festival in our capital city’s historic downtown,” Horhn said. “Hundreds of excellent artists are coming to our city from across the country. I’m especially proud to see acclaimed Jackson artists featured in today’s announcement and getting the national attention they deserve. Such a crowd-pleasing lineup is sure to resonate with our community and bring enormous energy to the event.”
Big weekend for Jackson
The 2025 edition of the National Folk Festival pairs with what will already be a busy weekend in the city of Jackson.
Opening night of the festival event coincides with Mississippi NAACP’s 80th annual convention, and thanks to a partnership between officials from both, bluesman Bobby Rush was able to be secured for Nov. 7. There will also be plenty of catfish for festival-goers to dine on.
“Music is the art form that gives one the fortitude to continue to fight in the struggle towards justice,” Mississippi NAACP state conference executive director Charles Taylor said. “Music unites us all. I am excited that [we] will be partnering with the National Folk Festival, which will bring hundreds of artists to stages in the heart of the city. This year, we celebrate the 80th year of our State Conference, and to do so, we will do it the Mississippi way, with Catfish and Blues.”
Another major event will be taking place during the festival’s first two days. The Junior League of Jackson’s annual “Mistletoe Marketplace” is set to be hosted at the Mississippi Trade Mart from Nov. 5-8.
No home college football games will be taking place in Jackson that weekend.
Who else will take the stage?
In addition to Tuesday’s artists announcement, others previously announced include Balla Kouyaté & Famoro Dioubaté, The Campbell Brothers, Dale Ann Bradley, E.U. featuring Sugar Bear, Eileen Ivers, Frank London’s Klezmer Brass Allstars, Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys, John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band, Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago, LOS RICOS featuring Sonia and Ismael, Lutchinha, Plena Libre, Riyaaz Qawwali, and Wylie & the Wild West.
Musical acts hail from the following places: Mississippi, Massachusetts, New York, Kentucky, Louisiana, Illinois, Texas, Montana, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
Additional performers will be announced as they are confirmed. Descriptions of the acts already booked, the kind of music they play, and their stories can be found here.
