Good news for homegrown music lovers — the 48th annual Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival will kick off in Greenville next month.
Mississippi Action for Community Education, Inc., along with the Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Advisory Committee, will present the one-day festival on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Washington County Convention Center Fairgrounds. Gates open at 10 a.m., and the festival begins at noon.
Coined “The Oldest Continuous Running Blues Festival in the Country,” this year’s event will feature 14 acts on the main stage and 10 acts on the juke house stage.
“I love this year’s lineup because the many distinct styles of Blues will be showcased,” festival producer Chauncey Wright said, highlighting how the festival highlights the diversity of the genre. “The music will range from Delta Blues to Hill Country Blues to St. Louis Blues to Soul Blues & Southern Soul, as well as a touch of Zydeco Blues & Boogie Woogie Blues.”
This year’s event will spotlight a trio of former Malaco Records stars: three-time Grammy winner Bobby Rush, “The Diva of Soul” Shirley Brown, and “The Little Giant of Soul” Willie Clayton.
The festival will begin with a traditional opening ceremony by the Grammy-nominated Rising Stars Fife & Drum Band, led by master fife player Sharde Thomas. Thomas is the granddaughter of Otha Turner, the legendary fife player who performed the opening ceremony at the very first festival in 1978.
Other highlights include performances from Keith Johnson, the “Prince of the Delta Blues” and great-nephew of Muddy Waters; Mississippi Delta bluesman Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, appearing at the festival for the first time; and Louisiana blues veteran Lil Jimmy Reed.
Later in the evening, the spotlight will turn to the next generation of blues with Southern Soul and Zydeco artists FPJ, LJ Echols, and S Dott. FPJ has earned recognition for soulful ballads such as “I’m Still with Her” and “Last Time,” along with trailride favorites like “Po Me Up Some Mo” and “Rodeo.” His newest release, “Juke Joint,” has been praised by fans for its storytelling and tribute to blues tradition.
The Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival is celebrated not only for its music but also for the southern hospitality, food, and cultural memorabilia that draw fans from around the world. For many, attending the festival is more than an event — it’s a return home.
Ticket information can be found here.
