The Juke Joint Festival is held annually in April in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and is probably the biggest tourist event in the city, and one of the biggest in the state. Originally a one-day event, the festival now stretches across all or part of four days, with movie screenings, concerts, a parade, kids’ activities and more. Central to the event are legendary Clarksdale jukes, such as Red’s Blues Lounge and Messengers Pool Hall, while newer clubs, such as Bill Luckett and Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero are also important venues. On Saturday, there are arts and crafts, and numerous outdoor stages across the downtown area and in the adjacent New Era district.
The former Hopson Plantation just outside of Clarksdale has become the Shack Up Inn, a boutique hotel consisting of motel rooms in the former cotton gin and rentable sharecroppers’ shacks, as well as the former commissary which is now a bar and live music venue. The grounds are decorated with old signs and bottletrees, and there is the Juke Joint Chapel, which serves as a second music venue on the premises. Needless to say, the hotel is extremely popular with visitors to the Juke Joint Festival, and a special excursion train of the Mississippi Delta Railroad is run between Hopson and the Clarksdale depot every half hour during the festival days.
Panola County High Steppers at Frayser Battle of the Bands, 2012
The Panola County High Steppers drumline marching in the Battle of the Bands at Frayser High School, Friday, April 13, 2012
Never thought about going to Arkansas before…
One, Arkansas is in my top three list of favorite states. Two, I really wish I could go to this! But alas, a new job and no time off and no money besides prevents it. SIGH.
The Panola County High Steppers Drumline Live at the Frayser Battle of the Bands
#26 Panola County High Steppers drumline.MOV (by jdoggtn7)
The Panola County High Steppers drumline and majorettes perform at the Battle of the Bands at Frayser High School in Memphis, April 13, 2012
(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)
Yo Gotti will be taking Memphis rap to the world this summer! #MemphisRising
#24 Fairley High School Band-We Are One.MOV (by jdoggtn7)
Fairley High School Band performs Maze’s “We Are One” at the Battle of the Bands at Frayser High School in Memphis
(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)
#22 Fairley High School Band.MOV (by jdoggtn7)
The Fairley High School Band performs in the Battle of the Bands at Frayser High School in Memphis, April 13, 2012
(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)
Fairley High School Band at the Battle of the Bands at Frayser, 2012
Fairley High School performing at the Battle of the Bands at Frayser High School in Memphis April 13, 2012
#17 Fayette-Ware Drum Feature.MOV (by jdoggtn7)
The drumline from Fayette-Ware High School from Somerville, TN performs their percussion feature during the band’s routine at the Battle of the Bands at Frayser High School in Memphis, April 13, 2012
(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)