The Juke Joint Festival is one of Clarksdale’s two big music-related events each year, and the one I find the most enjoyable. The weather is …
I ended my Juke Joint Fest 2012 at DJ Hype’s Rhythm and Blues, a venue in North Clarksdale, far removed from the downtown area. The Roosevelt Robinson Blues Band from Jackson was on stage, performing for a small crowd that included some folks from Sweden.
Louis “Gearshifter” Youngblood performing at Club 2000, Juke Joint Festival, Clarksdale, MS, 4/14/12
The Otis “TCB” Taylor Blues Band performing at Bluesberry Cafe, Juke Joint Festival, Clarksdale MS, 4/14/12
Eddie C. Campbell performing at The Bank, Juke Joint Festival, Clarksdale MS, 4/14/12
The Baby Blues drumline was still on Desoto Avenue when I walked back downtown, with a large crowd gathered around as they played cadences. The funk beats brought competitive dancers out of the crowd into the circle, where they faced off against each other, Juke Joint Festival, Clarksdale MS, 4/14/12
By 9 PM, Pete’s Bar & Grill had become a venue for Juke Joint Festival, with a large crowd in and around, Clarksdale, MS, 4/14/12
Jimbo Mathus calls his unique mixture of blues, country and rock “Catfish Music”, and is a popular performer at every Juke Joint Festival, as he is a former resident of Clarksdale. Messengers Pool Hall, where he performed on Saturday night, is possibly the oldest continuously-operated juke joint in Mississippi. Mathus is about to release his latest album White Buffalo.
The Ranchero is an old-school place along old Highway 61 in Clarksdale, and a definite must-visit for lovers of great steaks and seafood. On the particular night I was there, the Juke Joint Festival had the place packed to capacity, particularly the 65 or so students from the Stax Academy in Memphis. They thanked the restaurant staff by singing a lovely version of “There Is A Balm In Gilead”, an unexpected performance for employees and patrons alike.
Juke Joint Chapel, Shack Up Inn, Clarksdale, MS 4/14/12
