Clarksdale’s Juke Joint Festival 2013 Gets Under Way

Technically the Juke Joint Festival is Saturday April 13, but over the years related events like Cat Head’s Mini-Blues Fest on Sunday, or album release parties and concerts on Thursday and Friday have begun to stretch the festivities into four or even five days. This year, I was concerned that rain might dampen the enthusiasm on Thursday night, but fortunately, the rain had ended by 5 PM. Unfortunately, behind it was bitter cold, the coldest weather I can ever recall at Juke Joint Fest. Still, inside various Clarksdale venues I found warm cameraderie, hot blues and good food. Juke Joint Fest 2013 is definitely underway.