3rd Annual Wiregrass Blues Festival 2014 This is to let you know about a wonderful festival coming up Thursday, May 1 through Saturday, May 3 in Dothan, AL. The Wiregrass Blues Festival celebrates Alabama Blues in the Wiregrass region, culminating in an explosive blues show on Saturday, May 3 at the Wiregrass Museum of Art with headline artist Victor Wainwright and the WildRoots. Each year the festival celebrates an important Wiregrass blues musician and this year the event honors of the late great blue piano pioneer Clarence Pine Top Smith, a founder of boogie-woogie piano playing. The Wiregrass Blues Festival continues to celebrate past and present Alabama blues, with its important historical and educational component and its live performances - it is playing a a vital role in promoting and preserving the states blues heritage. We are proud to be assisting Troy University with this important community outreach project. Debbie Bond, founder of the Alabama Blues Project. Thursday, May 1, the Wiregrass Blues Festival will kick off with a free educational panel presentation followed by an intimate performance featuring Debbie Bond and the TruDats at the Wiregrass Museum of Arts Great Hall. Doors open at 5:30pm and attendees can first browse through the Alabama Blues Project exhibition, Red Hot and Blue - A Spotlight on Alabama Blues Women. A new Pine Top Smith text panel will be unveiled and join past blues text panels on display commissioned specially for the Wiregrass Festival, which include Eddie Kirkland and Big Mama Thornton. At 6pm a short discussion of Clarence Pine Top Smiths life will be presented, followed by a performance with Debbie Bond and her band the TruDats, showcasing songs from her new CD. She will also discuss her Nashville recording experiences and blues influences. Friday, May 2, in addition to the community performance and educational presentation, the Wiregrass Blues Festival will include a special educational performance for local school children designed to introduce students to the blues, with a live performance and an introduction to the rich cultural history and significance of Alabama blues. The Alabama Blues Projects Blues in Schools performance will include several of the artists featured in the festival - SharBaby, Debbie Bond and Rachel Edwards - as well as their internationally renowned blues band. Saturday, May 3, is the climax of the festival, with a Gumbo Cook Off followed by a full-on blues extravaganza concert. We are really excited to partner with The Blue Moon Cafe on S. Foster Street, the host of an amazing Gumbo Cook Off, said Dr. Jeneve Brooks, assistant professor of sociology and lead organizer for the festival. Folks should come and eat some amazing gumbo and then head over to the Wiregrass Museum of Art for some down home blues music! The Gumbo cooking begins at 3pm on South Foster St. in downtown Dothan and will feature plenty of food and merchandise vendors. Gumbo Tasting starts at 5pm with entertainment at 5:30pm by the Moon Rock Band as well as the golfcart parade. Gumbo winners will be announced at 6pm. Its free to attend but tasting arm bands cost $20 (all proceeds go to the ALS Association). Call (917) 330 1906 or visit the Facebook page for the Blue Moon Café in Dothan for more information. Doors open at 6:15pm for the high point of the festival, a deep blues extravaganza at the Wiregrass Museum of Art, featuring headliner Victor Wainwright and the WildRoots, plus Lil Jimmy Reed, local band Scarlet Blue and Alabama blues women Debbie Bond, SharBaby and Rachel Edwards. Gil Anthony, KBA winner and legendary radio blues DJ of the Blues Power radio show, will emcee the festival. Music starting at 6:30pm Advanced tickets for the performances are $15 and can be purchased either at the museum or online through the festival Facebook page. Tickets will be $20 at the door. Attendees should bring outdoor chairs for this yard party and the show will go on rain or shine. For more information about the blues festival, or to purchase tickets, go to the festival Facebook page or call (917) 330 1906. The Wiregrass Blues Festival is presented by Troy University with assistance from the Alabama Blues Project and sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Dothan, the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the Alabama Humanities Foundation.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Apr 2014 15:30:27 +0000
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