Ever attended the Delta Symposium at the University of Memphis? If you are a fan of all things Delta you should plan to attend this year. One of our most talented Deltans, Rolling Fork native and Memphis filmaker/writer/renaissance man Willy Bearden is heavily involved in this great event. Info on registration is here. Here is a taste of what you can expect...

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September 29-30 Leland, Mississippi • October 4-6 Helena, Arkansas

Unprecedented partnership creates ultimate blues pilgrimage opportunity.

West Memphis, AR (March 5, 2012)—An unprecedented partnership between the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas, and the Highway 61 Blues Festival in Leland, Mississippi, offers an opportunity for blues enthusiasts worldwide to plan September 29-October 6 for a pilgrimage to the birthplace of the Delta Blues.

Announced today at the Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism, this pairing will enrich the experience for the thousands of blues fans expected to attend the festivals this fall.

The King Biscuit Blues Festival, held on Columbus Day weekend for 27 years, is named for Helena’s renowned live blues radio program, “King Biscuit Time.” It celebrates the heritage of the town where blues greats like Sonny Boy Williamson and Pinetop Perkins once played every night of the week.

Featuring authentic Delta blues musicians and headliners that have included B.B. King and Keb’ Mo’, the King Biscuit festival draws visitors from all over the U.S. and many European countries.

“They come because they love our music, and while they’re here, they want to soak up as much blues and as many other aspects of Delta culture as they can,” said Munnie Jordan, Executive Director of the King Biscuit Festival. “Pairing of these two festivals and reaching across state lines is an unprecedented venture. It is a partnership that is built on our love of the music and our blues fans who return every year.”

The Highway 61 Blues Festival will kick off the two-state celebration Saturday, September 29, in Leland, at the historic musicians’ corner beside the legendary blues highway for which the festival is named. Like Helena, Leland was once an entertainment hotbed, frequented by musicians who included guitarists Eugene Powell (Sonny Boy Nelson) and Charlie Booker.

Sunday, September 30, the celebration continues at the Holly Ridge Jam, site of the final home of the “founder of the Delta Blues,” Charley Patton. Fans will have the opportunity to visit the graves of Patton and blues singers Willie James Foster and Asie Payton.

Highway 61 Blues Festival Chairman Bill Johnson foresees many benefits in the back-to-back events. “Partnering with King Biscuit is a win-win for the festivals and the fans,” he said. “Fans will have two weekends of music to count on with a week of blues activities—across the Delta in both Arkansas and Mississippi delta—in between.”

“We know our annual international blues visitors stay in the Delta for 7 to 10 days,” noted Wesley Smith, Executive Director, Greenville-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Why not give them more to do while they’re here and more reasons to come back next year? We will be able attract more blues artists and keep them in the region longer; smaller communities gain the opportunity to schedule extra performances. We’re on the path to providing the every day experience blues fans expect when they visit the Delta,” Smith said.

The 2012 King Biscuit Blues Festival will be held Thursday through Saturday, October 4-6, with the “over-the-top” headliner and line-up to be announced May 9, according to Jordan. She and Smith predict the partnership will boost visits to other tourist spots in both states, from Native American burial mounds to Civil War sites to attractions along the Mississippi River.

“Fans may come here for the blues, but they always fall in love with the Delta.” Smith said.

For more details, contact Smith at 662.334.2711 or Jordan at 870.572.5223. For updates on King Biscuit Festival and Highway 61 Blues Festival go to their websites: www.kingbiscuitfestival.com and www.highway61blues.com Also, find King Biscuit Blues Festival and Highway 61 Blues Museum on Facebook.

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This should be a great event. Details from our friends at the Greenville Arts Council

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Greenville native David Cohn wrote in God Shakes Creation, "The People of the Mississippi Delta fear God and the Mississippi River, for God and the river are immortal and immemorial."

It is hard to believe almost a year has passed since the Mississippi River flood of 2011. The Delta stayed high and dry for the most part, and for that we have many people to thank, first and foremost our Levee Board.

All floods and near-floods remind us that the river does not want to be tamed. A great visual of that point lies in the Geological Investigation of the Alluvial Valley of the Lower Mississippi River - Fisk, 1944 Report. Or as it is more commonly known, the Meander Map.

We all know the river adjusts its course over time, but to see it illustrated is something else indeed. Below is a plate from Fisk's map that encompasses the Greenville area. For reference, the giant "C" near the top left is our neighbor across the river, Lake Chicot. Each different color represents a different route the river took through the centuries back to prehistoric times.

A more detailed view with the color code can be found here on a different plate.

For comparison, here is what the same portion of the river looks like today.

To see the whole lower Mississippi meander, click here.

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Greenville is elated to have three of its favorite daughters together again to perform tracks from their new CD, "Party Dress".

It is a treat to see Eden, Jessica or Bronwynne perform solo, it is something special indeed to see them all on stage together. Catch them this Saturday, February 18, at the Jake and Freida Stein Hall. Show starts at 7pm. For tickets and other info, contact our friends at the Greenville Arts Council.

In the meantime, here's a taste of the show that awaits...

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Willie Love & His Three Aces

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The long awaited Predators exhibit is open! The family oriented "hands-on" children's exhitition is open to the public and will be on display for 3 months. The exhibition is located in the Greenville Mall on Highway 1 and will be open Tuesday - Saturday, 9am-5pm; and Sunday 1pm-5pm. For more information: http://www.deltacm.org.

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