The Oxford Blues Festival is set for July 15 and 16 at the University of Mississippi and Shelter on Van Buren.
OXFORD, Miss. – The Mosley and Johnson Band, Leo “Bud” Welch and Tullie Brae will headline the seventh annual Oxford Blues Festival July 15 and 16 at the University of Mississippi and Shelter on Van Buren.
The festival’s mission is to preserve, protect and promote blues music and culture, and the event includes education, community events and workshops throughout the year. It culminates with the outdoor music festival, which organizers say unites “our diverse citizenry in a celebration of American blues-based music.”
The theme of the festival is “Just a Reason to Celebrate.”
“If we can bring our community together for a positive weekend in our wonderful town, while celebrating our blues musical heritage, enjoying tasty food and having fun, why not?” festival co-organizer Joyce Byrd said.
Darryl Parker, co-organizer, notes Oxford doesn’t have a blues tradition as rich as the Mississippi Delta or Holly Springs, but it’s a great place that deserves an outdoor music festival in addition to the annual Double Decker Arts Festival, which happens each spring.
“Who can’t be happy in the Grove under those 150-year-old trees?” Parker said.
In addition to the headlining acts, the festival also includes Kern Pratt & the Accused, Denise Owen, the Blues Doctors, Jontavious Willis, Mississippi Traveling Stars, the Doc Prana Trio and the Zediker Brothers.
Adam Gussow, UM associate professor of English and Southern studies, plays in the two-man band the Blues Doctors with Alan Gross, UM professor of psychology and director of clinical training. Gussow said the two are looking forward to taking the stage.
“We’re a two-man band with a seriously big sound, and we can’t wait to do our thing on the Grove stage as part of the Oxford Blues Festival,” Gussow said. “Oxford is lucky to have a guy as passionate and knowledgeable as Darryl bringing a wide range of local and regional blues sounds to our town every summer. We’re delighted to be a part of it.”
General admission tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. VIP tickets are $75. Tickets are available for sale now and can be purchased online on the festival website. Ole Miss undergraduates get in free on Saturday only with their student ID. Admission is also free for teens and children ages 18 and under. Glass is not allowed inside the venue, but there is no fee for bringing coolers to the event. Food vendors will be on-site.
Here’s the full lineup of events:
Friday, July 15
A double-decker shuttle bus will run for Friday’s events, which will leave from the parking lot on North Lamar Avenue across from the Graduate Oxford hotel, and also from in front of City Hall.
The shuttle will take festival goers to campus for a tour of UM’s extensive Blues Archive at the J.D. Williams Library. Greg Johnson, blues curator and associate professor, will discuss the blues and show artifacts related to the music. That event takes place 3-4 p.m. and is free to the public.
The shuttle will then leave from campus to drop festival goers back off at the Square or take them to Mama Jo’s restaurant on North Lamar Avenue for a buffet dinner at which Johnson will discuss the food of the blues from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The all-you-can-eat buffet with drinks and desserts is $19.99.
From Mama Jo’s, the shuttle will travel to the first musical performance of the festival, Kern Pratt & the Accused, featuring Denise Owen, at the Shelter on Van Buren at 6 p.m.
Saturday, July 16
A blues panel discussion with Leo “Bud” Welch, Tullie Brae and Jontavious Willis will take place from noon until 1 p.m. at the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics. This event, hosted by Duwayne Moore, a UM history Ph.D. candidate, is free and open to the public.
Music begins in the Grove at 1:30 p.m. with the Zediker Brothers, followed by the Mississippi Traveling Stars at 2:30 p.m. Jontavious Willis takes the stage at 3:30 p.m., followed by Doc Prana at 4:30 p.m. The Blues Doctors start at 5:30 p.m.
The headlining acts begin at 6:30 p.m. when Leo “Bud” Welch takes the stage. Tullie Brae follows him at 7:30 p.m., and the Mosley and Johnson Band closes the festival with a set that begins at 8:45 p.m.
For more information, visit the festival website at www.oxfordbluesfest.com.