Delta past, present, future: Pinetop & the Birthplace of American Music

Quite the double-header tonight: the Pinetop showcase AND BAMFest are across the street from each other! Watermelon Slim kicks off BAMFest at 5p, Pinetop's all-star instructors open for their students (!!) at Ground Zero 7p, and CRUZ The Dame takes the Blues Alley stage at 8p. Details below:

— BAMFest Fri+Sat —

Birthplace of American Music Festival is an homage to blues as the root of American music, and a tribute to the genres springing from it. When you Visit Mississippi, it's printed on our literal welcome sign: “Welcome to Mississippi: birthplace of America's music.”

Experience the place where it began: after tonight, you can hop between venues around town all tomorrow/Saturday, noon til midnight. Hear Terry “Big T” Williams, then Frank “Guitar” Rimmer, Lucious Spiller, Otis TCB Taylor, the Grandboiz, Terry “Harmonica” Bean, Lady Trucker, Edna Nicole & Delta Avenue, Robert Kimbrough & the Cotton Patch Band, AND Jake & the Pearl Street Jumpers – all with one wristband.

— PINETOP, Fri 7p-late —

Pinetop Perkins drove a tractor and played the blues here, before joining Muddy Waters in Chicago. The Pinetop Perkins Foundation honors his legacy by teaching the next generation of musicians at Hopson Hospitality, in this place he called home.

Pinetop students from around the country have been learning all week from master instructors. They take the stage at Ground Zero tonight – together!

Pinetop Perkins Foundation Workshop students outside Hopson Commissary (c) Shared Experiences USA

Opening for these phenomenal students are the equally phenomenal Bob Stroger, Bob Corritore, Tony Braunagel, Johnny Burgin, Danielle Nicole, Brandon Miller, Candice Ivory, Ben Levin, Lee Williams, Heather Crosse, Grace Kuch, Ian Harper, Wyly Bigger, Jesse Black, Andrew Sullivan AND Harrell Davenport.

If you've never seen a Pinetop showcase or these students in action, come prepared to be blown away.

— DELTA BLUES ALLEY —

Bill Luckett was always proud to point out how Ground Zero Blues Club was named for Clarksdale's legacy as "ground zero for the blues" -- and lists its official address as 0 Blues Alley.

The DeltaBlues AlleyCafe Clarksdale is directly across the street (where Delta Avenue ends, of course). They've been open late, for the Ground Zero customers' nightly afterparty...

Until the entire building burned a couple months ago. You can follow their story and GoFundMe link on their page. Owner and phoenix Cory Miller founded BAMFest there several years ago -- and is rebuilding from the ashes today.

Cory Miller outside the burned Delta Blues Alley Cafe, ready to rise for BAMFest (c) Shared Experiences USA

— SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC —

It's quite the history here, being honored by the present AND future of America's music. All in the best of neighborhoods where we support each other -- and throw a heckuva party for our friends and neighbors.

BAMfest tickets support the festival, and Pinetop's support the foundation’s work here. Get yours online or at the door, and come ready to be inspired and rock out.