North Miss Hill Country Picnic

FESTIVAL CELEBRATES NORTH MISSISSIPPI HILL COUNTRY BLUES

Duwayne Burnside

North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic is now in the planning stages for the fourth year, following tremendous success in the previous three years. This year’s festival will be held June 26-27, 2009. Ticket information for the workshop and festival is available on the festival website, nmshillcountrypicnic.com. Discount tickets are available online for early purchase. The festival takes place on an 1,100 acre site in the rolling hills of Potts Camp. The two day festival runs from noon until after midnight both days. Local vendors offer classic North Mississippi cuisine including barbeque, catfish, and watermelon. Camping on site is encouraged for out-of-town visitors.

In the mid-’90s the world discovered the power and distinctive sounds of North Mississippi blues via the recordings of R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough and Otha Turner. These elder statesmen have all since passed, but their music lives on through their contemporaries, family members, and disciples. The festival features artists with close ties to North Mississippi Hill Country blues. The 2009 festival lineup includes all of the major contemporary artists with direct ties to the three men noted above. The list includes: Kenny Brown Band, Duwayne Burnside & the Mississippi Mafia, Burnside Exploration, The Kimbrough Brothers, Juke Joint Duo (with Cedric Burnside), Kent Burnside & the New Generation and the Rising Star Drum & Fife Band (led by Otha Turner’s granddaughter Sharde Thomas).

The Picnic is run by the non –profit organization North MS Hill Country Picnic, Inc., and enjoys great support and sponsorship from North Mississippi communities. Camping will be allowed Friday – Saturday nights, coolers are permitted (NO GLASS: ICE CHEST WILL BE CHECKED FOR GLASS), and vendors will sell local delicacies including barbeque and fried catfish, ice vendors will be onsite.