OCTOBER 17-20, 2024

Tickets

ALL PASSES ON SALE NOW
BENEFACTOR PASSES ON SALE NOW
SINGLE NIGHT TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR
BUY TICKETS

Trip planning

FOR A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO ALL THINGS CLARKSDALE, GO TO OUR LOCAL TOURISM WEBSITE, VISIT CLARKSDALE.

THERE, YOU’LL FIND INFORMATION ON LODGING, DINING, NIGHTLIFE, AND SO MUCH MORE!

Deep Blues fest

Experience real deep blues in the heart of the delta

TICKETS

The roots of Deep Blues Fest

In 2007, Chris Johnson held the first Deep Blues Festival in a field just outside of the twin cities. 18 bands performed in an all day event. This was a celebration of outsider and alternative blues and music inspired by these artists. Over the years, hundreds of bands have been involved with the festival and also performing at Chris’ Bayport BBQ.

“What excited me about this music was that it was so different,” said Johnson. “It was raw and immediate and went all the way back to the roots, and artists like R.L. and Junior had so much character.”…

”Next came his discovery of artists like the Black Diamond Heavies, Scott H. Biram, and Bob Log — younger independents making music under the influence of Kimbrough, Burnside, and their hill country kin, including Jessie Mae Hemphill and Othar Turner.”

This new, raw strain of hybrid blues offers deep roots to fans of traditional music. And while Burnside, Kimbrough, Hemphill and Turner are now dead, Kenny Brown, Elmo Williams and Hezekiah Early, and a handful of other Mississippians soldier on.”

Excerpts from The Blues Is Not Dead: The New Blues Underground Rises Up by Ted Drozdowski about Chris Johnson and the Deep Blues Festival.

2024 EVENT SCHEDULE

OFFICIAL 2024 LINEUP

THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 – SUNDAY OCTOBER 20, 2024

THURSDAY OCT. 17 2024

@ THE SHACK UP INN

8:00 – CASH’S JUKE JOINT
9:00 – A.J. HAYNES (of the Seratones)

FRIDAY OCT. 18 2024

@ AUBERGE HOSTEL

4:00-6:00 – BENEFACTOR BALL FEAT. LITTLE WILLIE FARMER – BENEFACTOR PASSES REQUIRED

@ THE NEW ROXY

8:00 – HOWLIN’ HURD
9:00 – ALVIN YOUNGBLOOD HART’S MUSCLE THEORY

SATURDAY OCT. 19 2024

@ THE NEW ROXY

7:00 – GRAVELROAD
8:00 – LITTLE WILLIE FARMER
9:00 – SCOTT H. BIRAM

SUNDAY OCT. 20 2024

@ THE NEW ROXY

12:00 – AFRISSIPPI

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

DEEP BLUES FESTIVAL 2024 LINEUP

OCTOBER 17-20 • 2024 • CLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI

ALVIN YOUNGBLOOD HART’s MUSCLE THEORY

California-born Alvin Youngblood Hart soaked in the sounds of his heritage visiting his grandparents in Carrolton, Mississippi. From Taj Mahal to Bob Weir, Alvin continues to share his masterful, wandering sound, the acoustic rock blues of hopping a train to the end of the line.

A.J. HAYNES

A.J. Haynes is a mesmerizing enchantress of music, whose melodies transcend earthly boundaries to captivate audiences worldwide. Born and nurtured in the rhythms of the South, her music weaves together strands of soul, rock, disco, and gospel, conjuring a spellbinding sound that is uniquely her own. With a voice that ascends to celestial heights and whispers secrets of intimate vulnerability, A.J. Haynes commands the stage with a magnetic presence, casting a spell of raw authenticity that leaves listeners enchanted. Haynes was surrounded by diverse influences from an early age, fostering a deep appreciation for the power of music to connect and inspire. Drawing inspiration from legends like Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, and Prince, she developed a style that is both timeless and contemporary, channeling the spirit of the past while forging her own path forward. Earning widespread acclaim for her electrifying performances and thought-provoking lyrics. With each song, she fearlessly explores themes of identity, love, and reproductive justice, challenging listeners to confront uncomfortable truths and embrace the beauty of human complexity.

SCOTT H. BIRAM

Scott H. Biram, a proud Texan raised on the outskirts of Austin, is a maverick in the tradition of Doug Sahm, Roky Erickson (13th Floor Elevators) and Gibby Haines (Butthole Surfers). Shortly after releasing his third record (2003’s Lo-Fi Mojo), the 28-year-old’s life was nearly cut short after a near-fatal head-on collision with a big rig semi. He was still bedridden when he made his Rehabilitation Blues EP, the predecessor to his 2005 debut for Bloodshot Records, The Dirty Old One Man Band. Flash forward to 2022. After almost thirty years of tirelessly writing, recording and touring the front and backroads of America as a solo bluesman, collecting a wide array of critical accolades, Biram found himself suddenly stopped cold by the pandemic. Once again, unwilling to allow outsized forces slow him down, he took advantage of the shutdown to write, record and produce nine new songs and two traditional covers for his new album, The One & Only Scott H. Biram, his 13th overall and 9th for Bloodshot Records. Of his sound, Biram says, “I have a wall of speakers behind me, a big subwoofer, old beat up hollow-body guitars, harmonicas, and an amplified stomp board to provide a heavy back beat. I sing in several different kinds of voices and my solid sound really fills the room.” With The One & Only Scott H. Biram, the singer once again proves himself to be an unstoppable force, refusing to bow in the face of outside challenges and demonstrating a unique ability to live up to the traditions of rough-hewn, individualistic Texas-born music.

LITTLE WILLIE FARMER

On Sundays Little Willie was given the choice between picking cotton or going to church – he usually chose church. His mother preferred him to stick to gospel, his father encouraged him to play the blues and gave him this advice: “Don’t brag on yourself. If you’re playing it right, others will brag on you.” (musicmaker.org)

CASH’S JUKE JOINT

Cash’s Juke Joint delivers soul-stirring music sure to intrige any audience, every time. It’s all about that soul-stirring music! A premier musician from the Macoh Music scene, Angel ‘Cash’ Ocasio, Jr. is the founder and leader of Cash’s Juke Joint. Although versitle in many genres, #CJJ brings a heavy sound that is a groovy mixture of Blues, Sacred Steel, Soul, Funk, & Rock that is sure to get your body jukin’! Founded in the historical music city of Macon, GA, Cash’s Juke Joint is a band of musical veterans with a vast variety of experience, having played nightclubs, venues, corporate & private events, festivals, concerts, and produced original music. Cash and his juke joint have opened for major acts to include Patti LaBelle, Mother’s Finest, Jill Scott, The Legendary Wailers, Swamp Dogg, Mannie Fresh, & more! A raw & uncut sound, Cash’s Juke Joint gets straight to the nitty gritty! Experience the dynamic feels of Cash’s Juke Joint live for yourself!

HOWLIN’ HURD

Brian Hurd is an American blues singer, songwriter, harmonica player and guitarist originally from St. Louis, Missouri and currently residing in New York City. Over the last decade he’s made a name for himself as the frontman and namesake behind Brooklyn’s infamous Rhythm & Blues keepers of the flame, Daddy Long Legs. Their latest album “Lowdown Ways” (YepRoc2019) reached #4 on the Billboard Blues charts and received 5 stars from Rolling Stone magazine. Songs from the album were also featured on NPR with regular airplay on the BBC reaching as high as #10 on the UK’s top 40 Americana charts. They have toured Europe, Canada and USA extensively and Brian has recently become a faculty member at Centrum’s acoustic blues seminar in Port Townsend, teaching harmonica alongside some of the countries top traditional blues artists. Howlin’ Hurd is endorsed by Hohner Harmonicas.

GRAVELROAD

GravelRoad has been pushing the musical boundaries for over a two decades, forging a distinct sound that brings together Hill County Blues and Heavy Rock n Roll into new territories. GravelRoad is the sound of new and old – heavy fuzz and more introspective moods – combining to ask the larger questions of existence along with a rallying cry for a good time.