Oxford Blues Festival Kicks Out the Jams This Weekend in Mississippi

The 7th annual Oxford Blues Festival started last night in Oxford, Mississippi. The music fest brings the blues jams to residents of the "Little Easy" clear through to tonight, July 16.

The festivities began yesterday evening at the Shelter on Oxford Square with a set from Mississippi Delta blues band Kern Pratt & the Accused with vocalist Denise Owen.

From there, the Oxford Blues Fest kicks it into high gear with a surplus of artists speaking and performing at two venues today. A free-to-the-public "Blues Panel Discussion" commences at 12 noon (ending at 1 p.m.) at the Overby Center on the campus of the University of Mississippi with speakers Leo "Bud" Welch, Jontavious Willis and Tullie Brae.

Saturday's concert takes place at the Grove, also on the Ole Miss campus, and will highlight blues performances from artists The Zediker Brothers (1:30-2:15 p.m), MS Traveling Stars (2:30-3:15), Jontavious Willis (3:30-4:15), Doc Prana (4:30-5:15), The Blues Doctors (5:30-6:15), Leo "Bud" Welch (6:30-7:15), Tullie Brae (7:30-8:30) and The Mosely & Johnson Band (8:45-9:45).

HottyToddy.com features an in-depth look at all of the artists performing this weekend. As they cover in their report, the Oxford Blues Festival isn't simply a "one-shot johnny" affair -- the festival organizers work year-round to entertain audiences and educate the community about the blues:

"The festival offers education, community events and workshops throughout the year, culminating with the production of an outdoor festival uniting our diverse citizenry in a celebration of American blues-based music."

The festival's organizers are thrilled with this year's lineup and are excited to get the music going, as evidenced from a co-organizer's conversation with the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal:

"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?" said co-organizer Joyce Byrd.

Don't miss this great blues festival this weekend in Oxford, Mississippi!

For more information, please visit www.oxfordbluesfest.com.

We want to hear from you! Let us know your favorite blues artist in the comments section below.

TagsOxford Blues Festival, Kern Pratt and the Accused, Denise Owen (vocalist), Leo "Bud" Welch, Jontavious Willis, Tullie Brae, The Zediker Brothers, Mississippi Traveling Stars, Doc Prana, The Blues Doctors, The Mosely and Johnson Band, Joyce Byrd