Festival details

“ See, I have a different type of music from other peoples. They playing the other kind of blues, and I’m playing cotton-patch blues…. Ain’t nobody now can play the blues that I play.“ Junior Kimbrough

Kimbrough Cotton-Patch Blues Festival celebrates the life and legacy of David “Junior” Kimbrough at The Hut, Holly Springs Ms., May 12-14, 2017

Hey there blues fans and freaks. Robert and the friends of Junior Kimbrough have put together a super FANCY! weekend. Filled with a packed schedule of activities to get you in the Cotton-Patch Blues mood.

Curated by Robert Kimbrough Sr., Junior’s youngest son, an Original Soul Blues Boy Joe Ayers. Both lifelong residents of Holly Springs have come together to help recreate Sunday Night at Junior’s.

Friday May 12^th

Scheduled events kick off Friday night May 12^th, an opening reception for the exhibit The Life and Legacy of Junior Kimbrough at Rust College in the gallery space located in Leontyne Price Library. The exhibition will feature photos by master photographers Bill Steber, Yancey Allison, Adam Smith, David Stevens and David Katzenstein whose 1988 photos of Junior’s house party were recently featured in Oxford American. Also rarely seen photos by famed folklorist Cheryl Thurber.

Unearthed live performance footage of Junior and Soul Blues Boys from The Northeast Mississippi Blues and Gospel Folk Festival at Rust College. Obscure live performance and interview film footage from rock writer Jas Obrecht collection.

Notes from Jas about the footage “Junior Kimbrough playing in his juke joint outside of Holly Springs, Mississippi, 1990-09-23 (1:02) This broadcast-quality film contains outstanding footage of Kimbrough playing in his rural juke joint with a bassist and drummer. It was shot early in the afternoon, with very few people in the juke. After his performance, Junior consented to doing an interview on film. Jas Obrecht is the primary behind-the-camera interviewer; Peter Lee, a South African who at the time was Editor of Living Blues magazine, joins in the conversation. This part of the film served as the Q/A section of the article “Junior Kimbrough: Mississippi Juke Joint Blues,” Guitar Player, Aug. ’95.”

Plus amateur photos, video, candid snap shots, newspaper clippings, magazines, personal items, and collected stories.

Many items were generously loaned from the University of Memphis Music Library, University of Mississippi Blues Archive, UNC Southern Folklife Collection at Chapel Hill, Tulane University Special Collections, and Rust College Archive.

The exhibit will run until May 31^st.

4pm-6pm

FREE

Followed by an Open Floor Jam at The HUT. Show up. Plug in. Turn up. Robert gonna LITE IT UP. Food available.

9 pm

$10.00

Saturday May 13^th. An all day guitar workshop with Robert Kimbrough Sr., David Kimbrough Jr., Kinney Kimbrough, Garry Burnside, Eric Deaton, and Joe Ayers.

Learn the Cotton-Patch guitar style from the masters themselves. Spend the day with the your heroes and learn from the pros. All of the musician learned and played with Junior. The guitar workshop provides a chance to learn and play along side master bluesmen. Robert and the crew will sit you down and teach the fundamentals of playing the blues and demonstrate their styles in an up-close and personal environment. This is an incredible opportunity to sit and observe and learn from true artists on their own turf.

The Kimbroughs, Burnsides, Eric Deaton, and Joe Ayers share an infectious enthusiasm when discussing Junior’s life and music. Generous with their knowledge on the subject of Cotton-Patch Blues Mississippi’s musician deceptively masterful skill effortlessly executed inspires. Keepers and teachers of Cotton-Patch Blues an historic American tradition that flourishes in the North Hills of Mississippi today.

Breakfast service begins at 7:00-9:30

10am-4pm

(Limited to 20 people, 14 spots available)

$150.00

Followed by a Saturday Night Jam. A “Real” Juke Joint Night. Nothing FANCY! but the Blues. Cheap beer, great burgers, plus LIVE hot blues. Jam along, all night long with local artists and Cotton-Patch Blues Country legends.

$10.00

May 14^th, Sunday morning meet up at The Hut for a hearty country breakfast with Robert and Joe before embarking on a guided historic tour around Holly Springs. Visit sights significant to Junior’s life: Junior’s home he shared with his sons, Marshall Scrubbs Club, Sammy’s Rib Joint, Junior’s club Chulahoma location, Hyw 4 East home, Hyw 311 House Party location, Junior’s grave and The Blues Marker dedicated to Junior in the Square.

11am

Reserved limited seating available for $25.00

Late Sunday afternoon return to The Hut for the recreation of Sunday Night at Junior’s with an ALL STAR LINE UP many who played with Junior. Presented in the true JUKE JOINT tradition of guesting, and switching off. The night will feature The Kimbrough Brothers. Robert Kimbrough Sr., BluesConnection will be the house band for the evening. Confirmed artists to appear are The Kimbrough Brothers, Robert Kimbrough Sr., BluesConnection, The David Kimbrough Band, Lil’ Joe Ayers, RL Boyce, Garry Burnside, Cedric Burnside Project, Kent Burnside, Eric Deaton, Dale Beavers, Leo Bud Welch, Cam Kimbrough, Joyce SheWolfe Jones, KM Williams, Guitar Lightnin’ Lee and His Thunder Band, Carlos Elliott, Daniel Russell, Robert Eskew, Pork Chop Willie, Janky

4pm

Outdoor stage. Food and beverages available.

AT DOOR CASH ONLY $25

Camping, and RVs welcome

Coolers $10 (NO GLASS containers)

Vendors space available. $100

For detail contact Robert at robertkimbroughsr@gmail.com

No commercial photography permitted without permission

The Hut is located @ 475 West Valley Ave, Holly Springs, Mississippi 38635

West Valley in Holly Springs, off of NW Boundary St.

Package DEALS!!!!!!

V.I.P. COTTON-PATCH FESTIVAL PASS: $175.00 (limited 15)

Includes all day guitar workshop, play alongside the Blues masters Saturday night at The Hut, guided blues tour, and entrance to Sunday Night at Junior’s.

SUPER SPECIAL: $50

Entrance to The Hut Saturday and Sunday, and reserve seat for guided tour.

ADVANCED TICKET: $20

Buy your ticket online early for Sunday Night at The Hut for the recreation of Junior’s.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kimbrough-cotton-patch-blues-festival-may-12-14-2017-tickets-31082085354?aff=eac2

Advanced tickets also available in Holy Springs at:

Mr. Chic’s Barbershop 673 Martin Luther King Jr Dr.

Christine’s Fashions & Music 239 Martin Luther King Jr Dr.

Holly Springs Multi Purpose Building 235 N Memphis St.

Annie’s Restaurant 500 South Craft Street

Holly Springs is an idyllic Southern citadel nestled in the Hills of North Mississippi. Unusually rich in culture with roots deep in American history this region of Mississippi was designated as a National Heritage Area by the Obama Administration in 2009. Located 40 minutes South of Memphis, Tenn. car rental is recommended. There is no public transportation available.

Camping and RVs are welcome at The Hut. Bathrooms available (no shower).

There is no fee to camp. Please RSVP to reserve a spot. Listed below are other lodging suggestions.

Quality Inn

100 Brooks Road, Holly Springs, MS, 38635

Phone: (662) 252-5444

Wall Doxy Park Cabins

3946 MS-7, Holly Springs, MS 38635

(662) 252-4231

Wynne House

195 N. Randolph, Holly Springs, MS 38635

(901) 896-9155

Court Square Inn Bed and Breakfast