Friday, June 20, 2008

Repost 5/21/08: Blues News

Taken from Mudcat's MySpace page:


Tuesday, May 20, 2008


Willie King’s Annual Blues Blast deep in the woods of Old Memphis

What: Willie King's 11th Annual Freedom Creek FestivalWhere: Old Memphis, Alabama in Pickens CountyWhen: May 30th and 31st, 2008How much: $6 on Friday, $12 on Saturday

Willie King's Annual Blues Blast deep in the woods of Old Memphis

Willie King's 11th annual Freedom Creek Blues Festival will take place this year on Friday, May 30th and Saturday, May 31st near Aliceville, on Old Memphis Road in Old Memphis, Alabama. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Both nights go till late! Free camping is offered on site.

Starting as a small, local event, the Freedom Creek Festival has grown to an internationally renowned festival, attracting audiences from across the nation and overseas. Known for its warm welcome and outstanding blues performances, this is a unique festival set in the backwoods of the Alabama Black Belt. Local juke-joint musicians perform along with national and international acts, combining to make an outstanding display of blues talent - all in the peaceful setting of rural Pickens County.

This year's festival features an outstanding roster of premier blues artists including headline acts Jerry Portnoy, the legendary Sam Lay, Willie King & The Liberators, Cedric Burnside and Lightenin Malcolm and Mudcat, along with Highlander, Alabama blues women Carroline Shines, Debbie Bond, Shar-Baby and Sweet Claudette, plus Alabama blues talent "Birmingham" George Conner, Jesse Daniels, Rev. Little, Julian Conner, Taylor Moore, Caleb Childs, Grapevine, Robert, Alex, and more! The festival promises to be an explosive celebration of the blues, deep in the land from which it is was born!

Admission to the festival is a suggested donation of $6 on Friday and $12 on Saturday, in support of the Rural Members Association. For further information, check out the web site at www.willie-king.com, email to info@willie-king.com or call (205) 752 6263.

The Freedom Creek Festival is presented by the Rural Members Association (RMA), a non-profit organization located in Old Memphis, Alabama, that seeks to preserve traditional local culture and assist the community in Pickens County. Founded by Willie King in 1983, RMA's Freedom Creek Blues Festival brings all walks of life together once a year, allowing local musicians to display their musical talent alongside national and international acts and bringing much-need attention and interest to this underserved area of the Alabama Black Belt.

The festival has been endorsed by attracting sponsorships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Alabama State Council on the Arts, Music Maker Foundation, the Black Belt Community Foundation and other generous supporters, plus assistance from the Alabama Blues Project. This collaboration of national, state and local organizations and individuals makes a delicious community gumbo everyone can get a taste of!

Willie King's 11th Annual Freedom Creek PSA

Willie King's 11th Annual Freedom Creek Blues Festival will be held in Pickens County, Alabama on Friday, May 30th and Saturday the 31st. This year's outstanding lineup includes Jerry Portnoy, the legendary Sam Lay, Willie King and the Liberators, Cedric Burnside and Lightnin' Malcom, Mudcat, Carroline Shines, Sweet Claudette, Debbie Bond, Shar-Baby, "Birmingham" George Conner and many, many more! Admission is a suggested donation of $6 on Friday and $12 on Saturday in support of the Rural Members Association. For more information please phone (205) 752-6263, email info@willie-king.com or check out the web site at www.willie-king.com.

This festival is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the Black Belt Community Foundation and Music Maker Foundation with assistance from the Alabama Blues Project.

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