Jimbo Mathus and the Tri-State Coalition perform “Kine Joe” at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival. Mathus is widely known as the founder of the 1990s swing-revival group, the Squirrel Nut Zippers and for his collaboration with Chicago blues legend, Buddy Guy. This song comes from his album, “Confederate Buddah.”

The Tri-State Coalition features Justin Showah on bass, Matt Pierce on guitar, Eric Carlton on keyboard, and Ryan Rogers on drums.

For more info:
http://jimbomathus.com
http://nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Shaky camera by Max Shores (http://maxshores.com) and sound recording by vanark. This entire set is available for download at http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546216.

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Kenny Brown performs the country-style blues song “Shake ‘Em On Down” at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival which he and his wife Sara organize on behalf of a non-profit organization established to promote the unique music of the north Mississippi hill country.

The hill country was home to the late fife and drum master Otha Turner as well as late blues legends Mississippi Fred McDowell, Rev. Roy Wilkins, Joe Callicott, Ranie Burnette, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Junior Kimbrough, and R. L. Burnside. Their music is particularly known for its repetitive, hypnotic character.

Brown has been an integral part of the hill country blues scene for all of his life having learned to play guitar as a child from Joe Callicott and playing guitar alongside Junior Kimbrough and R. L. Burnside on their recordings for the Fat Possum record label and live performances around the world.

This song was recorded several times by Mississippi Fred McDowell and was the inspiration for “Hats Off to Roy Harper” recorded by Led Zeppelin on their album Led Zeppelin III. It was a staple of R. L. Burnside’s shows with Brown playing guitar accompaniment but here Brown presents his own unique spin on the song.

The North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic is a two-day outdoor festival which takes place each year on the last weekend of June.

For more info:
http://nmshillcountrypicnic.com
http://www.myspace.com/kennybrownmusic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Brown_%28guitarist%29

Shaky camera by Max Shores (http://maxshores.com) and sound recording by vanark. This entire set is available for download at http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546191

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Selections from several songs performed by the North Mississippi Allstars at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival. Songs include “The Meeting,” “Po Black Maddie,” “Station Blues” and “Skinny Woman” (with Duwayne Burnside), and “Shake ‘Em on Down.” The North Mississippi Allstars are brothers Luther Dickinson (guitar and vocal) and Cody Dickinson (drums). Seen in the audience cheering them on is Mary Lindsay Dickinson, their mother.

The North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic is held the last weekend of June and is organized by Kenny and Sara Brown. Kenny Brown is a guitarist/singer who is widely known for his work with blues legend R. L. Burnside.

For more info:
http://www.nmallstars.com
http://nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Shaky camera by Max Shores (http://maxshores.com) and sound recording by vanark. This entire set is available for download at http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546145.

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Performance by Garry Burnside at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival. Garry Burnside is the son of the legendary bluesmaster R. L. Burnside who recorded for the Fat Possum label.

For more information:
http://www.nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Shaky camera by Max Shores (http://maxshores.com) and sound recording by vanark. This entire set is available for download at: http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546399

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Sharde Thomas, grand-daughter of the late fife and drum master Otha Turner, performs “Stand By Me” and “Glory, Glory Halleluiah” at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival.

For more information:
Article about Sharde Thomas
http://whyaminotsurprised.blogspot.com/2008/08/sharde-thomas-link-to-past-and-rising.html

http://www.nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Shaky camera by Max Shores (http://maxshores.com) and sound recording by vanark. This entire set is available for download at: http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546366

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Selections from several songs performed by Duwayne Burnside at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival. Duwayne Burnside is the son of the legendary bluesmaster R. L. Burnside who recorded for the Fat Possum label.

For more information:
Interview with Duwayne Burnside at
http://recoilmag.com/interviews/duwayne_burnside_0106.html

http://www.nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Shaky camera by Max Shores (http://maxshores.com) and sound recording by vanark. This entire set is available for download at: http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546363

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

For many people, the day after Thanksgiving is spent doing Christmas shopping. I’ll probably do some of that, but I’m looking forward to some great music too. Kenny Brown will be performing at Rooster’s Blues House in Tuscaloosa. Brown is widely known for his performances with the late blues artists R. L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. He is also the host of the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic which my wife and I attend every year.

Here’s an interview that was done with him a while back by Thirsty Ear Magazine and here’s some video I shot at the 2010 picnic:

Brown’s latest album, “Can’t Stay Long” features the two songs above and other recordings from the 2010 picnic on one CD and a second CD of acoustic songs recorded on his front porch. Here’s a review from Offbeat Magazine.

See ya there!

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Selections from several songs performed by the David Kimbrough Jr. Band (featuring Stacy Nicole Mackey on bass) at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival. David Kimbrough is the son of the legendary bluesmaster Junior Kimbrough, who operated a juke joint in Chulahoma, MS and recorded for the Fat Possum label.

For more info:
(David Kimbrough Jr. at Sonicbids.com) http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=299638
http://www.nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Shaky camera by Max Shores and sound recording by vanark. This entire set is available for download at: http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546332

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

The Cedric Burnside Project (R. L. Burnside’s grandsons Cedric on drums and Cody at the mic with Jesse Hiatt on guitar) perform the Lyrics Born/R. L. Burnside version of the song “Goin Down South” at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival.

For more information:
http://www.cedricburnside.com
http://www.nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Shaky camera by Max Shores and sound recording by vanark. This entire set is available for download at: http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546315

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.

Rev. John Wilkins performs “You Can’t Hurry God” at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival. Rev. Wilkins is pastor of Hunter’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Como, MS. His father, Rev. Roy Wilkins wrote the song, “Prodigal Son” which was recorded by the Rolling Stones.

For more information:
“Blues Beckons and Rev. Wilkins Steps Up” from GoMemphis.com
http://www.biglegalmessrecords.com/revwilkins.htm
http://www.nmshillcountrypicnic.com

Shaky camera by Max Shores and sound recording by vanark. This entire set is available for download at: http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=546297

Max Connections - Random Writings by Max Shores.