For information about the 8th annual festival in 2012, click here. The 7th Annual Alabama Cigar Box Guitar Festival (formerly known as the Cigar Box Guitar Extravaganza) will take place on Friday, June 3rd and Saturday, June 4th, 2011 in Huntsville, Alabama. This is the event at which most of my documentary, “Songs Inside The Box” was shot several years ago. The event attracts cigar box guitar enthusiasts from across the eastern U. S. and is a fun outing for anyone interested in these unique instruments. Times and performers have not been announced at this writing. Screenings of two of [...]
Hard-rocking blues-soaked guitarist/vocalist/song-writer Tinsley Ellis sings and plays with the energy and soul of all the great Southern musicians who have come before him. Ellis attacks his music with rock power and blues feeling, following in the tradition of Deep South musical heroes Duane Allman, Freddie King, Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes. His live shows feature extended fretwork filled with melodic and rhythmic experimentation, in the spirit of jam bands like his friends Widespread Panic and The Allman Brothers. Atlanta Magazine declared Ellis “the most significant blues artist to emerge from Atlanta since Blind Willie McTell.” I’ve seen him play [...]
Hill Country Revue performs at the 5th annual North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic in Potts Camp, MS. The event is hosted by Kenny Brown who played guitar with the late blues legend, R. L. Burnside. This song was written by Kenny Brown and was originally recorded by R. L. Burnside. It is about Mr. Burnside’s wife, Alice Mae. Hill Country Revue: www.hillcountryrevue.com More about the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic: www.nmshillcountrypicnic.com
Several years ago I directed a documentary about Richard Johnston, the Beale Street one-man-band who draws his inspiration from the hill country of north Mississippi. It won several festival awards and many people have contacted me to ask how they can get their hands on a copy. Unfortunately we can’t sell it, but now there’s a way you can get video of Richard playing on Beale Street. Richard Johnston has just released a DVD which he is offering for sale from his website. It is titled, UNMANAGEABLE. I had the privilege of running camera for this production. My wife and [...]
