Blues Music Takes Center Stage at the 23rd Annual Arkansas King Biscuit Blues Festival in Historic Helena
Sept. 10, 2008
Kimberly J. Williams, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
“Blues means what milk does to a baby. Blues is what the spirit is to the minister. We sing the blues because our hearts have been hurt, our souls have been disturbed.” Alberta Hunter
If you listen closely, you can hear it…the sound of a wailing guitar and a gruff voice proclaiming the troubles he has faced and the women who have done him wrong. It’s the blues…and it has become the heartbeat of the Arkansas Delta, a region that has faced hardships ranging from abject poverty to devastating floods. You hear that adversity in the music…and it reaches into the depths of the listener’s soul. It’s the blues…a powerful, lyrical lullaby for anyone who has faced pain or tragedy or just had a really bad day. It sweeps over you like the waves of the Mighty Mississippi.
Each October, thousands from throughout the world flock to historic downtown Helena as the music takes over – giving visitors a three-day, down-home, soul-baring musical history lesson. The Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival (formerly known as the King Biscuit Blues Festival) has become one of the largest blues festivals in the world. Not bad for an event that began on a makeshift stage with less than 500 attendees. “There is no way, all those years ago, that anyone would have thought this festival would become the event it is today,” said Billy G. Ray, media relations chairperson for the festival. “The festival has grown from a one-day event into a three-day musical extravaganza. It is regarded as one of the premier blues festivals in the United States.”
This year’s event will be held Oct. 9-11 and marks the festival’s 23rd year. The festival encompasses the majority of the historic town’s Cherry Street, the same street that blues legends Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert “Junior” Lockwood and Robert Johnson once strolled on their way to becoming musical legends.
From those humble beginnings in 1986, the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival has morphed into a full-fledged musical event. If you wander through the crowd at the festival, you’ll hear languages and accents from throughout the world. But you’re just as likely to bump into a friend from the neighboring county or state. The crowd is as diverse as the performers on the stage – they come from all walks of life, both near and far, both young and old. “Many of the festival goers have been coming for over 20 years,” Ray said. “For many people, it’s like a family reunion.”
This year’s festival features a variety of performers, ranging from the legendary to legends in the making. Sam Carr, Pinetop Perkins, Anson Funderburgh, Reba Russell, Dave Riley, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Michael Burks and Bobby Rush are all slated to appear at the festival. With nearly 80 performances from four stages over three days, the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival is a blues lover’s dream.
Although the music is definitely the main draw, the festival offers more than music. A variety of vendors are located along and around the festival area, offering items ranging from arts and crafts to festival food and drinks. The downtown area also offers a variety of shops ranging from music to antiques to one-of-a-kind gift ideas. There’s also a 5K run and a 2-mile walk on Saturday, Oct. 11. Details can be found on the festival Web site.
For more detailed information and a complete lineup for the 23rd annual Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival, visit their Web site at www.bluesandheritagefest.net or phone 870-338-8798.
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Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"
Kimberly J. Williams, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
“Blues means what milk does to a baby. Blues is what the spirit is to the minister. We sing the blues because our hearts have been hurt, our souls have been disturbed.” Alberta Hunter
If you listen closely, you can hear it…the sound of a wailing guitar and a gruff voice proclaiming the troubles he has faced and the women who have done him wrong. It’s the blues…and it has become the heartbeat of the Arkansas Delta, a region that has faced hardships ranging from abject poverty to devastating floods. You hear that adversity in the music…and it reaches into the depths of the listener’s soul. It’s the blues…a powerful, lyrical lullaby for anyone who has faced pain or tragedy or just had a really bad day. It sweeps over you like the waves of the Mighty Mississippi.
Each October, thousands from throughout the world flock to historic downtown Helena as the music takes over – giving visitors a three-day, down-home, soul-baring musical history lesson. The Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival (formerly known as the King Biscuit Blues Festival) has become one of the largest blues festivals in the world. Not bad for an event that began on a makeshift stage with less than 500 attendees. “There is no way, all those years ago, that anyone would have thought this festival would become the event it is today,” said Billy G. Ray, media relations chairperson for the festival. “The festival has grown from a one-day event into a three-day musical extravaganza. It is regarded as one of the premier blues festivals in the United States.”
This year’s event will be held Oct. 9-11 and marks the festival’s 23rd year. The festival encompasses the majority of the historic town’s Cherry Street, the same street that blues legends Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert “Junior” Lockwood and Robert Johnson once strolled on their way to becoming musical legends.
From those humble beginnings in 1986, the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival has morphed into a full-fledged musical event. If you wander through the crowd at the festival, you’ll hear languages and accents from throughout the world. But you’re just as likely to bump into a friend from the neighboring county or state. The crowd is as diverse as the performers on the stage – they come from all walks of life, both near and far, both young and old. “Many of the festival goers have been coming for over 20 years,” Ray said. “For many people, it’s like a family reunion.”
This year’s festival features a variety of performers, ranging from the legendary to legends in the making. Sam Carr, Pinetop Perkins, Anson Funderburgh, Reba Russell, Dave Riley, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Michael Burks and Bobby Rush are all slated to appear at the festival. With nearly 80 performances from four stages over three days, the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival is a blues lover’s dream.
Although the music is definitely the main draw, the festival offers more than music. A variety of vendors are located along and around the festival area, offering items ranging from arts and crafts to festival food and drinks. The downtown area also offers a variety of shops ranging from music to antiques to one-of-a-kind gift ideas. There’s also a 5K run and a 2-mile walk on Saturday, Oct. 11. Details can be found on the festival Web site.
For more detailed information and a complete lineup for the 23rd annual Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival, visit their Web site at www.bluesandheritagefest.net or phone 870-338-8798.
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"