Jun 13

Every year I’ve gone to the T-Bone Walker Blues Fest I’ve had a spectacular time. It’s always a high-quality event with great, world-class musical artists and a diverse lineup of folks who are fine and faithful practitioners of the blues. Truly this Linden festival is one of the best in the Four States region.

This year’s event brings an equally amazing array of musicians to the Music City Texas Theater stages both indoor and outdoor, including heralded British blues guitarist Matt Schofield. Also on tap as headliners are The Alan Fox Band and Robin & the Bluebirds, two top regional acts. Because of health reasons, David “Honeyboy” Edwards won’t be making the trip this year, unfortunately, but his replacement is also a living legend: Louisiana Red.

Here at the Gazette, we caught up with Omar Sharriff, who performs the boogie woogie as a jazz pianist (and recently relocated back to the town where he grew up: Marshall, Texas). He was a great interview, and our preview story was in last Friday’s Accent section. He spoke with affection of the generation of musicians that included the likes of T-Bone, Muddy Waters, B.B. King and Ray Charles. And he says being back in Marshall, he’s treated just like he was in Paris, France—namely, like the president of the United States. Seems fitting for a great blues man.

Check out a T-Bone Walker Blues Fest schedule and more info right here: TBoneWalkerFest.com.

- Aaron Brand

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May 6

The lineups for two of the big upcoming live music events are now out. Top acts for the 35th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival are country: headliner Chuck Wicks and the opening act for him, Little Texas. They’ll play on Saturday, Aug. 13. Wicks appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” and his song “Stealing Cinderella” went to number five on the country chart. Little Texas has been around since the late ’80s and their number one hit was “My Love.” Tickets go on sale June 3.

Over at Music City Texas Theater is the T-Bone Walker Blues Fest on June 17 and 18 with blues musicians across the generations on tap to perform. David “Honeyboy” Edwards is returning; this Delta blues guitarist is a living blues legend and shouldn’t be missed. Others in the lineup for the two-day festival are Buddy Flett, Omar Sharriff, Matt Schofield, Robin & the Bluebirds, Ezra Charles Band, Bobbie Oliver & Jam City Revue, DieDra & the Ruff Pro Band, The Peterson Brothers Band, The Alan Fox Band, Mathew Davidson Band, Bill Lynch and the MidWestern Icons, and the Pleasant Hill Quilting Group. Each year this festival is one of the best music events around the Texarkana area, rich in quality musicians and great personalities.

- Aaron Brand

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Jun 21

I caught this past Saturday’s lineup at the T-Bone Walker Blues Fest down in Linden and must say it was a fantastic musical experience, albeit a sweaty one in front of the outdoor stage where the first act was Robin & the Bluebirds, the latest incarnation of a Shreveport institution. They were loads of fun beneath a killer summer sun—quite possibly during the hottest part of the day. The good music and carefree festival vibes made the heat bearable. The Bluebirds set the mood right and included a few solid originals.

Meanwhile, Dorothy “Miss Blues” Ellis truly belted out the blues to kick off the afternoon shows inside the intimate Music City Texas Theater. I first saw her two years ago at the same festival, and she truly pack soul and heart into her memorable performances. She leaves it all on stage. Following her was the flipside generation with the youthful, effervescent Emily Elbert, whose covers of the Allman Brothers (“Whipping Post”), Michael Jackson (“Thriller”), and Ray Charles showed she’s a talent to watch. Her “Stormy Monday” cover was a fitting nod to the festival’s namesake.

For me, the highlight, though, was feeling musical history come alive in the form of blues pianist Henry Gray, born in 1925 outside of New Orleans and a longtime performer in Chicago. He played piano for Howlin’ Wolf between 1956 and 1968, and that kind of blues heritage inclusion is what makes the T-Bone Walker Blues Festival so outstanding and special. The blues roots are represented. Gray has also been a mainstay at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. It felt like a privilege to see him perform. My only regret is that I didn’t get down Friday night to see David “Honeyboy” Edwards, someone who knows the roots of Delta blues; word is that Friday night’s crowd was the best the festival has seen for that day in its five years.

Other highlights including meeting Buddy Flett (a very nice guy), who said it feels good to be back on stage after encountering some health problems, and catching both some of Johnny Winter’s songs and Zac Harmon’s electrifying set outside. Bruton & Price Swingmasters Revue, Malford Milligan, and Diddley Squat were no less special.

They all showed the blues is alive and very well, something that would surely please Linden native T-Bone Walker. This festival gives blues a good name, and I hope to see it grow and thrive in years to come. (See below for a few of the snapshots I got during the day.)

- Aaron Brand

Robin & the Bluebirds performed a hot set under the hot sun. They kicked off the outdoor action Saturday.

Bruton & Price Swingmasters Revue plays blues in the Texas Roadhouse style.

Zac Harmon closing out the Saturday night lineup on the outdoor stage.

Diddley Squat wins my award for snazziest dressers of the day.

Singer and guitarist Emily Elbert met fans outside of MCT after her show.

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Jun 16

Sorry for the little hiatus last week; other random little projects consumed my blogging time but some super music awaits us in the coming days, starting with the 5th Annual T-Bone Walker Blues Fest.

First, I’d like to say the recent Sideshow Tragedy show at Fat Jack’s was a fun, rollicking concert and CD release event for the Austin-based band that’s no stranger to rolling through Texarkana. Hopefully Sideshow will return soon to once again play material from this new, self-titled release; they are a promising band and the raw energy of the trio’s set was memorable. See the Sunday Accent page for a review of their new album. As well, I caught the Klipsch Music Festival Saturday afternoon and into the sweltering evening. Here’s hoping this festival catches on for the region because it featured a diverse lineup of solid regional acts, including an appearance by the great jazz guitarist Tonk Edwards. Also on stage in Hope, Ark., were Wes Jeans and The Jason Helms Band headlining the evening show, as well as Hazy Jayne, Dave Almond, and The Night Hawk Band. During the day the crowd was light and sensibly huddled out of the sun under a big tent situated too far from the Fair Park stage, but as the heat wore off the crowd grew and the lawn filled up in front of the performers. Kudos to Klipsch for adding this community event (free) to the speaker company’s summer pilgrimage; it has potential, and music under summer skies feels good to hear.

This upcoming weekend brings blues any way you like it to Music City Texas Theater down in Linden with the T-Bone Walker Blues Fest. Blistering blues and Delta blues, young blues and blues from those who’ve mastered the art for decades. Johnny Winter, Zac Harmon, Malford Milligan, Diddley Squat, Emily Elbert, Henry Gray, Guitar Shorty, David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Buddy Flett, The Bluebirds, Dorothy “Miss Blues” Ellis (that’s her a couple years ago at the top of this blog page), Kayla Reeves, and Bruton & Price Swingmasters Revue. Friday and Saturday, outdoors and indoors. Oh, and the outdoor show is free Friday while only $5 on Saturday. More info: TBoneWalkerBluesFest.com.

That’s not all. Plenty of local and regional acts play this weekend as well if you can’t get down to Linden for the blues bash. Check Friday’s Best Bets for a look at who’s playing.

- Aaron Brand

Zac Harmon, shown here in this submitted photo, hails from the Jackson, Miss., blues scene.

Johnny Winter, shown here with his band in a promo photo, plays Saturday night at the T-Bone Walker Blues Fest.

Texas native Emily Elbert performs at Music City Texas both Friday and Saturday nights for the T-Bone Walker Blues Fest.

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