It's King Biscuit Time

" Town of Helena makes blues festival special "

By Norm Shaw

Helena, Ark., sits high atop a Mississippi River bluff, an unassuming small town that conjures up images of the past when the world moved at a slower pace and life was simpler.

Main street runs parallel to the river. Shops and stores line the street, with wide sidewalks that make it easy to stop and chat with the neighbors and friends. It is a homey place. You feel comfortable there, even if you are visiting for the first time.

It is this feeling, this sense of place, that makes the King Biscuit Blues Festival special. Sure there are other towns, such as Clarksdale and Greenville, Miss., that host great blues festivals. But they're not Helena. And that makes all the difference.

Part of it is the setting of the festival. With the bluff forming a natural amphitheater, the crowd spreads out comfortably on the hillside to view the main stage. Side stages are in alleys and on loading docks. For all its high-profile artists, the festival remains decidedly home-spun.

Of course, it is those high-profile artists that are the icing on the cake. And this year is no exception. The festival kicks off Thursday, Oct. 10, with performances by Blinddog Smokin', James Harmon and headliner Kenny Neal. An Alligator Records artist, Neal is an ideal opening act. The Louisiana native delivers a high-energy performance that will no doubt set the tone for the rest of the weekend.

On Friday, Oct. 11, the festival kicks into high gear as the Houston Stackhouse Acoustic Stage opens. Corey Harris highlights the stage in the afternoon. He's joined by Blind Mississippi Morris, Catfish Keith, Paul Rishell & Little Annie Raines, Alvin Youngblood and Honeyboy Edwards.

Friday's main stage lineup includes Sean Costello, Frank Frost and Sam Carr with Fred James, Lonnie Shields, Smokey Wilson, Carey Bell, Billy Branch and the S.O.B.s, and Delbert McClinton closes the night.

Saturday kicks off with BlueSpeak favorite Dave Thompson and Big Love on the main stage. The rest of the day includes Little Sonny, Tracey Nelson, Ronnie Earl, Robert Lockwood Jr., Bobby Rush, Jimmy Rogers, Pinetop Perkins and headliner Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets with Sam Myers. The Acoustic Stage features Guy Davis, Fruteland Jackson, Chris Smither, Cedell Davis, Steve James and Gary Primich, and John Weston.

A third stage is added for Saturday only, and some of the best music of the day will be heard on the Heritage Stage. John Primer opens the stage, followed by Candy Shines, Paul 'Wine' Jones, R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough and Rafel Neal. That is as strong a lineup as you'd need for any festival.

The festival wraps up Sunday with performances by Brody Buster, Keri Leigh and the Blue Devils, the Cate Brothers and the Blind Boys of Alabama.

The organizers of the King Biscuit Blues Festival decided a couple of years ago to go after major sponsorship money and use that money to bring in top talent. It is a plan that has worked to perfection.

But remember, the artists are only one part of the festival. The real star remains the town, its heritage and its spirit. Since 1941, Helena has been the home of "King Biscuit Time" on KFFA Radio. Since 1986, Helena has been the home of King Biscuit Blues Festival. May neither ever end.