First Bluestock offers strong lineup

" An all-star lineup featuring Bobby 'Blue' Bland, Lynn White, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Junior Kimbrough will headline the first Bluestock on Beale Street on Nov. 22-23. "

Staff Report

An all-star lineup featuring Bobby "Blue" Bland, Lynn White, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Junior Kimbrough will headline the first Bluestock on Beale Street on Nov. 22-23.

In addition, more than 50 bands will be performing in showcases all along Beale in the first blues event from the Crossroads organization. The Crossroads Music Expo takes place each spring, but has had a decidedly rock flavor, organizer Eli Ball says. Bluestock allows the organization to focus on blues only from acts who submit tapes for consideration to the panels of professionals.

Two main panels have been set: "DIY: Tips on Marketing Your Band and Production" and "Down and Dirty: The Real Deal on Publishing Your Music." Both panels will feature blues professionals from all areas of the industry. The panel discussions will be at the Center for Southern Folklore on Beale on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 1-5 p.m. Panel discussions are free and open to the public.

The real action, though, will happen on the stages of several Beale clubs. Admission will be by wrist ticket, and is $12 in advance and $15 at the door. The wrist ticket will get you into all the participating clubs. Several special showcases are planned, in addition to the headliners. Malaco Records from Jackson, Miss., and Antone's Records from Texas will produce showcases of their artists.

The headliners cover the spectrum, from the north Mississippi blues of Kimbrough to the R&B stylings of Bland to the sometimes outrageous Lynn White. Big Jack Johnson, who took home a W.C. Handy Award last year for best song, also is scheduled to play. Sheppard is one of the hot-shot young, white guitarists making a name for himself. The timing of the shows will no doubt cause some serious conflicts for fans.

Ball says he is very pleased with how the first Bluestock came together, particularly given the time constraints. He also says this may be the first of a series of more specialized showcase events to be produced by Crossroads.

"Crossroads has become a rock showcase," he says. "That's what people know it as, so it should be just that. We are looking at perhaps four different events a year, each with a different focus."

Ball mentioned blues, gospel and urban/rap as possible types of music that could support showcases. More plans will be announced in the near future.