INDIANOLA: BB King Homecoming "A Tribute to the King" 2015

“A Tribute to the King”
B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, City of Indianola and Indianola Chamber Main Street host 35th annual B.B. King Homecoming Festival

(INDIANOLA, MS) The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola, Mississippi, will be the site of the 35th annual B.B. King Homecoming Festival on May 24th. The theme for this year’s festival is “A Tribute to the King,” as it seeks to honor the area’s native son.
 
“This is the first year for our Homecoming when B.B. won’t be able to join us, so this is a time of mixed emotions for us,” said Bill McPherson, chairman of the Museum board. “We are grateful for the many years he took time away from his schedule to perform for free and visit with anyone and everyone who wanted to greet him, especially the children whom he enjoyed welcoming up on the stage with him,” McPherson said. Dion Brown, Executive Director of the Museum, said, “Our thoughts and prayers remain with Mr. King, and we hope he can feel the love all the way across the country that we’re sending his way. We certainly will miss his infectious smile and warmth this year.”
 
This is a free festival, and activities will begin at noon with food and art vendors on site; the musical entertainment begins at 2 p.m. Three-time GRAMMY®-nominated  North MS Allstars are headlining the event, and other acts include the B.B. King All-Star Choir; Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, with his brand of Bentonia Blues; David Dunavent and Elov; Delta native Eden Brent; the Allstar Tribute Band featuring Alphonso Sanders; the Marquise Knox Band; and Lil Ray Neal Band.
 
Immediately following the festival, at approximately 10 p.m., an intimate show with Nashville’s Pat McLaughlin and his son Jamie will take place at historic Club Ebony. They are returning by popular demand after a standing ovation at the end of last year’s performance. Tickets are needed for this performance and can be purchased at the B.B. King Museum.
 
A new addition to the weekend will be BB’s Bikes, Blues & BBQ Blowout. Held the day before the Homecoming Festival, this event is sponsored by the Museum and hosted by the United Ryders motorcycle club. Visitors are invited to gather behind the Museum with their grills, tents and coolers and listen to music by Jake and the Pearl Street Jumpers and The Big Tyme Blues Band. Juke joint music will be provided by DJ triple X. Gates open at noon and show time is from 2 – 6 p.m. There is a $5 admission fee and a $3 bike contest fee, with a trophy awarded in four categories.

Also on May 23rd is the Fourth Annual Blue Biscuit Festival, which takes place across the street from the Museum at 501 Second Street. Free live music outside will begin at 11 a.m. and continue until dark. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, but coolers are not allowed. Acts on the outdoor stage will include Zach Day, Jack McWilliams, Alanna Mosely, On The Run, Gary Vincent, Christopher Polk, Sweet Tea Jubilee, R.L. Boyce, Candice Moore, David Dunavent, Delta Crossin’, Alan Jones, Ralph Sandidge, Libby Rae Watson, and Wes Lee. After dark, there is a cover charge inside the Blue Biscuit to hear Mississippi Delta Blues Challenge Winner Libby Rae Watson with Wes Lee and The Beat Daddys.

Located at 400 Second Street, the B.B. King Museum and Delta Cultural Center incorporates a restored 1920s brick cotton gin where King worked as a young man to tell the story of not only a great man and musician, but the history of the place that helped shape him.

Gabby Hasty Hodge
Communications Coordinator
B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center
400 Second Street Indianola, MS 38751
662-887-9539 (t) 662-887-9478 (f)
www.bbkingmuseum.org