We're Blogging!!

Hello and welcome to my new blog, Dispatches from the Delta. I started this blog because so many of you are either coming to Clarksdale for the Juke Joint Festival or you've been asking me about my many adventures here in delta blues country.

So each day I'll try to provide a little insight into what's going on, what bands I've been seeing, what's happening with The New Roxy or just share some of the many stories and adventures that I just love collecting when I'm here in Clarksdale.

So today turned out to be a beautiful sunny day here in Mississippi after a typical delta thunder and lightening storm passed through last night. My friends from the Pacific Northwest only think that they know what rain is until they experience a southern thunderstorm.

This morning I awoke to the sweet sounds of weed whacker. As the Juke Joint Festival draws closer the town of Clarksdale goes all out to get spiffed up for all the guests that arrive from all over the country (and world). Even the local jail population kicks in as it was prisoners who were weed whacking the sidewalks this morning.

After being awoken by the prisoners (for those that know me you should not be shocked by that phrase) I headed out into Clarksdales infamous morning traffic and got entangled in a Mississippi traffic jam - translation...... I got stuck behind a guy driving a tractor down the street. A not all that uncommon occurance around these parts.

Once the morning errands were out of the way it was off to lunch at the Dutch Oven. The Dutch Oven is a small bakery and cafe located in the historical train station in Clarksdale. Owned and operated by Mennonites, it's probably the healthiest restaurant in town as there is nothing deep fried (a very rare thing here in the South).

Anyway, the town is beginning to buzz as the excitement of the Juke Joint Festival starts to build. I have lots and lots of things to take care of before the big event at The New Roxy not the least of which is to figure out how to sell cold beer during the show.

I'll try to keep you up to date each day and if you're lucky I may even post a photo or two.