{"id":112782,"date":"2021-08-06T15:58:47","date_gmt":"2021-08-06T20:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/?p=112782"},"modified":"2021-08-06T15:58:50","modified_gmt":"2021-08-06T20:58:50","slug":"clarksdale-mississippis-deep-blues-fest-october-2021-festival-weekend-like-no-other-on-the-planet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/clarksdale-mississippis-deep-blues-fest-october-2021-festival-weekend-like-no-other-on-the-planet\/","title":{"rendered":"Clarksdale, Mississippi’s Deep Blues Fest: October 2021 Festival Weekend Like No Other on the Planet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After a year and a half of business shutdowns and festival postponements, Clarksdale, Mississippi<\/strong>‘s legendary Deep Blues Fest (DBF) <\/strong>returns October 14\u201317, 2021, with acts ranging from Alvin Youngblood Hart\u2019s Muscle Theory<\/strong> to Jon Spencer & the HITMakers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smaller event this year? Maybe. Bigger experience? Definitely.

Organized by hardcore roots music fans, DBF is an alternative, heavy\u00a0blues event that’s different from the area’s other more traditional festivals. It’s also as much about experiencing historic Clarksdale as it is the lineup itself. It’s about making friends and building memories that will last a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A SPECIAL EDITION FOR 2021<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

“We may have pared down the venues and music a bit for this year, but don’t let that fool you. We still have an incredible event planned,” said organizer Robin Colonas<\/strong>. “We’re joking that it’s our ‘DIY’ edition, but really, that just means it’s all a little more intimate and personal.”

In addition to Clarksdale’s usual seven-days-a-week of live blues, DBF will deliver an epic lineup inside a very special 2021 main stage venue\u2014the limited capacity, open-air New Roxy<\/strong> (www.newroxy.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The lineup for Deep Blues is always rockin’, and this year’s concentration on the New Roxy as the main festival stage guarantees an unforgettable time,” said local music promoter Roger Stolle<\/strong>. “I always tell visitors that the Roxy just may be the coolest music venue in the South.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vaccines and responsible mask wearing are strongly encouraged. #VisitMSresponsibly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE OLD SCHOOL NEW ROXY<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This year’s Deep Blues Fest will headquarter itself at the one-of-a-kind New Roxy\u2014the alternatively-renovated historic theater that’s considered a jewel of Clarksdale’s “New World,” last century’s famed African American business district. The ancient marquee sets the stage as you walk into a roofed-and-ready front bar area before peering into the stunning former auditiorium\u2014a huge sweeping concrete space with tall brick walls and plenty of fresh air for safety. After all, today’s roofless New Roxy replaces its lid with blue skies by day, and starry skies by night.

Of course, since Deep Blues Fest (and the other dozen local annual festivals) is as much about experiencing Clarksdale as it is attending an event, DBF will promote and bolster the daily blues music scene all around town during the long weekend.

“Clarksdale is one of the only town’s in the world that offers live blues music 365 days a year,” said Visit Clarksdale<\/strong> tourism director Bubba O’Keefe<\/strong>. “When you couple that with such an exciting event as Deep Blues Fest, it really becomes a bit mind blowing how much there is to do, see and hear.”

And if that’s not enough, the very same DBF weekend, Clarksdale hosts the annual Mississippi Delta Tennessee Williams Festival<\/strong>. (The playwright lived here as a youth and based later characters off of colorful locals.) Info on DBF’s sister festival at www.deltawilliamsfestival.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

STELLAR LINEUP ROCKS THE BLUES<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Deep Blues Festival lights up the New Roxy Thursday\u2013Sunday, October 14\u201317, 2021 with these headliners:<\/p>\n\n\n\n