Blues Festival Returns to Oxford for Sixth Year

Oxford is known for its thriving music scene, and outdoor concerts couldn’t be more ideal in the Mississippi summers.

The 6th annual Oxford Blues Festival will take place July 18 on the lawn of the Grove on campus at Ole Miss, which is adjacent to the University Student Union in Oxford.

“The Oxford Blues Festival is exceptionally pleased to continue our partnership with the University of Mississippi, an annual event which celebrates this great American art form, the blues.” said Joyce Byrd, festival executive director.

Headliners for the festival this year are DuWayne Burnside & The Jeff Jensen Band.

The mission of the Oxford Blues Festival is to preserve, protect and promote blues music and culture. The festival offers education, community events and workshops throughout the year, culminating with the production of an outdoor festival uniting our diverse citizenry in a celebration of American blues-based music.

“North Mississippi has a really rich blues heritage, but it doesn’t get as much attention as Chicago or the Mississippi Delta,” festival producer Darryl Parker said. “This festival is a great way to bring attention to the North Mississippi music scene. Good music, fun with family and friends. It’’s a reason to celebrate.”

Panel discussions featuring Mississippi blues musicians, scholars and the Killer Blues Headstone Project will take place on campus, Saturday morning, July 18, from 10 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. DeWayne Moore, University of Mississippi History PhD candidate, will moderate the panel discussions.

Other artists featured in the Blues Festival include R. L. Boyce, Cadillac Funk, Bobby Ray Watson, The TIP Band and The Zedikers Brothers.

This year’’s General Admission tickets are free to the public. Limited VIP Tickets are available for sale now, and can be purchased online on the festival website. Coolers are allowed for a $5 fee, but glass is not allowed inside the venue. Food vendors will be onsite. For more information, contact Darryl Parker at jdparker@oxfordbluesfest.com or visit the festival website.