Here’s to 5 Years — Music in the Hall, Oxford Sounds Premier

The Lyric was a showcase of great local music and excited fans on Nov. 6.

Last night, Nov. 6, marked the 5th anniversary of Oxford’s very own grass roots music videos series Music in the Hall.

The celebration of the series anniversary was held at The Lyric where patrons were able to drink and eat food provided by Proud Larry’s  while enjoying live music and highlights of the series past five years

Attendees gathered in and greeted each other while a large projector screen showed old clips of Music in the Hall, including performances by Meyhem String Band, Rocket 88, South Memphis String Band, and many more. With some help from local businesses like Yalobusha Brewing Company and Tre Amici, the anniversary event had a multi-camera live stream, allowing online viewers to enjoy the proceeding from the comfort of their homes.

After old highlights of Music in the Hall, clips of Oxford Sounds and Oxford Sessions entertained the large crowd.

Oxford Sounds airs tonight at 9 p.m. on Mississippi Public Broadcasting.

“Oxford Sounds is something we’ve been working on for a couple of years now, to really help solidify Oxford as a music destination” said Music in the Hall creator Daniel Morrow.

According to Marie Antoon, a local music scene authority and former vice president with Mississippi Public Broadcasting, Oxford is home to some of the nation’s and region’s biggest music names.”We have an amazing combination of music venues, musicians, music audiences, and perhaps most surprising, an incredible number of recording studios.”

Not only do many great musicians call Oxford and its surrounding area home, but many more think of Oxford as their home away from home, Antoon added. “’Oxford Sounds’’’ was fortunate to be able to capture many of the amazing sights and sounds of the Oxford music world,” she said. “With nine hours of music and interviews, the series brings the audience inside the recording studios around Oxford. Mississippi is known for its place in the history of the music world and Oxford demonstrates that its legacy will continue far into the future.”

Oxford Sessions captures intimate videos of an artist/artists around Oxford performing. These performing sessions often take place in recognizable places around Oxford like the Square, if not in one of the area’s many recording studios.

“Those last two songs you saw tonight were in Tweed Recording Studio off of College Hill Road and that’s one of the things this series is trying to do is help show how beautiful and great these studios are” Morrow added.

Before beginning the live music, Morrow thanked all the music fans in the room for their active support over the last five years. “This five years has flown by, and we’ve had a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s been quite a journey, and while we’ve done a lot it has been a great learning experience — so we hope to make the next five years even better.”

The night was capped off with live performances by The Red Thangs, Julie Lee, Hinge Dance Company, and Rocket 88.

Here is a preview of the first episode of “Oxford Sounds” that airs tonight, Nov. 7 on Mississippi Public Broadcasting.

Oxford Sounds Premier At 9 p.m. On MPB TV

The iconic Oxford, Miss. lies between the Mississippi Delta, birthplace of the Blues, and the foothills of Appalachia, home to the beginnings of folk and country music. It’s no wonder the town and surrounding region are home to an incredible array of well-known talent like The North Mississippi Allstars, Charlie Mars, Jimbo Mathus, Cedric Burnside, Bass Drum of Death, and Shannon McNally among others.

“Oxford Sounds” is a new music show documenting and discovering the music and musicians that are part of Oxford. It premieres November 7 at 9 p.m. on MPB TV. The production will feature interviews with musicians telling the stories behind their music. Show hosts include Widespread Panic’s JoJo Herman, Jimbo Mathus and Caroline Herring.

Jimbo Mathus

The premiere episode features Jimbo Mathus and the Tri-State Coalition as well as Cary Hudson and Blue Mountain. The music performances for this episode were filmed at the Delta Recording Studios, known for intimate recordings.

A native of the Mississippi Delta, Jimbo Mathus is set to include some of his best Delta songs in his performance for “Oxford Sounds.” His music reflects the Delta musical heritage and its distinctive cultural legacy. As a part of The Squirrel Nut Zippers, Mathus sold millions of records and found a wide following.  He now performs with the Tri-State Coalition.

Cary Hudson’s name is listed in Gibson Magazine’s list of Top 10 Alternative Country Guitarists of all time.  After touring in the U.S. and Europe, Blue Mountain and Hudson are recognized as a staple of Southern music for decades. A music writer described Hudson’s performance for “Oxford Sounds” as one of the best examples of his guitar style.

— Photo’s and story by Jordan Diggers a journalism student at the Meek School of Journalism and New Media at Ole Miss.