Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit announced as 2019 Double Decker headliner

Double Decker coordinator Lee Ann Stubbs (left) and local artist Vicki Stevens (right) unveiled the official Double Decker poster yesterday at a press conference at the University Museum. The festival will be held April 26-27.

The 24th annual Double Decker Festival is only two months away and has become an Oxford tradition that celebrates beautiful art, delicious food, and quality music.

Yesterday at the University Museum, city officials and event planners unveiled the festival’s music lineup and official poster at a press conference.

The band Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit was named as the headlining act. Double Decker coordinator Lee Ann Stubbs said booking this group would not have been possible without the UM Student Activities Association’s support.

“We are very excited about our headliner, and we’re excited about our partnership with SAA,” Stubbs said. “We cannot put on the festival without them helping us sponsor that headliner.”

For the third year in a row, Vice Chancellor of Intercollegiate Athletics Ross Bjork announced the Ole Miss athletics department would provide the financial support to make the University Museum a presenting sponsor. Bjork said the athletics department does this to bring the university and community together.

“The best way we can show leadership is to serve others. We have the ability to do that,” Bjork said. “We are only as good as we are collectively, and so when we maximize our potential and when we unify as a community, great things can happen.”

Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill saw the festival begin 24 years ago with just a pick-up truck and a handful of art and food vendors. Over the years, it has rapidly grown and brings in thousands of people from around the country.

Square Books general manager Lyn Roberts has watched the festival grow from that first year, and said her three stores experience heavy traffic during Double Decker weekend.

“Even though there are a lot more people here, I think it’s really well-managed and organized, and really doesn’t cause a problem like having more people sometimes can,” Roberts said.

Because this is arguably the biggest headliner the festival has had in its 24 years, Stubbs said she expects this year’s turnout to set a record.

“I think the students will be excited, I think the community is going to be excited, I think we’re going to have a bigger crowd than we’ve ever had before,” Stubbs said.

Other musical acts to perform at the two-day event include Eric Gayles, Shovels and Rope, Lily Hiatt, Lucero, and Durand Jones and the Indications. Thacker Mountain Radio will host a live broadcast on stage the first night of the festival.

Double Decker will be held April 26-27. To keep up with the festival’s news, follow DoubleDeckerArts on Twitter and Instagram.

Story contributed by: Briana Florez – bfflorez@go.olemiss.edu and Skye Spiehler – sespiehl@go.olemiss.edu.