Oxford Blues Fest: Photo Gallery

Check out all the action from this weekend at the 4th annual Oxford Blues Festival. 

He’s the Heavy Weight King of The Blues. “Big” George Brock was a professional boxer before he traveled the world blowing his harmonica. / Photo by William Fowler

Oxford came alive this weekend for the 4th Annual Oxford Blues Fest.

After Blues Legend Johnny Winter’s guitar licks tore the books off the walls of The Library thursday night, the front porch stage set up at the Walton-Young house on University Avenue made the perfect spot for a pair of intimate evenings with some local and traveling bluesmen. As many as three hundred patrons set up camp chairs in the lawn out front to enjoy the lineup of talented musicians.

Friday Night showcased “Big” George Brock (pictured above) who has played for crowds all over the world. He says he first got interested in The Blues back when he met up with Muddy Waters. A high point on Friday came when Dr. Alphonso Saunders made it to the stage for his Jazz tribute to the Blues. Now a scholar and master horns man, Saunders once had a mentor tell him “You better blues ’em before you lose ’em”  as he maintains that Jazz is a direct product of the sounds that were coming from the nearby Mississippi Delta, known as The Blues.

Dr. Alphonso Saunders blows the audience away with his impeccable solos. He shows off his virtuosity playing saxophone here, but also the trumpet, flute, and everything in between. / Photo By William Fowler

And no fat city festival is complete without great food. Ezell’s brought their kitchen truck to bread-and-fry fresh catfish per order. Beside Ezell’s was what some were calling “the best Barbecue they’d ever tasted” from Rub-master Mike Thompson’s  BBQ catering business,  Louisiana Rub Down. As he passed out his business card, Thompson let everyone know he wants to have a new restaurant up in Oxford in the next year.

Mike Thompson raises the cover to get a look at his chicken wings. His fall-off-the-bone ribs were all picked by this point. / Photo By William Fowler

On Saturday, a stand out performance came way of Lafayette, Louisiana, as J.J. Caillier and The Zydeco Knockouts took the stage late in the afternoon for some authentic cajun jamming. The repetitive accordion melodies had everyone bobbing their head, and a few on their feet.

J.J. Caillier’s son sits in on the washboard. / Photo By William Fowler

And the “hardest working man in the Oxford music scene”, Silas Reed, led a stellar performance playing both guitar and keyboard, as he led his horns section with hand signals, before he sat in on the drums for Cadillac Funk.

Conductor Silas Reed signals to his horn section. / Photo By William Fowler

Crowd Shot:

Some familiar faces and some new to Oxford. / Photo By William Fowler

Oxford played host to tourist from all around the Delta, Louisiana, Boston, and even a traveling retired couple from Australia. It was the place to be in town as countless cars rode by with turning heads. Overall, clear skies made for a wonderful weekend in the sun. If only we had COLD BEER!

Somebody fetch “Big” George a COLD ONE! / Photo By William Fowler

More Photos Here:

–– William Fowler, junior Integrated Marketing Communications Major, Meek School of Journalism and New Media

Email William Fowler at wdfowle1@go.olemiss.edu

William Fowler is a junior Integrated Marketing Communications Major at the University of Mississippi. Originally from Hattiesburg, MS, William grew up in Destin, FL and has been visiting Oxford ever since he can remember. He has fourteen family members total who have attended school at Ole Miss including his parents, grandparents, sister, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is involved in student government and Greek life on campus.