19th Annual Tri-State Blues Festival

Blues music lovers will flock to DeSoto County, Mississippi, on Aug. 20 for the 19th Annual Tri-State Blues Festival at Landers Center! The event features R&B and Southern soul blues artists that bridge the gap between generations.

So, who’s gracing the stage this year? We’ll tell you:

GRAMMY® winning R&B group The Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston hit the scene in the 1970s and found fame with singles like “Kiss and Say Goodbye” and “Shining Star.” The current iteration of the group features Alston, David Tyson, Troy May and backing band East Coast Connection. The group continues to play their mix of blues, soul and gospel to eager ears around the world.

              
Best known as an important figure in the Chicago blues scene of the 1970s and 80s, Willie Clayton hails from the Magnolia State. The Indianola native grew up singing gospel in church, but it was his takes on blues and soul records that fans would come to know him by. He’s recorded more than 25 blues albums over the span of four decades and has no plans of stopping anytime soon.

Mississippi-born songstress Nellie Tiger Travis has been delighting audiences for over two decades with her blend of classic R&B and soul. Her approach to music has always been to cross age, gender and racial boundaries, and connect fans through her unapologetic, down-home sound.

Bayou-soul has never sounded sweeter than when it’s sung by crooner Pokey Bear. This larger-than-life entertainer brings the heat every time he’s on stage with his fresh take on old-school blues.

       
The new generation of blues is alive and well. Hailing from Greenwood, Mississippi, the Jay Morris Group weave storytelling into their songs in a way that makes the listener feel like they wrote it themselves. Jackson, Mississippi, native J-Wonn finds inspiration for his music by incorporating his church choir roots with his love of hip-hop and R&B. 

The Mississippi Delta is rich with music history that’s known across the globe. Make plans now for this special night of entertainment right here in DeSoto County!

The 19th Annual Tri-State Blues Festival
Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022
Landers Center | Southaven, MS
Doors: 5:30 p.m. | Starts: 6:30 p.m.
Tickets start at $36. Purchase here.