Spring Festival Season Is Upon Us, Part I

Festival season is here.  Last week, it was the arts downtown.

This weekend, it's all about the food.. from Cornbread to Ramps.

The annual Ramp Tramp is going on in Polk County.

But we'll focus on the music you can find this weekend around town.

Southside Blues Festival

April 26, 1st Tennessee Pavilion

This is a brand new event for the First Tennessee Pavilion.  And based on the stellar lineup they're bringing to town, I hope Chattanooga will support it.

Jason Ricci & New Blood 

Take a Harmonica whiz kid, and give him the energy of a rabid skateboarder and you get some high energy shows out of Jason Ricci.  He must love playing live because he's booked for just about every Blues and Jam Band festival in the country this year (We'll see him later at Riverbend). Here's a sample.

Tinsley Ellis is an old friend to blues lovers in the south.   The Atlanta native broke out to a national audience in the 80s, and he's been on the road ever since.  He's a Bessie Smith Strut veteran and has played all kinds of venues here.

Robert Cray Band

The headliner is now supporting his first ever live recording "Live From Across the Pond."  Robert Cray has also been through town before, most recently for a show at the Tivoli.  We take him for granted because he's out there every year.  But remember, it was Cray and Stevie Ray Vaughan that brought the Blues back from the dead in the early 80s.  And as his new music will testify, he's not ready to hand over the torch just yet.  I personally prefer his work  since 2000 to the early stuff.

 

I'm looking forward to a great blues show right here in our own town.

National Cornbread Festival

April 26-27, South Pittsburg

http://nationalcornbread.com/

The annual cornbread festival is mainly about cooking.  So you'll see plenty of it, cornbread and otherwise.  But the festival also offers arts and crafts, carnival rides and music.

The music is generally local (but the Sequatchie Valley has  rich tradition to draw from) with a couple of nationally known artists this yea.

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Saturday

11:00 The Dismembered Tennesseans

12:30 Nashville Songwriters (Rob Crosby, James Dean Hicks, Brett Jones)

Rob Crosby

Crosby is the best known nationally of these songriters.  He had four Country hits in the early 90's, the biggest of which was Love Will Bring Her Around.  He also has written hits for Martina McBride (Concrete Angel), Andy Griggs (She's More), and Lee Greenwood (Holdin' A Good Hand).

James Dean Hicks

Hicks has been writing hits since the 80's.  The rollcall is long... The Oak Ridge Boys (It Takes A Little Rain, This Crazy Love), Conway Twitty (Goodbye Time), Sammy Kershow (National Working Woman's Holiday), Kenny Chesney (Grandpa Told Me So), and even Jessica Simpson (Sweet Kisses).

But his biggest claim to fame for me, is writing a little hit for Confederate Railroad.

If I were to paint one picture to explain the South to foreigners, it would be several guys standing around a beat-up pickup truck.  You'd see a john deere ball cap, confederate flags on their t-shirts, the #3 and a kid pissing on something decalled on the truck.  There would be a dog in the back, a gun in the cab and cheap beer in their hands.  But the guys aren't talking.  They are listening to "Jesus and Mama" on the truck radio, and they're just too choked up.  It doesn't get anymore southern than that.  James Dean Hicks wrote that song.

Brett Jones

Brett Jones also has a Confederate Railroad connection, having written When and Where for them. He's written four #1 country hits... You Gotta Love That (Neal McCoy), A Little Past Little Rock (Lee Ann Womack), Better Man Better Off (Tracy Lawrence), and You Won't Ever Be Lonely (Andy Griggs).

Sunday

1:00 Rhonda Vincent and the Rage

This is a return engagement for Ms Vincent.  Of course, since Martha White is a longtime sponsor for her, the Cornbread Festival is a natural fit.  Vincent is now running one of the hardest working and most popular Bluegrass outfits on the road these days.  And sure enough, she's back with a new album this spring, Good Thing Going.  This is a clip of her talking about the album.

Rhonda Vincent and the Rage will hit the 3 Sisters Festival this fall in Chattanooga.

2:00 Sammi Moore Band

A Marion County native trying to make her name in Nashville these days.  We'll also see her later at Riverbend.

Check back in next week.  I'll continue our annual tradition of posting the winning Cornbread recipes from the Festival.

Here are the dishes that made the finals for this weekend:

Mediterranean Chicken with Polenta

Lynn's Southwestern Cornbread and Chicken Wedges

Ancho Shrimp on Fresh Gouda Corncakes

Savory Prosciutto-Fontina Cornbread Pudding

Chicken Florentine Cornbread Wedges with Ceasar Dressing

Muffaletta Cornbread Casserole with Basil Sauce

Sausage Pepper Cheese Quiche with Cornbread Crust

Zesty Italian Sausage Skillet with Tomato Cornbread Crust

Blackened Catfish Salad with Mini Hush Puppy Croutons

Kentucky Kornbread Hot Browns

Madelynne's Corn Country Ham Bake

Nikki's Pizza Cornbread

Ryan's Creamy Chicken Cornbread

Pimento-Cheese Cornbread

E-man's Super Duper Corn Meal Delight

Skillet Cornbread with Bacon and Chives

Justin's Country Cornbread Dressing

Omlette Cornbread

Taco Twist

Country Sweet Potato Cornbread

Are you hungry yet?

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Next week, it's one of the biggest Bluegrass weekends of the year thanks to the Box Pinion Memorial Concert.  And we'll head out to the farm to celebrate musical variety at Roots Fest.