Go Forward Pine Bluff, in partnership with the city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, created Forward Fest Blues Batter and Brew as part of the Delta Celebration Series of Festivals and Events in 2017. The 2018 festival was an all-day event that featured local, regional, and national artists. BIG ROB and Angie Stone were among the 2018 headliners. The event drew families near and far for a record crowd of 15,000 people.
Castro Coleman a-k-a Mr. Sipp “The Mississippi Blues Child” has created a sound utterly his own – one that has landed him over 125 credits and has played on over 50 national recordings with several Grammy nominated projects. Strongly influenced by Albert King, BB King, Little Milton and Muddy Waters, Mr. Sipp tours throughout the U.S. In addition, he has traveled to Russia, Germany and other countries spreading his gift of music and the legendary sound of the Blues.
Being recognized for his amazing vocals, songwriting ability, musicianship, ability to produce records and entertain Fans with an upbeat, outlandish show all make Mr. Sipp “The Total Package.”
In 2014 Castro was the winner of the International Blues Challenge (Band), the Albert King Gibson Guitar award, BMA Best New Artist Album winner 2016, The Spirit of Little Walter Award 2016. In 2016, Castro was the first blues artist to have his handprint inducted into the Wall of Fame in Fredrikshavn Denmark. In 2014, Castro was given the Bobby Rush Entertainer of the Year Award by the Jus’ Blues Foundation. In 2015, he won several Jackson Music Awards including International Male Blues Artist, Blues Artist of the Year, Entertainer of the year.
Castro started out playing the gospel with his aunt Grace Cain. Then he later started his own group The True Believers which launched them in the gospel industry with their album In This Place. After The True Believers Castro joined the Williams Brothers and started playing on and with other national recording artist, such as The Pilgrim Jubilees, Spencer Taylor and the Highway QC’s, Rev. Rance Allen, The Texas Boys, Brian Courtney Willison, The Jackson Southernaires, and The Canton Spirituals. Just to name few. After that he later started Castro Coleman and Highly Favored which again proved successful in the gospel industry, with television appearances on Bobby Jones Gospel. Their album Time Out gained national attention. Castro has won many awards in the gospel industry and has over 125 credits listed on Allmusic.
In 2012 Castro decided that he wanted to venture over into the blues genre. He competed in the regional competition in the fall of 2012 and won. He then went to compete in Memphis in January 2013 where made it to the finals. He went back and won the regional competition in the fall of 2013 won again and back to Memphis in 2014.
“Old-school soul and R&B gets a welcome infusion of youthful spirit and drive from this rock-solid, savvy Memphis quintet.”
“ powerful female vocals over a horn and guitar-driven soul base “
“Led by sisters Tierinii (vocals) and Tikyra Jackson (drums), with Israeli powerhouse guitarist Ori Naftaly, jazz bassist Daniel McKee and keyboardist Jeremy Powell “
“The band is worthy of the Stax Records label”
“Tierini Jackson is the visual fulcrum of the band. She’s a natural performer. Watching her work the stage tonight must be what it felt like to see Tina Turner before she was famous.”
Southern Avenue ‘It’s Gonna Be Alright’ | Live Studio Session
Southern Avenue “It’s Gonna Be Alright” Live at KDHX 4/22/17
Once a generation, a blues artist comes along who not only reminds mainstream audiences how deeply satisfying and emotionally moving the best blues music can be, but shakes the genre to its core. With both eyes on the future and the blues in his blood, 20-year-old guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is set to take the music world by storm with the long-awaited release of his debut album, KINGFISH, on Alligator Records. Sprung from the same earth as so many of the Delta blues masters, Kingfish comes bursting out of Clarksdale, Mississippi, just ten miles from the legendary crossroads of Highways 61 and 49. A student of the Delta’s musical history, he is acutely aware of the musicians and the music that emerged from his corner of the world. “I do think I have an old soul, that I’ve been here before,” he says. “I’m moving forward with one foot in the past.”
Surviving the test of time, Anthony Hamilton will soon gift his fans with yet another compilation baring his heart and soul. Millions across the globe have bought his albums, falling deeply in love with raw, passionate notes that tell a story so familiar that it belongs to us all. His new album, “What I’m Feelin’,” merges a life-long journey with a musical evolution that never once sacrifices his roots.
“I was an introvert growing up,” said the Grammy Award winner. “I had a wild imagination and I would dream a lot.” These dreams included earning the world’s admiration, dominating the stage with a voice part deep, part smooth, all captivating. With “Charlene” setting the scene in 2003, he became the narrator of “love.” His debut LP, “Coming from Where I’m From,” created an undeniable connection with fans who related to the yearning, understood the pain, and hoped for a life with “the one.”
With seven widely released albums paving the way, the new project stays true to his core yet explores the depths of where this gifted voice can flow. His first single “Amen,” produced by Salaam Remi and James Poyser, celebrates the beauty of a woman in true Anthony style. “It’s not just about her physical attributes,” he noted. “It’s about appreciating everything she brings to the table from going to work, cooking for you, praying for you, and loving you from an authentic place.”
And it’s his authenticity and honest depiction of the average man’s woes that keep the audience searching for him year after year. Another track from the new album, “Walk in my Shoes,” reminds us that no one is immune to mistakes, trials, and defeats. His vocals perfectly convey a pain so deep, that the song leaves little room for misinterpretation.
With the majority of the tracks produced by Mark Batson, “What I’m Feelin’” has purposeful moments like the up-tempo “Take You Home” fueled by his upbringing in the church. “The lead singer in the choir and the pastor were super heroes because of how they made you feel,” he recounted of his early years. “It’s a feeling you get when you hear someone lead that just inspires.”
Although his voice belongs to the world having worked with icons like D’Angelo and 2Pac, his vocals still serve as North Carolina’s soundtrack. Even in the presence of longstanding, global celebration, humility remains his greatest asset. “It means so much that people are still seeking me after so many years without an album coming out,” he shared. “They could have moved on.” In the five-year span between his last album “Back to Love” and “What I’m Feelin’,” Anthony released his first holiday album and even made a guest appearance on the Fox hit show EMPIRE, one of the highest rated episodes of the season.
This spiritual vessel takes nothing for granted and believes that his “heaven sent” talent results from God’s plan for his life. He continues to grow while always focusing on what fans want. “There are slight shifts you can make but you just can’t leave the people,” he said. “If we gon’ ride together, we gon’ ride together.” And oh what a ride it has been.
SynRG Band is one AR’s most fun energetic musical ensembles who specializes in an array of styles of music, through vocal and instrumental arrangements.
We each are second generation musicians from Gospel genre. We have been playing together as an R&B cover band since around 2003. We have shared the stage with the likes of Denise LaSalle, Carl Sims, Frankie Beverly, Pretty Willie, Floyd Taylor, TK Soul, Ms. Jody, Johnny Gill, and others.
Those stages have included:
Little Rock, AR River Front Ampitheatre
University of AR at Pine Bluff
University of Alabama
Stevenson College (North Carolina)
Mosiac Templars Cultural Museum Little Rock, AR
Ynot Jazz and Blues Lounge
The Social Lounge
Isaac Hayes of Memphis, TN
Black Majik Club
Cook Park Blues Fest
Elevations Social Lounge
Justin Teal Morgan is a singer-songwriter from the Eastern Arkansas Delta. He was raised on a farm, only an hour West of Memphis, TN. Born into a musical family, Justin explored and absorbed many different kinds of music from a very young age. After years of searching and experimentation, he developed a voice and sound true to his heart. Justin’s sound is acoustic based and firmly rooted in the Blues, blending in Rock, Soul, and Folk -among other influences.
This is a band that has been waiting to get “back together” since the 1950’s and 1960’s. Rockabilly Hall of Fame Member George “Butch” Scaife formed the core of a band called the Highway 49 Band about 6 years ago. The band’s focus is on blues-based reproductions of old and new blues tunes. Members of the Highway 49 Band are Larry Pruitt, Lisa Rowland, and George Scaife. With almost 100 years of performance talent on the stage, you will be hard-pressed to keep your seat during their show. Some of the tunes may be oldies but they are definitely goodies after the Highway 49 Band adds their collective and talented touches to the art they create.
So you have your new digital camera and clicking away to glory anything and
everything in sight now you want to digital events