Show Friday Night Cancelled!

Sad to report that due to weather and high water, our show Friday night at Buzzard Rock Resort on Lake Barkley has been cancelled!  It may or may not be made up later, but we still have several appearances scheduled for Buzzard Rock later this summer!  Hope to see you there!

Return To Jackson, TN

Always look forward to playing in my home state of Tennessee, but this one's gonna be special!  We'll be playing at the Shannon Street Music Fest in Jackson, TN, Saturday June 1st.  Before moving to Kentucky in 1989, I worked in the Jackson area from 1982 to 1989, first at WZDQ from 1982-83 and then at WBBJ-TV from 1983-1989.

1986

1988

I had a great time there.  I got to meet and hang out with one of my musical heros, Carl Perkins on several occasions.  I'll always remember working a telethon for the Carl Perkins Child Abuse Prevention Center one year, and getting to hang out with both Carl, and another of my favorite singer/songwriters, John Kilzer, who had made a name for himself, first in Memphis and then on the national scene with his great songs.

Funny thing is, I'll actually be opening for John Kilzer this trip.  Kilzer has been through a lot, too so I know he won't remember me, but I so look forward to his show.

I also look forward to seeing so many old friends, who I haven't seen in years.  As for my show, I will do what I do, and I will do my best.  I've changed a lot since then, but my love for West Tennessee and it's people remains steadfast.

Oh yeah.....it looks like our old pal, Col JD Wilkes will be joining us in Jackson.  Oh my..... get ready. Jackson.

New Dates Added: Murphysboro, Metropolis, IL, more...

We've added some new dates! We're booked at the Blues and Ques Festival in Metropolis, IL at Ft Massac State Park, Saturday June 29th at 7PM, and also at the Celebrate America Event at Four Rivers Harley Davidson in Paducah, KY Saturday July 6th.   Here's our latest schedule.  We could also have a major announcement soon about another Blues Festival so stay tuned!

Juke Joint Festival 2013

This was our 4th year to play at the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, MS.  It's turned into a very special trip for us each year.  It's a chance to see old friends, and make new ones.  It's a chance to reconnect with the Blues at it's heart.  And it's so much more.

The Juke Joint Festival is a truly great festival on many levels.  It features the "real deal" Blues players in a "real deal" setting....the authentic Mississippi juke joints.  This draws blues fans from around the nation and even overseas.  It also features a lot of family type activities, so as the old saying goes, there truly is someting for everyone.  For the Blues fan, Robert Belfour, and for the kids, the racing pigs and monkey's riding dogs. (They're a real hoot, by the way....even for the Blues fans...).

The important part of this festival is the celebration of the Blues masters because every year, sadly, there are fewer of them, and even this year, there were a few performers from the past who because of their health, were unable to perform this year, and we can only pray their health improves in the coming year.

We played again this year at the Delta Amusement Cafe, a quaint "joint" near Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero Blues Club in downtown Clarksdale.  We reconnected with some old friends, such as The Beat Daddies, Blue Mother Tupelo, Tom from Florida, Elizabeth and William from Birmingham, AL, Joy from Paducah, Lanette from Evansville, IN and more!

With Tom from Florida

With Tommy Stillwell and Larry Grisham from The Beat Daddys

With William and Elizabeth from Birmingham, AL

 We played a nice gig, the highlight of which was Rip Lee Pryor joining us for a number.  Rip Lee is the son the legendary Snooky Pryor, who was my mentor in the Blues.  Snooky and I often talked about playing together, but for one reason or another, we never made it happen.  That's why it was so cool for Rip to join us.  Of course, I'd known Rip for years but also, for one reason or another, we'd never had the chance to play together either.  He dropped by after his set, harmonica in hand, and we launched into Snooky's "How'd You Learn to Shake It Like That."  Rip's eyes lit up and we took off!

Here's a short video clip!

I'll try to post more soon from our wonderful trip to the Juke Joint Festival!

Lew For Bonnaroo?

Well.....that's what we're hoping for!  The boys and I are entered to play at the music festival through one of 2 ways:

1.  We are entered for consideration for one of 8 slots through SonicBids to play at the festival.

2. SonicBids is also having a contest, where fans can vote on who they would like to see at Bonnaroo, with Bonnaroo choosing 2 of the top 10 vote getters.  We are entered in this, too.

Playing Bonnaroo would be a real hoot since I'm a native Tennessean and also went to college just down the road at Middle Tennessee State in Murfreesboro, TN.  We have appeared at numerous festivals over the years, including some of the top Blues festivals in the nation.  Bonnaroo would be a great experience though, for us, and I'm sure, for some of the fans who have never been exposed to the original high energy style of Blues we play, especially, live.

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Lew Jetton & 61 South

Easy Online Applications To Perform At Music Festivals

In the "old days," to apply to perform at music festivals across the nation was a "tough act" in itself.  It meant mailing out dozens and dozens of bulky press kits with music samples (CD's and before that, cassettes or LPs).  Now days, almost instantly, your band can apply to appear at festivals and other events throughout the nation and abroad through online applications:

Here are some of my favorites!  Some I have performed at.  Some I have attended. Some I would like to attend or perform at!  If you or your band would like to submit to perform at these, just click and submit!

Each May in Paducah, Kentucky, they have the Lowertown Art & Music Festival. It's a really cool festival featuring local artist and musicians.  Bands are required to perform original material, no covers, and must be based within 300 miles of Paducah, Kentucky.   If you'd like to play it,  Click Here to apply to perform at the Lowertown Art and Music Festival!  I've played this one several times and it's a treat!  The neighborhood is beautiful, the town is great, and the crew is easy to work with!

I've played the Handy Blues Festival in Henderson, Kentucky a couple of times over the last 14 years.  To my mind, it's one of the best "unknown" blues festivals in the nation.  It's only one stage but they consistently have the top blues acts in the nation over the festival, which last more than a week.  It takes place in a gorgeous park overlooking the Ohio River and it's usually packed for the performances.  The organizers use merchandise sales and sponsors to keep the festival free.  One of my favorite festivals to have ever played or  attended.  Several years ago, a friend of mine from Australia came to visit and I suggested he stay at a B and B and attend this festival prior to the Chicago Blues Festival and believe it or not, he enjoyed the Handy Festival as much or more than the Chicago Blues Festival because the performers were so outstanding and the local people were to nice!  If you'd like to perform at the WC Handy Blues Festival, Click here to apply! 

I've never played the Chicago Blues Festival, but it's a dream of mine!  You better believe I'll apply next year. I have attended it, and it's all you would think it would be: the finest Chicago Blues players and singers doing their thing that they do so well!  If you think you or your band has what it takes to play the Chicago Blues Festival, or any of the other music events in the Windy City, click here and submit your best stuff! 

One of my favorite Blues Festivals is the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas!  Been there many times.  Never played the festival itself, but did play at Pasquale's Tamales once, during the festival, years ago!  You can't really "apply" to play the main stage, but you can apply to play the "Emerging Artist" Stage and if you are good enough, you might work your way to the big stage in the future and get recognition in the present for appearing at this prestigious festival.  If you think this fits you or your band, apply here by downloading the application and sending in! 

There are several online services which make it easy for you or your band to apply for appearing at festivals and events across the country or abroad.  Right now, I'm utilizing SonicBids to see how effective it is.  It cost a monthly fee and some of the larger festivals, such as Bonnaroo, require an additional monetary fee, usually $5 to $20.  I'll publish a review after a few months and tell you how SonicBids worked for us!

Another huge festival for which you can apply to perform, online, is SXSW in Austin, TX!.  You can apply to perform through SonicBids,

You can apply to play at the Camp Wigout Music Festival in Alabama through SonicBids or Online through their website. 

I'll post more ways to apply to play Blues Festivals later!  Or if you know of some others, email me at ljetton at 61south.com.  Thanks!!!

Festival Update For 2013

We're still ironing out schedule for festivals and other major shows this coming year, but here's what we know so far!

Saturday, April 13, Juke Joint Festival, Clarksdale, MS:  We are still waiting to get our stage assignment and time but are really looking forward to our 4th straight appearance at the Juke Joint Festival.  As noted since our first ever visit there, it's one of our favorites and in my opinion, one of the best run festivals there is.  There is plenty of "real deal" blues artist, in the "real deal" settings, the actual juke joints of Mississippi, and even outside of the music, there is plenty for the whole family to enjoy.....like the racing pigs, and monkey's riding dogs! While there, check out the coolest store ever, Cat Head.  Here's a look at our visit last year!    Last year, we played at the Delta Amusement Cafe, and the year before we played at Ground Zero! 

Friday, May 17, Lowertown Art and Music Festival, Paducah, KY:  We'll play on the main stage at 4PM, so get there early.  This is a really cool festival featuring music and local art in the city's historic Lowertown district, which has been revitalized as a mecca for local artists.  The festival features the music, art galleries nearby and great food, too!  One cool thing about playing on Friday is our friends, Blue Mother Tupelo will too!  We're among their many fans and always look forward to seeing them perform and saying "hi!"

Saturday, May 25, Shawnee Art & Wine Festival, Murphysboro, IL:  Don't let the website fool ya!  The event has been moved to May this year, on Memorial Day Weekend.  Several of Southern Illinois' finest wineries are on hand for tastings, and great food, too.  We had a blast last year and this year's should be even better!!  We're schedule to play at 2PM on the main stage.

Friday, September 27, BBQ On The River, Paducah, KY:   Our annual gathering with 40,000 or so of our closest friends!  We played the very first one, way back in 1995 and have enjoyed making it our "homecoming" every year since!  Along the way, it's turned into one of the biggest events in the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities.  That's the unique thing which sets this BBQ contest apart. The contestants cook for trophies, but also cook for their adopted charities, who receive the proceeds from the sale of the BBQ to the public!

You can always find a complete listing of our shows HERE!  And it's continually updated as new shows are added.  If you haven't heard, one of our fans is pushing our submission to appear at this year's Bonnaroo Music Festival in June!  That would be a major HOOT!  If you'd like to help with this venture, just click here and like us, and share on your facebook wall!



May God Bless,
Lew