I have to admit I was excited.
Robert Plant was performing at the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival in
Clarksdale, MS. My little hometown of barely 19,000 people was hosting a
genuine music legend. Sure, I was busy playing shows throughout the weekend,
but I specifically tailored my gigs so I could get over to the stage and see
the man who absolutely defined what a lead singer should be. I was giddy.
On Friday I strolled
to the stage to see a friend’s band perform. That’s when I saw it: the “VIP”
section. A barren wasteland of white tables with black tablecloths and plastic
chairs stretching over 100 feet from
stage to street and covering the entire
width of the stage - without a single person (besides security) to enjoy the
bands. Prices for these tables ranged from $10,000 near the stage to $2,500 in
the back. All the spectators who came to see what was advertised as a “free”
festival were shoved to the far right, in front of the Delta Blues Museum.
I almost
cried. I knew they were setting up a larger VIP section than usual, but I just
expected a bigger tent setup to the left side (which they had also done). The
sight was heartbreaking.
For two long days,
bands were forced to play to empty tables and security guards. Meanwhile, the festival faithful, the people who
had been there since Friday to see every band perform, were forced to watch
from the wings like peasants peeking over the fence of a rich man’s garden
party. The usual dancing, cheering, and gawking from the front of the stage
were gone. No one seemed excited to be there, least of all the musicians! They
had become an afterthought. One musician (who played with several bands over
the course of the festival) said that the audio engineers practically ignored
any requests for monitor adjustments and there wasn’t even anyone to tell the
bands when to start and stop playing. Robert Plant was in town and everyone
else be damned.
I’ve heard
the myriad excuses for this massive new VIP section. “How else could we afford performers like Robert Plant?” and “We have to make money for this festival
somewhere!” While I understand these concerns and sympathize with the need
for funding I have to question the labeling of the festival as “free” when
those who came for a “free festival” are forced to the side and treated like
second-class citizens. The sound system was even directed entirely at the VIP
section with the section in front of the museum only receiving dissipated and
reflected sound. Vocals were difficult to understand even when performers were
simply talking without any music to be heard over. Apparently it wasn't worth setting up a few extra
speakers on the side for those who couldn't afford to pay $10,000 per
table. They just had to settle for the audio
leftovers of the privileged.
I’ve heard
from those that say we need to look past this and look for ways to fix the
problem for next year. Of course I agree that we must find a way to address this
problem so that this type of situation doesn’t occur in the future but at the same
time, someone must be held accountable for giving this festival the biggest
black eye it’s probably ever received. On a weekend when Sunflower Blues and
Gospel Festival and Clarksdale needed to make the best impression possible on a
mostly new crowd, someone dropped the ball. The hope was that this would
reignite this withering festival by drawing a record crowd to Clarksdale. I can
only hope that there wasn’t more harm done than good but based on the backlash
I’m hearing and seeing through friends, tourists, and social media I’m
doubtful.
This display of callous disregard
for performers and patrons who come to the Sunflower Festival year after year and
support our city is simply deplorable. This attitude of socioeconomic elitist
segregationism sends the message that our city doesn’t actually care about the
American art form birthed in our region. It only cares about capitalizing on
the name of a legendary performer – a performer who only comes to our town because of that art form in the first
place. The blues was created by the
poor and underprivileged. If Robert Johnson himself had been alive for this
festival, he wouldn’t have been able to afford a good view.
photos 1 and 4 © Sean Kaufman 2012
photos 2 and 3 © Phillip Carter 2012
photos 1 and 4 © Sean Kaufman 2012
photos 2 and 3 © Phillip Carter 2012
