Monday, August 13, 2012

Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival 2012: A not-quite-so-free festival.


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

19 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. This is so typical in Mississippi, and I can't understand it. Local banks and companies buy VIP access and expect to be treated as royalty (for just $10,000??). The companies then use about 6 of the 40 tickets they are alloted as VIPS and send people to the event who have no interest in the music or the stories of the people who make the music. Mississippians (and I am one), need to get over this need to stratify every event into a place where we have the white people here, the well-dressed people over there, the lower level sponsors behind them and the plebes in the back.

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  3. Wade is perfect in what he said above. I struggle for the words, but you, sir, found them for me. It's the fucking hunger games in Mississippi. Pathetic & soul-less.

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  4. I was a first time guest from Biloxi. I had encouraged several friends to visit as well. I am relived they didnt. I may not have a grasp of what the objective is of the event, but it is certainly not designed to boost tourism. We have had more than our share of problems here on the Coast, but one thing we do understand is that we need to put our guests needs ahead of our own. On the other hand if the purpose of the event is just to entertain and stroke the ego of the local businessman, well played, Clarksdale, well played.

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  5. Thank you Phillip, all I can say is Amen.

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  6. Well written. An eloquent and necessary observation. Thank you!

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  7. Phillip,
    Your words haunted me. What an opportunity for Clarksdale to 'shine'. Doesn't anyone there have any common sense? Until and unless a leader emerges, I don't see the future getting any better. Sad, so sad.

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  8. Philip, please drop me a line: matt@bluescentric.com

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  9. As a raving fan of Sunflower for years, I am actually glad that I couldn't make it this year. I tell people all over the world that this is THE festival to attend because it is AUTHENTIC. It sounds like that magic is gone.

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  10. I almost drove over from Atlanta for this festival...I gotta say, I'm damn glad I didn't make the trip. I couldn't believe what I heard from friends on Facebook but after seeing your pictures here, I understand what they were talking about now. This is unbelievable and just sad.

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  11. Hopefully this organizers, and even the sponsors, will figure that the layout was detrimental to the festival and its goals. It is shame that no one had the guts to step up in the middlde of the festival and reevaluate and salvage a better show for the community and the performers. Did anyone or does anyone think that maybe having ONE performer that disproportionately more famous is not in fact practical or beneficial? In an attempt to pull off one-high power act, sounds like the rest of the festival was sub-par. That is incredibly disrespectful to the other talent, the organizers, sponsors, and the community.

    Karen Harris

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  12. I wrote about this myself and thought I did a damn good job, but I have to admit this is even better - it spotlights what I was saying about the performers, and stupid me, I didn't get as good a photo of it as this. BRAVO!

    **Landry, Hunger Games is exactly what I cited in my post "The Day the Music Died" on my blog at http://remedial-redneck.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-day-music-died.html

    **Joe Spake...hi, Joe, long time no see (just 40-something years)! You want authentic? Turner Family Annual Goat BBQ on August 31, 2012 at 985 OB McClinton Rd., Senatobia, MS, where I have no doubt there will be something real and everybody hollering GOAT! It's out in the country at what used to be Otha's house, but don't be skeered, it's something else, and I love it - yer old riverboat pal, Waurene

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  13. I've never been to this festival, but your observations appear to be spot on. Your photos certainly help make the point. It seems as if organizers have lost their way and the "peasants" are being made to pay (not literally, because they can't afford it) by being made to feel like 2nd-class citizens. Seems to me that big names should perform here gratis.

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  14. Excellent observation! We are from Michigan and are now five-time festival attendees. We were in the "middle class" $500 seats off to the side and were appalled at the setup and divisiveness caused by the bloated "VIP" section. It even appeared that many of the high price VIPs could care less about the blues or Robert Plant for that matter. Nevertheless we'll keep the faith and return to the BEST little blues festival on the planet!

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  15. To all that have commented on this, bless you. I have been very thankful to hear similar comments from most of those that have read my blog. I need all of you to please make sure that the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival organizers hear from you! I've already heard whispers of another big headliner for next year and I'm terribly afraid it will be a repeat of this year. Please make sure that they hear from everyone who was unhappy with the festival.

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  16. I was there in the VIP tented section, left of stage. I have been there in previous years, this year the festival "directors" sold their soul for the sake of "survival". I believe one the sadest situations was that nobody was in the high pay mid VIP section all day long. What an absolute waste. At this time I do not believe I will be returning to this " free festival" as of yet.
    Blue Lew

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  17. Haven't been back since 1998. Jim O'Neal really was the reason to go to Clarksdale as he did the bookings and brought in the "real deal". Once you go down the "Robert Plant" road, you won't come back. The pop/rock/hip hop will take the cream and the blues will be lucky to have a stage at their own festival.It happened to the Ottawa Blues Fest here in Canada and to the New Orleans Blues & Heritage Fest in New Orleans. You end up with a lot of wine drinkers with expense accounts and big honking lawn chairs that block everyone's view sitting at their thousand dollar tables (good lord.to say that doesn't fit impoverished Clarksdale is a bit of an understatment)...lol..been there, done that..never went back. I'm glad I have memories of Clarksdale when things were much simpler and informal and blues ridden. Next up? Will they do a salute to heavy metal? Doo Wop? Make it like a PBS pledge week type of deal when the oldsters who can afford it can enjoy the music of their youth in an entirely blues free environment.

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  18. I've wanted to come to the festival from the UK for years because of the attraction of the great local and regional blues musicians that have been on previous bills. I was really glad that I hadn't booked last year when I saw that Robert Plant was on the bill as I knew the sort of thing that would happen.

    Well this year, I'm finally coming as part of my first trip to the USA and as part of a journey from Memphis to New Orleans and it's costing me alot of money that I cannot afford to waste. I just hope there is no similar act to Mr Plant this year and that the organisers concentrate on the festival as being what it is advertised as being... Free!

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