The fest took place October 7th - 9th, it was the 19th Annual fest honoring Sonny Boy Williamson II and the King Biscuit Radio Program, (as it does every year). One thing you need to know off the bat, hotel rooms are hard to come by on short notice. If you can't get a room, pitch a tent at The Helena Fire Department Campground.
The "Biscuit" is held in the beginning of October and is a blues venture back into what created the blues. The town of Helena itself is economically very poor, as national standards go, but may hold the cradle of the Blues.
The main stage faces the levy that holds back the Mighty Mississippi when it rises. The seating area has two sets of railroad tracks running through it that leads to long abandon factories. The crowd only reaches about 30,000 at any one given time. This years crowed was cut in half by lots of rain that held locals and weaklings back.
I always prepare for rain when heading to any blues fest because I know the skys are cryin when we play the blues. Blues and rain seem to go together. This was my 1st "Biscuit" but was told it rains every year. I know it rains every year at the Chicago Blues Fest so I prepared for rain.
The fest starts on a Thursday and ends Saturday Night. The blues run from Noon to Midnight. The artists play for about 1 ½ hours a piece. Heck, if they did a fest like that in Chicago, and I wish they did, it would take at least 6 days. This years line-up included KoKo Taylor, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Robert Lockwood Jr., Pinetop Perkins, Kenny Neal, Marcia Ball, and The Gov. of Arkansas with Capital Offence. Clinton played the sax, this one plays guitar.
It's a down home affair and you might find the majority of the folks from Memphis, Mississippi, Arkansas or world blues lovers from across the globe. The blues legends that came from this area of the Delta Blues traveled from Memphis to St. Louis and wound up in Chicago at one time or another.
This is the path of the Blues, up the current of the muddy river. Pick out a spot, dance with the people around you, and enjoy the true essence of the blues. Everyone around you loves the blues and that's why we are there.
If you are a prompt traveler, you can get a room at the Isle of Capri Casino. Best to make reservations around March, and be willing to go as high as $100 a night. The Isle is the main Sponsor of the Fest and is just across the river. The other casinos in Missippippi will have a lot of availability but are almost an hours drive away.
Camping is a great experience. Live music can be heard from every camping or parking site. Camping is $40 for the entire weekend, and the music goes on at all times of the day, night and early morning.
Either way, breakfast at Bunky's on Cherry Street is a must for any King Biscuit Blues Fester. The City and all the volunteers welcome you with open arms. Do a web search for the King Biscuit Blues Fest, and join us for the 20th Annual in October 2005.
"Mad Dog" Dave Madlener:
www.davidmadlener.com/bluesfestX.php or
ww.davidmadlener.com and click on "Blues news"
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