AUGUST 9,2008:
MY GOOD FRIEND RONI FROM CLARKSDALE,MISSISSIPPI IS A BIG FAN OF THE BLUES AND SOUTHERN SOUL MUSIC.SHE SHARES WITH US HER CONCERT REVIEW FROM A RECENT BLUES SHOW HELD IN CLARKSDALE,MISSISSIPPI. "21st ANNUAL SUNFLOWER RIVER BLUES AND GOSPEL FESTIVAL" Hello everyone this is your girl Roni and I was asked by my good friend Big K9 to do a review for "THE 21st ANNUAL SUNFLOWER RIVER BLUES AND GOSPEL FESTIVAL" held in my hometown of Clarksdale,Mississippi.He notified me that he wasn't going to be able to make it but he wanted you fans to experience this show.After just recently being dubbed a "Da Dawg Pound Diva" it is a pleasure for me to share with all of you blues fans the fun I had at this show. When I arrived it was a very diverse crowd on hand.There were black,white,latinos and even a group from Germany and Switzerland among the thousands that had gathered for today's show.I believe one sponsor said it was an estimated 7,000 fans packed into what is now called "blues alley".People had their tents,lawn chairs,ice chest and there were plenty of vendors on hand cooking every type of food that you can imagine and yes this made me very hungry.It was also very hot and it was around 7:00 pm.I was joined at this show by my girl Keelah who is also a new member of "Da Dawg Pound Divas".I spotted my friend,recording artist Nellie Travis and I told her I was doing a concert review for Big K9,she was so gracious to me and she allowed me to go backstage so I could really be closer to tonight's show.While backstage I saw my friend Vickie who is one of my friends on myspace.The mc for the show was Steve"Dude"Ladd Jr. and yes he is the son of the late Steve Ladd.One of the sponsors informed me that the elder Ladd had hosted this festival the last five(5) years and now the show will go on with his son taking over the mc duties.He was a very nice guy and I although he appeared to be kinda of nervous I thought he handle the duties very well. He introduced Ms. Jody first and the crowd moved closer to the stage.She entertained the crowd well but it wasn't one of her typical performances,due to small children being present I saw a more subdued and laid back Ms. Jody.She blessed the crowd with "I'm Getting What I Want","Its The Weekend" and "Your Dog Is About To Kill My Cat".I really enjoyed her show even though I'm use to seeing a more freakier Ms. Jody.I believe the sponsors of the show really wanted a good clean show because I know Ms. Jody can talk s**t with the best of them and I didn't hear it at this show.She was nice enough to take a couple of photos of me while I was backstage. My girl Nellie was up next and she is one of my favorite artist.Before she went on she asked me to hold her purse,now that is some serious love and trust.She was backed on this show by Guitar Mikey and a few other local musicians.I want to say that Guitar Mikey is one cool guitar player.I was able to talk to him backstage before they went on.Before Nellie came on stage Guitar Mikey and Daddy Rich performed "Clarksdale" and this had the hometown people very excited and full of pride.As Nellie walked out on stage the guys were all going crazy.They even pushed all the women out the way as they made there way front and center.A lot of the guys were reaching their hands out to just touch her.She blessed us with some of her hits including "You Gone Make Me Cheat" which is my favorite Nellie Travis song.She ended her performance with a song that I know K9 wish he was there to hear her sing."I Rather Go Blind" was the highlight of her performance to me.Her beautiful voice just filled the air and everyone begin to slow dance off this song.Both the young and old,the black and white were all down stage dancing.As she left the stage one guy reached out his hand and almost pulled my girl off the stage.I want to thank her for being so nice to me at this show.I really enjoyed being in her presence and making me feel so comfortable when I was standing backstage.Thank you Nellie.Love ya girl! Nathaniel Kimble was up next.Now it was time for the ladies to move the guys out the way as he came to the stage.He performed "Lets Party" and Tyrone Davis song "It Sho Wasn't Me".The best part of his show was his new song and dance he called "The Bagg It Up Slide".He briefly showed the crowd how to do it.Me and Keelah begin to slide and when I looked around it appeared that the entire crowd was also doing the slide and loving every minute of it.Me and Keelah had so much fun learning this dance.I guess people everywhere will soon be doing the "The Bagg It Up Slide" in clubs and at other blues festivals.His last song was "Can You Bagg It Up".I want to thank Nate for allowing me to take some photos of him while we were backstage. Latimore was the last performer and everyone was down front.This was my first time seeing him perform.He performed "Nana Pudding","Take Me To The Mountaintop" and "My Give A Damn".His voice was so smooth to me and I just fell in love with him.Everyone was singing along with him and really having a nice time.Throughout his performance everyone was telling him to sing "Lets Straighten It Out".He kept telling them he was going to do it but he wanted to sing some other songs too,this was kinda of funny to me.When the time came for him to end his show I looked around and you couldn't see anymore tents, lawn chairs or anything else but thousands of fans waiting on him to sing "Lets Straighten It Out".I was happy to have taken a photo with such a legendary performer.I don't have any with Johnnie Taylor,Little Milton or Tyrone Davis so I'm going to treasure my photo with him and show this to my mom who is also a big blues fan but wasn't able to make it.I want to thank him for taking the time to take a photo with me. Big K9 thanks for having faith in me to do this.I tried to do just like you said.I went to the show and enjoyed myself and just told everyone about it through my eyes.Your presence was definetly missed by all and you know how everyone just love to chill with Big K9 at a show.Ms. Jody,Nathaniel Kimble, and Latimore thanks for being so nice to me.I want to especially thank Nellie Travis the most,you are simply the best.I love you like my sister and I can't wait to see you again,thanks for the dvd also.I want to extend a birthday greeting to my friend Guitar Mikey.HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUITAR MIKEY and you do play one mean guitar.I want to let Keelah and Vickie know I really enjoyed you all at this show and I hope we can get our blues on together again.Well I hope you all enjoyed my review.I know K9 will post this review and photos on his website at www.bigk9.net Thank you all so much.
Love,
Roni
MY GOOD FRIEND RONI FROM CLARKSDALE,MISSISSIPPI IS A BIG FAN OF THE BLUES AND SOUTHERN SOUL MUSIC.SHE SHARES WITH US HER CONCERT REVIEW FROM A RECENT BLUES SHOW HELD IN CLARKSDALE,MISSISSIPPI. "21st ANNUAL SUNFLOWER RIVER BLUES AND GOSPEL FESTIVAL" Hello everyone this is your girl Roni and I was asked by my good friend Big K9 to do a review for "THE 21st ANNUAL SUNFLOWER RIVER BLUES AND GOSPEL FESTIVAL" held in my hometown of Clarksdale,Mississippi.He notified me that he wasn't going to be able to make it but he wanted you fans to experience this show.After just recently being dubbed a "Da Dawg Pound Diva" it is a pleasure for me to share with all of you blues fans the fun I had at this show. When I arrived it was a very diverse crowd on hand.There were black,white,latinos and even a group from Germany and Switzerland among the thousands that had gathered for today's show.I believe one sponsor said it was an estimated 7,000 fans packed into what is now called "blues alley".People had their tents,lawn chairs,ice chest and there were plenty of vendors on hand cooking every type of food that you can imagine and yes this made me very hungry.It was also very hot and it was around 7:00 pm.I was joined at this show by my girl Keelah who is also a new member of "Da Dawg Pound Divas".I spotted my friend,recording artist Nellie Travis and I told her I was doing a concert review for Big K9,she was so gracious to me and she allowed me to go backstage so I could really be closer to tonight's show.While backstage I saw my friend Vickie who is one of my friends on myspace.The mc for the show was Steve"Dude"Ladd Jr. and yes he is the son of the late Steve Ladd.One of the sponsors informed me that the elder Ladd had hosted this festival the last five(5) years and now the show will go on with his son taking over the mc duties.He was a very nice guy and I although he appeared to be kinda of nervous I thought he handle the duties very well. He introduced Ms. Jody first and the crowd moved closer to the stage.She entertained the crowd well but it wasn't one of her typical performances,due to small children being present I saw a more subdued and laid back Ms. Jody.She blessed the crowd with "I'm Getting What I Want","Its The Weekend" and "Your Dog Is About To Kill My Cat".I really enjoyed her show even though I'm use to seeing a more freakier Ms. Jody.I believe the sponsors of the show really wanted a good clean show because I know Ms. Jody can talk s**t with the best of them and I didn't hear it at this show.She was nice enough to take a couple of photos of me while I was backstage. My girl Nellie was up next and she is one of my favorite artist.Before she went on she asked me to hold her purse,now that is some serious love and trust.She was backed on this show by Guitar Mikey and a few other local musicians.I want to say that Guitar Mikey is one cool guitar player.I was able to talk to him backstage before they went on.Before Nellie came on stage Guitar Mikey and Daddy Rich performed "Clarksdale" and this had the hometown people very excited and full of pride.As Nellie walked out on stage the guys were all going crazy.They even pushed all the women out the way as they made there way front and center.A lot of the guys were reaching their hands out to just touch her.She blessed us with some of her hits including "You Gone Make Me Cheat" which is my favorite Nellie Travis song.She ended her performance with a song that I know K9 wish he was there to hear her sing."I Rather Go Blind" was the highlight of her performance to me.Her beautiful voice just filled the air and everyone begin to slow dance off this song.Both the young and old,the black and white were all down stage dancing.As she left the stage one guy reached out his hand and almost pulled my girl off the stage.I want to thank her for being so nice to me at this show.I really enjoyed being in her presence and making me feel so comfortable when I was standing backstage.Thank you Nellie.Love ya girl! Nathaniel Kimble was up next.Now it was time for the ladies to move the guys out the way as he came to the stage.He performed "Lets Party" and Tyrone Davis song "It Sho Wasn't Me".The best part of his show was his new song and dance he called "The Bagg It Up Slide".He briefly showed the crowd how to do it.Me and Keelah begin to slide and when I looked around it appeared that the entire crowd was also doing the slide and loving every minute of it.Me and Keelah had so much fun learning this dance.I guess people everywhere will soon be doing the "The Bagg It Up Slide" in clubs and at other blues festivals.His last song was "Can You Bagg It Up".I want to thank Nate for allowing me to take some photos of him while we were backstage. Latimore was the last performer and everyone was down front.This was my first time seeing him perform.He performed "Nana Pudding","Take Me To The Mountaintop" and "My Give A Damn".His voice was so smooth to me and I just fell in love with him.Everyone was singing along with him and really having a nice time.Throughout his performance everyone was telling him to sing "Lets Straighten It Out".He kept telling them he was going to do it but he wanted to sing some other songs too,this was kinda of funny to me.When the time came for him to end his show I looked around and you couldn't see anymore tents, lawn chairs or anything else but thousands of fans waiting on him to sing "Lets Straighten It Out".I was happy to have taken a photo with such a legendary performer.I don't have any with Johnnie Taylor,Little Milton or Tyrone Davis so I'm going to treasure my photo with him and show this to my mom who is also a big blues fan but wasn't able to make it.I want to thank him for taking the time to take a photo with me. Big K9 thanks for having faith in me to do this.I tried to do just like you said.I went to the show and enjoyed myself and just told everyone about it through my eyes.Your presence was definetly missed by all and you know how everyone just love to chill with Big K9 at a show.Ms. Jody,Nathaniel Kimble, and Latimore thanks for being so nice to me.I want to especially thank Nellie Travis the most,you are simply the best.I love you like my sister and I can't wait to see you again,thanks for the dvd also.I want to extend a birthday greeting to my friend Guitar Mikey.HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUITAR MIKEY and you do play one mean guitar.I want to let Keelah and Vickie know I really enjoyed you all at this show and I hope we can get our blues on together again.Well I hope you all enjoyed my review.I know K9 will post this review and photos on his website at www.bigk9.net Thank you all so much.
Love,
Roni