Arkansas
Blues & Heritage Festival
-- by UJ Miller --
 Well,
it was an experience not only performing at
the festival but just taking it all in as a
fan of the blues as well. While I’d try
to catch performances at scheduled times, there’s
just too much to offer a fan of the blues down
there. The numerous street performances were
really enjoyable and the unplanned jam sessions
that took place at various locations were just
great. I thought I was in heaven.
A
stroll through the festival not only provided
sites and sounds but a chance to get up close
and personal with the artists themselves. Homemade
instruments, unplanned performances in store fronts,
artists autograph sessions and of course the myth
and stories of Robert Johnson. While I thought
about finding the gravesite of this legend and
many others, there was too much music to enjoy
and squeeze into the two days I was there. The
photo of 119 Missouri Street is a building that
is vacant at that address on the left and houses
a salon on the right. They were cooking out front
for the festival. The storefront on the left is
the old home of the Kitty Kat Club, where it is
a fact that Robert Johnson played while in Helena
back in the day, according to local Blues resident
Bubba Sullivan. Bubba is pictured here inside
of his antique and record shop, and provided musicians
a place to gather and jam. Fruteland Jackson sat
in while I was there and I also had a chance to
visit with the one and only Pinetop Perkins.
While
strolling back towards my vehicle to head out
of town, I stumbled upon an unscheduled performance
by Robert Belfour, whose music and playing I’ve
enjoyed for years. I sat and watched his performance
and then visited with him afterwards. He said
"oh, I just love playing and could play forever
if they let me, but they said I only got an hour".
He also spoke of how he wrote his lyrics and then
just heads into the studio and plays whatever
comes natural and lays it down on his recordings.
It
was a real treat to be a part of it all.
UJ Miller
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