from staff reports

The Sucarnochee Revue launches a “British Invasion” tonight at 7 p.m. at the Temple Theatre in downtown Meridian. Tickets are $5.

The nationally syndicated radio show will feature music from the early 1960s when England ruled the pop charts. Special guests include The Beatles tribute band, Rubber Soul.

Host Jacky Jack White is excited about this month’s program. “The Beatles, the Stones, the Animals, the Yardbirds, in fact, almost every major English rock band of the era was influenced by Mississippi blues musicians. The circle keeps turning as these great current Mississippi artists cover the British tunes of the ‘60s.”

Other special guests include Gypsy Carns and Chris Ethridge, both veterans of the 1960s RocknRoll scene.

The band Rubber Soul is a celebration of The Beatles' music, but its performances include much of the visual imagery of the Beatles. Using accurate reproductions of the gear and the Fab Four look, Rubber Soul recreates the sound and the excitement of a Beatles concert. Stage banter is done with British accents, and costumes range from the black turtlenecks and jeans favored by the Fab Four in their early days at Liverpool’s Cavern Club to the famous velvet-collar suits as seen on that famous Ed Sullivan show in 1964, as well as military-influenced Shea Stadium jackets from the 1965 tour. The band members are Marc Speed, David Zettler, Brad Johnson, and Steve Deaton. Marc Speed, who is naturally right-handed is one example of the group’s authenticity. Since he is the “Paul McCartney” of the group, he taught himself to play the bass left-handed.

The Sucarnochee Revue is recorded at the Temple Theatre the first Friday night of each month. The radio show is featured on numerous radio stations across the country, and in Australia. Local AM station WMOX features it every Saturday afternoon, and Mississippi and Alabama public radio also carry the show. White says, “The folks in Meridian always support us when we tape in Livingston, Alabama at UWA, and they really seem to appreciate us taping at the Temple Theatre.”

Whistlestop Weekend

Steam whistles will sound across downtown Meridian as Whistlestop Weekend kicks off.

The 7th Annual Soule’ Live Steam Festival and Meridian Museum’s RailFest is being held today and Saturday.

“We wanted the school children to have the opportunity to visit the event,” said Greg Hatcher, director of the museum. “The Friday opening will allow them to come as a group, experience the sights and sounds. Hopefully they will bring their families and friends back on Saturday. People who have Saturday plans can also stop by for a visit.”

The first steam festival was held in October 2003. Each year the event has continued to grow. Last year nearly 2,000 people came to the festival. People traveled from 10 states. The event attracts visitors from as far as Vancouver, Washington and Harrisville, New Hampshire.

The Soule’ Live Steam Festival is held at the Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum. This event is the only steam show in the United States held at a steam engine factory. Steam shows are very popular, especially in Ohio and the Mid-West. Those multi-day events attract thousands of visitors each year. “We started the festival as an introduction to Soule’ and to show our plan for developing an industrial museum,” Hatcher said. “It was a success from the beginning and looking at the history of the other steam shows in other parts of the country, it has the same potential of attracting a large number of visitors to the Meridian area.”

The term “Live Steam” means that the steam engines will be in operation using steam instead of compressed air or sitting on static display. Visitors can view the museum’s collection of steam engines and see other collector’s engines, which are brought in from around the region. The museum’s steam demonstration room features a 1905 Watts-Campbell Corliss steam engine and an 1870 Manchester steam engine that was purchased, restored and operated by the Ford Museum soon after the museum was founded in 1929.

Demonstrations will also be taking place throughout the museum. The belt-driven machine shop will be operated by the Industrial Technology students from Meridian Community College. Other demonstrations include blacksmithing, pottery making, knitting, broom making and the operation of an antique print shop. The museum grounds will feature antique tractors and hit-and-miss engines.

One of the highlights of the festival is Alabama Art Casting’s molten iron pour. For $20, visitors can join the mold-making class held in the foundry and carve their own sand art mold and have it cast in iron. This year the iron pour will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Mold making classes for the general public will be held on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. On Saturday at 2 p.m., Alabama Art Casting will light off the cupola and the iron pour will begin at 3 p.m.

The Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum is located at 402 19th Ave.

The Meridian Railroad Museum will host RailFest. A variety of railroad memorabilia will be on display along with an operational model railroad and Amtrak will display several pieces of working equipment including a locomotive, passenger car, and dining and sleeper cars from the Sunset Limited.

Mississippi Rail Car of Meridian will display two newly refurbished cars that were repaired at their Meridian shop. According to Mick Nussbaum, director of the Meridian Railroad Museum, these cars were involved in a train derailment and are repaired better than before.

The Meridian Railroad Museum is located at 1805 Front Street in the original 100-year-old Railway Express Agency building.

There will be festival food on both days. Vendors will be serving barbecue plates, fish plates, hamburgers, kettle corn and more. A John Deere tractor will even churn homemade ice cream.

For good causes

Country Day is being held at the Causeyville Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m., with all proceeds benefiting the volunteer fire department.

Cracklins, barbecue, chitlins and homemade baked goods will be for sale. There will also be a flea market and live music.

The Episcopal Church of the Mediator is holding its annual barbecue on Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Pork and beef plates will be available for $6, and Boston butts sell for $25. A freezer and bake sale also will be held.

The church bookstore will be open and entertainment and kids activities are planned. Proceeds are used for community projects.

The Southeast Community Fall Festival will be held Saturday at the Southeast football field. There is no admission fee but a $5 charge for armbands for inflatables and tickets will be for sale for concessions, carnival games, cake walks and more. Proceeds will benefit the Southeast Elementary P.T.O.