Southern Komfort Brass Band

YAZOO CITY — Live performances of various music genres — including regional favorites and national recording artists — will be featured amidst the colorful historic buildings in downtown Yazoo City at the Yazoo Music Festival.

The one-day event will take place Oct. 6 on historic Main Street in downtown Yazoo City and is presented under the auspices of the Yazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau through a contract with a Jackson production company.

If You Go

The Yazoo Music Festival will take place at 100 S Main St. in Yazoo City, approximately 40 minutes north of the Jackson Metro Area.

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“We are happy to have such a wide range of musical styles for our inaugural event,” says Shanitra Finley, executive director of the Yazoo County Convention & Visitors Bureau, presenters of the Yazoo Music Festival.

“It was our goal to celebrate the significant music history represented in Yazoo County and the large part our history plays in Mississippi’s story as the ‘birthplace of America’s music.’ We hope this event will encourage more people to discover Yazoo and learn why we say Yazoo County is colorful, authentic, and unique .. .just like you!”

The 2018 lineup features a diverse range of acts, spanning genres like R&B, country, blues, jazz, Southern soul and pop: Ecko Records recording artist Ms. Jody, soul blues legend Johnny Rawls, Memphis-based country band Truck Patch Revival, local blues legend Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, hit single “Big Sexy” singer Anissa Hampton, New Orleans-style jazz band Southern Komfort Brass Band, soul/jazz artist Tawanna Shaunte, and pop singer DanI Musiq.

Featured artists include the “Undisputed King of Southern Soul,” Sir Charles Jones, who was recently inducted into the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame; International Blues Challenge winner and Malaco Records recording artist Mr. Sipp; and singer Gary “Lil G” Jenkins of the three-time platinum-selling R&B group Silk.

Following are brief bios of the festival artists:

Anissa Hampton

Chicago native and Jackson resident Anissa Hampton began singing at age 3 and has since that time has sung background for numerous professional artists, including internationally renowned opera artist Grace Bumbry, legendary soul singers Willie Clayton and Calvin Richardson, rhythm and blues singer Brian McKnight. Hampton has performed in several countries including Australia, Italy and Germany. In July, her song “Big Sexy” was recognized as the Top 10 Breaking Southern Soul Single.

Danl (Danielle Maltimore)

Danl (Danielle Maltimore) began her music career as a gospel singer at age 8 and is currently a rhythm and blues/soul/pop artist.

Danl has toured worldwide with the UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham), and has opened for numerous music acts include MAZE featuring Frankie Beverly, Anthony Hamilton, Charlie Wilson, Silk, Fantasia and Brian McKnight.

Her first solo single “Downside of Up” was released in 2012, followed by “Used to Love You” in 2013. DanI’s most recent release was featured in the Urban Movie Channel’s original series “Monogamy.”

Jimmy “Duck” Holmes

Jimmy “Duck” Holmes has the distinction of being recognized as the last of the Bentonia bluesmen. He is owner of the oldest juke joint in Mississippi still in daily operation, the Blue Front Cafe. Homes travels worldwide performing the Bentonia style of blues. He has performed on the Mississippi stage at the Chicago Blues Festival and the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival. Holmes has won multiple Living Blues Awards and Blues Music awards. In 2014, he started his own record label, Blue Front Records.

Gary “Lil G” Jenkins

Gary “Lil G” Jenkins is most recognized as lead singer of the three-time platinum selling R&B group Silk. The group has had multiple hit songs and chart toppers during its 25-plus years career span. A Nashville native, Jenkins plays 14 musical instruments including guitar, keyboard and drums. He gained national recognition with his appearances on Jay Leno, “Regis & Kathi Lee,” MTV, BET, “Soul Train,” “Jenny Jones,” “Ricky Lake,” “Moesha,” “Showtime At The Apollo,” “Motown Live” and other television programs.

Castro Coleman aka Mr. Sipp “The Mississippi Blues Child”

Castro “Mr. Sipp “The Mississippi Blues Child” of McComb began playing guitar and traveling at age 6.

A Malaco Records recording artist, Coleman has achieved numerous awards and recognitions, including: winner of 2014 International Blues Challenge, 2014 Albert King Gibson Best Guitarist Award, 2014 Jus’ Blues Bobby Rush Entertainers Award Recipient, three Jackson Music Awards in 2015, 2016 won the Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Album, made history in July 2018 at the Jackson Music Awards for being the first artist to win both a gospel and blues award; won the 25th Annual Living Blues Award for Best Blues (Contemporary) Album of 2017, was cast in the James Brown movie “Get On Up” as James Brown’s first guitar player, was also cast in the television series “Son Records” as the young B.B. King.

Ms. Jody

Ecko Records recording artist Ms. Jody’s CD “You’re My Angel” brought her immediate recognition from radio station programmers and their listeners with the songs “Ms. Jody,” “Sugar Daddy” and “Get Drunk Party” receiving heavy airplay. She has released three albums, her most recent titled I Never Take a Day Off. The Bay Springs native has been nominated for several awards including the Jackson Music Awards’ “International Female Vocalist of The Year,” and the Jus Blues Music Awards’ “Best New Southern Soul Artist of the Year.”

Johnny Rawls

A Mississippi soul blues legend for 50-plus years, Johnny Rawls was playing professionally by high school with noted music artists, including ZZ Hill, Little Johnny Taylor, Joe Tex and The Sweet Inspirations. Rawls served as band director for blues artist O.V. Wright until 1980. He also led Little Johnny Taylor’s band Rawls released more than 15 albums since beginning his solo career in 1985. Every year since 2002, he has been nominated for the Blues Music Awards by the Blues Foundation. This year’s Waiting for the Train album was nominated for Soul Blues Album of the Year and Rawls was nominated of Soul Blues Male Artist.

Sir Charles Jones, “Undisputed King of Southern Soul”

Since his 2000 debut, Sir Charles Jones, “Undisputed King of Southern Soul,” has released seven albums. His second album, Love Machine, spent 57 weeks on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Sir Charles Jones was inducted into Alabama Blues Hall of Fame this year. He was the winner of American Blues Network “International Entertainer of the Year” award in 2001-2004 and received “Album of the Year” honors in 2002 and 2003. Jones was the recipient of the B.B. King Achievement Award in 2003 and 2004.

Southern Komfort Brass Band

Formed in Jackson in 2010, the Southern Komfort Brass Band is a modern New Orleans-style, all horn and percussion brass band that incorporates vocal by the band’s musicians. SKBB’s style also draws from the musical influences of jazz, soul, funk, blues and gospel, which they blend to create their own distinctive sound. In 2014 and 2015, the band won in three categories in the Best of Jackson Awards — Best Jazz Artist, Best Original Band and Best Cover Band — and in two categories in 2013 — Best Original Band and Best Cover Band.

Tawanna Shaunte

Mississippi artist Tawanna Shaunte wrote her first song and radio monologue at age 10. She later formed the band Eclectik Soul with drummer Gregory Stewart.

Shaunte’s unique blend of jazz, blues, soul, folk has been featured in various venues and festivals including the Blue Note, B.B. King Bar and Grill, Chicago Blues Fest and Harlem’s New York summer stage concert series. Shaunte began solo career with the single “Shades of Color,” which was released by Grammy-award winning jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson’s Ojah Media Group. In 2015, she released the album Freedom Agent under her own label, Freedom Agent Collective.

Truck Patch Revival

The Memphis-based country band Truck Patch Revival has performed at Front Porch Jubilee, Water Tower Festival, Tennessee State Fair, Octoberfest and the Jackson Rhythm & Blues Fest. The band has opened for or performed with Travis Tritt, Gretchen Wilson, James Otto, Jon Pardi and Luke Combs. The band performed and wrote songs for the hit film “Attack of the Southern Fried Zombies.” Truck Patch Revival won Song of the Year for the original song “One Star Delta Night” at the 2016 Josie Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, and the County Showdown at Jerry Clower Festival in 2013.

Festival-goers are welcome to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to Yazoo City’s Main Street while they enjoy the festival, however coolers and tents are not allowed, said Dawn Rosenberg Davis, communications coordinator for the Yazoo County Convention & Visitors Bureau. A variety of food trucks and merchandise vendors will be available to suit the needs of the crowd. Parking is available for free in several public parking lots near Main Street.