Concert series kicks off with Music Highway Band, Wildwood Express

The "Sleepy" John Estes porch will be rocking Saturday, June 15, when two of West Tennessee's favorite bands take the stage for this season's first Concert on the Porch. Rockabilly's Music Highway Band will open the season when they take the stage at 7 p.m., followed by Wildwood Express. Concerts are presented free to the public each month on the third Saturday, June through September, at the Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville.

"Both of these groups are energetic and like to get the audience involved," says Center Director Sonia Outlaw-Clark, "so we know the kick-off of our summer series will be full of fun."

Music Highway Band

Music Highway Band was organized in Jackson, Tenn., in 2001, and has worked with such legendary artists as Carl Mann and Eddie Bond. You may remember the original trio who played many years at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame as the house band. Over the years, members were added and this diversity has led to developing their own special blend of  Rockabilly and country. Band members include Stan Brunner, Sammy Wood, Jimmy Webb, Donald Carp, Gary Spraggins and Jimmy Stephenson.

Wildwood Express

Wildwood Express will take the stage around 8 p.m., and perform old time stringed music including bluegrass gospel, instrumentals and old time country. Their instruments of choice include the banjo, dulcimer, mandolin, upright bass and guitar. The band is made up of Grover Westover, Paul Jackson, Gary Spraggins and Coley and Marilyn Graves. All are members of the Jackson Tennessee Area Plectral Society whose main purpose is the preservation of old time stringed music.

You are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets for the outdoor concert. Drinks and snacks will be available. You are also welcome to bring a picnic or visit the surrounding restaurants.

Guinn goes "Off the Beaten Path" for nature photos

Joe B. Guinn

Photographer Joe B. Guinn knows he has to get "off the beaten path" for the best nature shots. A new exhibit at the Delta Heritage Center, Brownsville, offers a look at his work featuring scenes of West Tennessee. The exhibition Off the Beaten Path: Scenes of West Tennessee can be seen daily now through September 7. A special artist reception will be held Thursday, June 27, at 6 p.m.

Birds and nature caught Guinn's eye at an early age. Once he got a camera in hand, this Tennessee native began to focus on his natural surroundings.

"My favorite photographic challenges are landscapes," says Guinn.

College and a career took him away from the area. When he returned in the 1970s, he discovered his beloved Hatchie River forest and wetlands had dramatically changed. And "not for the better," according to Guinn.

This prompted him to begin the project of photographing what remains of the Hatchie's fragile untouched wetlands and deep forest areas. Off the Beaten Path depicts life in the wetlands and river valleys that include the Hatchie, Reelfoot Lake and Tennessee and Mississippi rivers. Guinn captures this beauty using only natural light and his photos are untouched, except for an occasional cropping.

Great White Egret

"Guinn is able to capture the heart of the river valley," says Sonia Outlaw-Clark, director of the Delta Heritage Center. "Through his photos, we are able to get a glimpse of life most would never be able to see."

There are also permanent photos on exhibit in the Hatchie River Museum at the Center, according to Clark.

"Daisy Field"

His work has been featured by the Tennessee Ornithological Society, Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy and Environmental Action Fund. Guinn was awarded a Wildlife Conservation Award by Haywood County in 1996. His most extensive exhibit has been in Nashville at Cheekwood Museum.

The exhibit is free and open to the public Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays from 1-5 p.m. The public is also invited to meet the artist at a special reception Thursday, June 27, from 6-8 p.m. To learn more about the artist visit www.joebguinn.com

And the winner is ....

Miss Mary was busy in the kitchen getting ready to cook deep-fried BBQ for the contestants in the first ever Deep-Fried BBQ Eating Championship during the Exit 56 Blues Fest May 25, 2013.

Miss Mary

We all pitched in to help in the kitchen ...
too many cooks didn't spoil he stew this time.

Four contestants vied for the title of Champion. With competitors from Oklahoma, Arkansas and two local boys.

Each competitor started with 25 deep-fried BBQ bites ... and plenty of sauce and water!

Competitors dive in!

25 down and ? to go..

Taking his time and enjoying every bite.

And the winner is ..... Drew Magruder.

Drew Magruder wins after eating 60 bites, in 10 minutes, to become the first Deep-Fried BBQ Eating Champion.

Miss Mary presents Drew with his trophy!

Deep-fried barbecue makes debut at Exit 56 Blues Fest

Do you love barbecue? Have you tried it deep-fried? Attendees to this year's Exit 56 Blues Fest will get an opportunity to try the bite-sized, deep-fried barbecue nuggets and even compete to see who can eat the most. The Deep-Fried BBQ Eating Championship will take place at 4 p.m., Saturday, May 25, at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville.

Contestants must be at least 18 years of age and will have 10 minutes to eat as many deep-fried barbecue bites as possible. Water and sauce will be plentiful to help wash it down. There is a $5 entry fee and the lucky winner will receive a trophy, t-shirt and prize package. Interested parties are asked to pre-register for the competition by May 23. Complete rules and registration can be found at www.westtnheritage.com/exit56.

Along with great barbecue, festival attendees can spend the afternoon and evening listening to the Blues. Concerts will be performed from the porch of the Sleepy John Estes home and features performers such as Sean "Bad" Apple, Bluesberry Jam Band, Little Boys Blue and headliner TeeDee Young.

Car enthusiasts can cruise-in from 1-3 p.m., to compete for titles such as "Cool Chrome" "Most Likely to Get a Ticket" and 12 other fun titles. There is no entry fee and motorcycles are welcome, too.

Arts and crafts vendors will also be on site throughout the afternoon for those wanting to add a little shopping to the Blues mix. Jewelry, woodwork and paintings are just a few of the items you'll find.

Admission to the festival is free and open to the public. A complete schedule is available online, or by calling the Delta Heritage Center at 731-779-9000.

Brownsville-Haywood County to host Hatchie BirdFest

The first Hatchie BirdFest will be held at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center on Friday May 31, Saturday June 1, and Sunday June 2, 2013.  The free event will offer a variety of activities for all ages to see and learn about the 200+ species of birds that occur in Brownsville and Haywood County, Tenn.

Bird watching hikes on Saturday  and Sunday will be geared for both beginner and expert birdwatchers and will visit Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge and other areas in Haywood County.

Bob Ford

The BirdFest will begin Friday evening with a presentation by noted ornithologist and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service wildlife biologist, Bob Ford.  Saturday’s speakers will include Scott Somershoe  (State Ornithologist, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency), Carol Reese (Ornamental Horticulture Specialist, University of Tennessee Extension Service) and David Haggard (West Tennessee Regional Interpretive Specialist, Tennessee State Parks). Friday evening event will be held at College Hill Center in Brownsville.  All Saturday presentations will be at the Delta Heritage Center.

Carol Reese

Photographs by Haywood County native and acclaimed nature photographer Joe B. Guinn will be on display at the Center throughout the weekend.  Winning entries from 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd graders in the HatcheBirdFest Coloring Contest will also be displayed.

Exhibitors will include Tennessee Ornithological Society, Willow Oaks Farm, Memphis WildBird Unlimited, Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Great Outdoors University, Tennessee Watchable Wildlife and Raisin’ Cain BBQ.

West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center is located at Interstate 40’s Exit 56.   For more information visit www.HatchieBirdFest.com.

Memorial Day Weekend means Exit 56 Blues

  

Brownsville will celebrate its blues heritage Memorial Day weekend with the Exit 56 Blues Fest Saturday, May 25, at the Delta Heritage Center. The annual event will include an arts and crafts show, car cruise-in and live Blues music from the porch of the Sleepy John Estes home. The first performers will take the stage at noon and headliners Little Boys Blue and TeeDee Young hit the stage at 7 p.m.

Dylan Whitney performs at 1 p.m.

There will be several newcomers to the Exit 56 stage this year. Fifteen year old Dylan Whitney of Bixby, Ok., known as the "Whiz Kid of Blues" may be young but he is a very mature guitar player. Tyler Goodson of Jackson, Tenn., has been playing guitar most of his life, but didn't start "giggin" until he was 21. Now the 26-year-old plays regularly in Jackson and on Beale Street. Bluesberry Jam Band is a group of West Tennessee natives working to preserve the blues and roots tradition of the region. Pep Rally Losers, a duo with a West Tennessee connection, prides itself on playing the raw blues with a sprinkle of rock.

Sean "Bad" Apple performs at 3 p.m.

Clarksdale, Miss., performer Sean "Bad" Apple has studied at the feet of many historical bluesmen for more than two decades and is a regular performer at Ground Zero Blues Club. He'll reach back and draw from inspiration of blues past to deliver another high energy, driving performance at this year's festival. Northwest Tennessee band Blind Red Rooster is back for a repeat performance on the porch. They'll deliver their unique blend of Texas and Delta Blues.

Opening for the evening's headliner is Little Boys Blue, featuring the award-winning duo of Brownsville's own Jimmy D. Taylor and Jackson's Steve Patterson. Traveling and playing with some of the industry's finest has helped this duo hone their skills and develop a unique style that pays homage to the country blues tradition of the region.

Little Boys Blue - Steve Patterson and Jimmy D. Taylor
will perform at 7 p.m.

Headlining the Exit 56 Blues Fest is TeeDee Young. Young's dynamic stage presence and energy will put you in the mood for dancing. A native of Lexington, Ky., he has been performing since he was 14. By the time Young was 20, he was performing in such venues as The Cotton Club and later at B.B. King's. He maintains an authentic Blues style while writing and performing his own music, and is known for his command of the guitar, using it like a weapon to "fire down" the blues.

TeeDee Young
takes the stage at 8 p.m.

Select arts and crafts vendors will be onsite during the event and car and motorcycle enthusiasts are invited to cruise-in for the music from 1-3 p.m., and compete for some unique titles. Registration is free and can be made online or day of the event. You'll also find favorite festival foods and of course barbecue!

Admission is free and open to the public. A complete schedule can be found by visiting the Center's website, www.westtnheritage.com/exit56, or by calling 731-779-9000.

Tina Turner graces the cover of German Vogue

 Haywood County's most famous native, Anna Mae Bullock, known worldwide as Tina Turner, is the oldest woman to grace the cover of Vogue Magazine.  Turner, who turned 73 in November, is featured on the cover of the April 2013 issue of German Vogue.

According to the magazine's interview, Turner talks about her hometown of Nutbush and the Flagg Grove School project.

"We are so excited that Ms. Turner mentions her involvement with the Flagg Grove School project," said West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center Director Sonia Outlaw-Clark. "She speaks of the beauty of the farmland around Nutbush and remembers walking to Flagg Grove School with her sister and classmates."

The school's restoration project began in June 2012 when the school was donated and moved to the Delta Heritage Center. According to Clark, the project could take up to three years to complete.

Once completed, the school will highlight African-American early education and the legacy of students who attended there.  The school was built in 1889 on land donated by Benjamin Flagg, Turner's great-uncle, making Flagg Grove school not only the school she attended but a part of her family's legacy.  Turner's involvement with the project will include memorabilia and displays once the building has been restored.

As the project moves forward, it will be dependent on public fundraising efforts. Since the Vogue article appeared, fans have begun making donations through a link on the Center's website.