JONESBORO, Ark. – The Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion Commission’s Downtown Jonesboro BBQ and Music festival announced plans for their 10th annual event.
The Festival again includes two nights of music this year with Blind Melon performing Friday night September 27th and Morris Day and the Time performing Saturday September 28th on the Ritter Communications Stage in Downtown Jonesboro.
• Morris Day was Born in Minneapolis, and went to school with Prince Rogers Nelson and sang in Prince’s first band Grand Central. The Time was originally created as Prince’s alter-ego to be seen as the cool, street-wise funk band contrasting Prince’s more soulful R&B sound. After looking at several lead vocalists, Prince wanted someone with mad talent so he cast his high school friend- Morris Day. Soon after, Morris Day and the Time were cast in the movie Purple Rain which captured the exploding Minneapolis music scene at its peak. With his dynamic dancing and smooth yet gutsy vocals, Morris Day played an essential role in the development of the Twin City dance/club sound of the 1980s. A founding member of Prince’s band, the Time, he remained with the group from 1981 until 1984, when he launched his solo career. Combined sales of Morris Day’s solo work and The Time is in excess of 10 million sales. Morris Day and Time hits include, “Jungle Love”, “The Bird”, “Ice Cream Castles,” “The Oak Tree”, “Color of Success” and “Fishnet”.
Opening for Morris Day will be Skinny Powers. The Arkansas/Tennessee group that came together in late 2017 as a studio project in Memphis, TN. With several years of combined experience on local stages, touring on national stages, and performing in studios all over the country.
Twenty-five years after Blind Melon’s self-titled debut – album that fused southern psych-rock influences with nineties-era alt grunge, Blind Melon has is returned to the studio and stage.
“No Rain” became one of the most indelible music videos and songs of the 90’s, or any era for that matter. Blind Melon began in L.A in 1990 by a group of Southern Transplants and soon after Shannon Hoon’s support on Guns and Roses “Don’t Cry” Single, the group landed a capital Records Contract.
Opening up for Blind Melon will be The Dirty Streets, a young band from Memphis compared to Humble Pie, The Rolling Stones and James Brown and have been heralded as the first truly great “new” band to emerge from the Memphis scene in recent memory.
In recent years the festival has seen Smash Mouth, FUEL, Scotty McCreery, Brett Michaels, Brothers Osborne, The Commodores, Lee Brice, 38 Special, Rick Springfield, Easton Corbin, Barrett Baber and Night Ranger perform in Downtown Jonesboro. Tim McCall, Festival Chairman, said “this year will definitely be something to see! Every year we try to improve and this year will be one if the best. It is all about providing our community and visitors with an opportunity to see Jonesboro and all the things we have to offer.”
The festival also hosts the Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned Arkansas State Championship. Jack Turner, event coordinator said, “this year we will also have a judges class for those who are interested in becoming a sanctioned KCBS Judge. We look forward to giving away more money this year with $13,000 in prizes.” The Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) is the largest BBQ organization in the world. Each year, the Grand Champion is invited to the American Royal and Jack Daniels World Championship. Turner said, “Everybody’s got a chance to win some big cash, this is fun for some and serious business for many grillers.”. This year a KCBS Certified BBQ Judges class will be held Thursday, September 26th at 5:30 pm at 2725 N. Church Street, Jonesboro, AR 72401 (Abilities Unlimited). Cost is $45 and information can be found at JonesborodowntownBBQ.com.
The event includes the the third annual SCA Steak Cookoff on Friday night with the grand prize of $1000 and an invitation to the SCA Championship in Houston Texas. For more information on the September 27th Steak Cook off event contestants can visit http://www.steakcookoffs.com.
McCall and Turner, who have organized the festival since inception said they are “excited to have the support of the A&P Commission and Ritter Communications again this year as it could not be done without their help.” The event also includes activities for the kids, plenty of food, vendors and local music throughout the day.
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