On Tuesday, May 24, the soul of Jimmie Rodgers will come to life as Vasti Jackson explores the influences that inspired the father of country music to start yodeling the blues, and become America’s first superstar recording artists.

Vasti Jackson is a Mississippi cultural ambassador, living blues legend, 2012 Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame inductee and 2015 Albert King Lifetime Guitar Award recipient.

The evening will consist of up-close and personal reimaginings of Jimmie Rodgers’ classics, inspired originals, question-and-answer session and a CD signing. If you missed Vasti Jackson performing Best of the Mississippi Blues, An Evening of Robert Johnson last year, you will not want to miss him this year! For more information on Vasti Jackson, please visit vastjackson.com.

The Soul of Jimmie Rodgers will start at 6:30 p.m. at Bowie’s Tavern as part of The Natchez Festival of Music’s Rockin’ On The River Series. Admission is $7. Tickets may be purchased by visiting natchezfestivalofmusic.com, calling 800-647-6742 or at the door. Bowie’s Tavern is located at 100 Main St. in historic downtown Natchez.

The Natchez Festival of Music is celebrating its 26th season with events Tuesday through Saturday weekly during the month of May. As Natchez celebrates its 300th anniversary, there is no better way to celebrate that rich heritage than with music that represents the four nations that have flown flags over this great city. The season’s theme is Four Flags Over Natchez — A Tricentennial Season — covering French, Spanish, British and American music.

Other events this week include Rossini, Puccini and Martinis, an annual favorite, at the Historic Natchez Foundation at 7 p.m. today. Admission is $10 with a cash bar. Impressions and Expressions: Classical Music of Our Time featuring Maryann Kyle, soprano, Ellen Elder, Joseph Brumbeloe and Willis Delony, piano, will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church. Admission $20 ($10 for students K-12, adults with K-12 student, college students and active military with current ID).

The festival will pay tribute this weekend to the British rule of Natchez with The British Invasion of Natchez: Music of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Other Brits that Changed the World! Songs to be performed include “Pinball Wizard,” “Hey Jude,” “Whiter Shade of Pale,” “Let It Be,” “House of the Rising Sun” and many more! The show is at 7 p.m. Friday at the Natchez Performing Arts Center at Margaret Martin, with a cash bar beginning at 6. Admission $25 ($10 for students K-12, adults with K-12 student, college students and active military with current ID).

Show Boat is coming home to Natchez Saturday, with songs such as “Ol’ Man River,” “Make Believe” and “Can’t Help Loving Dat Man of Mine.” Come out and enjoy the return of the showboat Cotton Blossom at the Natchez Performing Arts Center at Margaret Martin. The show starts at 7 p.m. Cash bar refreshments begin at 6. Admission is $40 ($10 for students K-12, adults with K-12 student, college students and active military with current ID). Don’t miss the final week of the festival season — May 24-28 — as we pay tribute to the Spanish rule in Natchez including Serenata, A Spanish Street Party, and Carmen, one of the most popular opera’s ever written!

This Saturday and Sunday, the Natchez Festival of Music will also present The Southern Musical Theatre Conference, all lectures will be held at the Historic Natchez Foundation. The lectures are open to the public and are free! Additional details may be found on our website.

For tickets to all events, please visit natchezfestivalofmusic.com, or in person at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center or telephone 1-800-647-6742, or at the door for all events. There will be a cash bar at each event. Come for the music, stay for the experience.

 

Katie Johnson McCabe is the marketing and public relations chairwoman for the Natchez Festival of Music.