It's such good news we're gonna put it in a press release.
The earth, moon and stars will be in total alignment on May 20th, to fulfill my personal Blues Pilgrimage to the land of my ancestors, just outside of West Memphis. On my son's birthday, the Little Rock Blues Entourage will join me along with my band of Big Blue Cats, and we will set up to perform on the soil in fertile delta cotton country
where my daddy was born on Highway 49 decades ago. You only get one or two of these events in your lifetime where your Mojo is pulsating ready to burst full of mystical allure. Everyone in our blues world should take their guitar out of their case, and play a TBB shuffle (Twelve Bar Blues) at 3:00 PM USA Southland, Central Time. It could stun and shock the earth into world peace, who knows. We will open up with our TBB shuffle in the Delta Boogie Country, Jonesboro, Arkansas beside the White River as it flows down the delta along Highway 49 and joins the Mississippi River and Arkansas River near blues mecca landmark Helena, Arkansas. This is blues motherland, and a homecoming for me.
- Mike Dollins
And it happened just like he said. At 3 pm we played Blues For Peace and although we may not have put an end to war we gave it our best shot. Then I sang "Fish Story" dedicated to The Mudcats and Mike "Whisker Fish" Dollins and The Big Blue Cats.
Following that seven great acts from all over Arkansas played everything from traditional Blues and Jazz to Albert King and Paul Butterfield. Of course we ended with a jam session.
Musicians in order of appearance
Hairy Larry, Brookland
Randy Gambill, Bowman
Mike "Whisker Fish" Dollins and The Big Blue Cats with Mark Dixson, Ted Thornsen, and Ben Brenner, Little Rock Area
Suzanne Michell, Little Rock
Fred Wilson, Little Rock
Jawbone and Jolene, Jacksonville
Blind Boy White, Little Rock
Sandy and Roy McCann, Fayetteville
Ben "Swamp Donkey" Brenner, Little Rock area
Jam session hosted by The Big Blue Cats featuring Mad Dog from Trumann
Photos by Megan Heyl. More photos in the Photo Gallery. Photo of Mad Dog by Jo Ann Dollins. Photo of Megan Heyl by Vivian Heyl. Special thanks to Mike Dollins for his efforts organizing and promoting this show.
Thanks to Bella'z in Walnut Ridge for providing concessions and feeding the musicians. Thanks to Ramada Ltd. in Jonesboro for housing the musicians.
Blues For Peace Video by Hairy Larry
Blues For Peace Website - Peace through Blues education
Fish Story Video by Hairy Larry
Mike Dollins' Blues News
Photos by Jo Ann Dollins on Mike's site
Photos taken by the McCanns posted by Sandy McCann
Sunday In The Park - May 20, 2007 - Photos
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Blind Boy White playing Blues For Peace on the slide trombone
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Jolene from Jacksonville, Arkansas
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Sandy McCann sings with Mike Dollins, Ted Thornsen, Roy McCann
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Our photographer Megan Heyl singing Blues For Peace
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The Big Blue Cats putting on a show
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Uncle Fred the Deadhead and Suzanne Michell
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Hairy Larry, stage manager and emcee
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Mad Dog jamming with The Big Blue Cats
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Jawbone blowing harp
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Mark Dixson, bass with The Big Blue Cats
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Mike "Whisker Fish" Dollins
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Ted Thornsen drums with The Big Blue Cats
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Ben "Swamp Donkey" Brenner played solo and with The Big Blue Cats
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Randy Gambill playing drums on Blues For Peace
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Roy McCann played bass and guitar
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Suzanne Michell singing Steamroller Blues
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Jawbone singing with Jawbone and Jolene
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And one of Jolene singing
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Blind Boy White did many traditional Blues songs
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Fred Wilson on harp
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Sandy McCann fronting the band
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Mike Dollins singing Crosscut Saw
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Suzanne has gone electric
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Ben Brenner singing
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Fred Wilson singing The Titanic
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Blind Boy White at The Craighead Forest Bandshell
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