By LINDA ROSS ALDY
Special to The Sun-Sentinel
OAKLAND — Live music takes center stage at Oakland’s third Yalo-Ribbon Festival on Saturday, May 4, in downtown Oakland along with DJ Bob Murphree. The festival kicks off at 10 a.m. with the live music starting at 1 p.m.
Local country music favorites Jessey Higdon and Steve McGregory lead off the afternoon’s live music. McGregory is well-known in Oakland as the pianist at Oakland Baptist Church. The two musicians have played together for years now and cover country plus fan favorites like Jimmy Buffet. McGregory has played on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.
Üni is based out of Oxford and is picking up steam as the band of choice for many Ole Miss events as well as local venues there. Local Dalton Burney of Coffeeville is joined by Joe Hogue and Carson Gentry of Oxford and Tristen Ozor of Cumming, Georgia. This group is known for playing and writing just about every genre of music. Their high energy on stage keeps the crowds involved throughout each show. They have been adding songs especially for the Oakland show. They have their first EP coming out this summer and are “stoked to give y’all a piece of their heart through music.”
Closing out the afternoon will be Keith Johnson & The Big Muddy Band. Keith is carrying on a family tradition in the music business. As the great-nephew of the legendary Muddy Waters and the grandson of gospel singer Texcellar Fields, and with an MBA and BA in Entertainment Industry Studies from Delta State, Johnson is serious about music as a profession. He is an accomplished blues musician, songwriter and winner of the 2016 local International Blues Challenge Competition. He has played with Grammy Award winners Bobby Rush, Otis Clay and Dom Felmons.
Well-known local DJ Bob Murphree will keep the crowd entertained all morning as well as during set changes. Chairs may be set up for listening to the bands following the cake walk at 11:30 a.m. Live music is sponsored by the Ed and Becky Meek Foundation. No coolers are allowed.
The agenda for Oakland’s Yalo-Ribbon Festival on May 4 is:
» 7:30 a.m.: Vendors can begin setting up
» 10 a.m.: Festival kicks off
» 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Mechanical bull ride
» 10 a.m. to2 p.m.: Kids Zone is open
» 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Vendors are open (they can stay through the end of the music at 5:15)
» 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Community yard sale
» 11:30 a.m.: Cake walk. Following the cake walk (around 12:15-12:30), people can begin setting up chairs for listening to bands.
» 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.: Jessey Higdon and Steve McGregory perform
» 2:30 to 3:45 p.m.: Üni performs
» 4 to 5:15 p.m.: The Big Muddy Band performs
To participate as a vendor or exhibitor sponsor, or for more information, contact OaklandAreaChamber@gmail.com or on Facebook at Oakland Area Chamber, or leave a message at 601-853-3942.
