Thacker Mountain Radio All-Star Christmas Show and Fundraiser
Thursday, Dec. 8 at the Lyric Theater from 6 -7 PM
$10 Admission goes to fund 2012 Thacker Spring season
Doors at 5:30. Cash bar. Plenty of seating.
Christmas stories and songs by Jimbo Mathus, Silas Reed IV, Bill “Howlin Madd” Perry, Effie Burt, Jake Fussell, Jamie and Rosamond Posey, Casey Lipe, authors Jack Pendarvis and Theresa Starkey and Square Books owner, Richard Howorth.
Jimbo Mathus lives in Oxford when not on the road with his band, The Tri-State Coalition. Their latest CD is Confederate Buddha (Memphis International) which continues their signature mix of country, rock, soul and blues. No Depression called it one of the best releases of the year. The band’s previous CD was Jimmy the Kid. Mathus is also known for his work with blues guitarist Buddy Guy as well as his former band, the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Check out www.jimbomathus.com.
Jack Pendarvis is the author of the novel Awesome! and two collections of short stories, The Mysterious Secret of the Valuable Treasure and Your Body Is Changing. He is a columnist for The Oxford American and contributes the “Musin’s and Thinkin’s” column to The Believer magazine. You can follow his hilarious blog at www.jackpendarvis.blogspot.com.
Dr. Theresa Starkey teaches English at the University of Mississippi, including courses in American literature and gender theory. Her dissertation, The Woman on the Scaffold, explored how female American offenders—such as Patty Hearst and Martha Stewart—are represented in media and history.
Effie Burt was born and raised in Oxford as one of twelve musically gifted siblings. Though steeped in blues and gospel, her love of jazz eventually led her to spend several years in and around the Davenport, Iowa jazz scene. Ms. Burt recently returned to Oxford where she continues to write, perform and record. Among her CDs is the gospel album, “Written Amongst the Tears.” (www.facebook.com/pages/Effie-Burt).
Silas Reed IV fronts Silas Reed N’ Da Books, a rock and soul band from Oxford. Reed is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who wowed the Thacker audience last spring. The band’s energetic live performances draw on their love of Prince, Dave Matthews Band, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Steve Vai, among others. (http://www.myspace.com/silasreedandthebooks/).
Blues guitarist Jake Fussell grew up in Columbus, Georgia and spent years traveling with his dad, folklorist Fred Fussell, across the south documenting southern culture and music. He later toured with Georgia blues singer Precious Bryant, Alabama guitarist Albert Macon and Mississippi’s own, Shannon McNally, among others. (www.myspace.com/jakefussell)
Rosamond and Jamie Posey founded Rocket 88 in 2005, a self-described “southern roots-rock, ‘juke joint gospel’ band” from Oxford. Other members include Ryan Rogers (drums), Robert Chaffe (keyboards), and Nathan Robbins (bass). Their latest CD is Full Circle. (http://www.rocket88music.com/)
Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry was born in Tula, Miss. and was recording gospel music at legendary Chess Records as a teenager during its 1950s heyday. Perry’s blues CDs include Jook Joint Stomp and Reason I Sing the Blues. Perry often performs with his family band, The Perrys, with daughter Shy on bass and Bill, Jr. on keyboards. He also moonlights as a guitar teacher at the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale.
After graduation from South Panola High, then Ole Miss in the 1970’s, saxophonist Casey Lipe, embarked on his career as a touring and recording musician. In 1990, an accident cut off all the fingers on his left hand, which were successfully (if not miraculously) re-implanted. Since then, Lipe has fully recovered and maintains a vigorous performing schedule. Lipe also runs Blueswood Art in Batesville which reclaims old cypress, poplar, and red oak wood from outdated structures in the Delta and crafts fine furniture. (http://www.blueswood.com/)
Richard Howorth is founder of Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi, and past president of the American Booksellers Association. He served as mayor of Oxford from 2001 to 2009 and was honored with the 2008 Authors Guild Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community. In 1997, he co-founded Thacker Mountain Radio. (www.squarebooks.com)
Join host Jim Dees, Jimbo Mathus and our house band, the Yalobushwhackers this Thursday, Dec. 8 at 6 PM at the Lyric Theater for this very special show. Bring some pals, enjoy a refreshment and help support Thacker Mountain Radio while celebrating the season. You can hear the show locally Thursday on Rebel Radio (92.1 FM). Also, tune in to Mississippi Public Broadcasting every Saturday night at 7PM for Thacker Mountain Radio immediately following A Prairie Home Companion, or listen Saturday online.
Thanks for checking us out online. Come back for weekly updates, and stop by our highlights tab at the top and our facebook page for a complete gallery of pictures and clips from the show.
