Derrick Harriell is the author of the poetry collection, Stripper in Wonderland (LSU Press). The poems move from birth to death, funk to hip-hop, and racism to religion as Harriell explores the life of a modern black man transplanted from the Midwest to the Deep South. Originally from Milwaukee, Harriell is a former director of the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Mississippi, where he is also assistant professor of English and African American studies. His previous collections of poetry include Cotton (2010), and Ropes, which won the 2014 Poetry Award from the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters.

La Fusion performs popular songs from various Latin American countries. The group is made up of musicians from the Oxford/University community including Andres Diaz (vocal, guitar, percussion), Monique Ma (vocal, violin, percussion), Hunter McGuary (trombone, electric guitar), Daniel Roebuck (trumpet, percussion), Lazarrus Miller (piano), Amy Fisher (upright bass), Ricky Burkhead (percussion). Their music explores early Latin rhythmic patterns such as the ‘Abakua’ tradition, which helped create salsa, samba, soca, calypso, and reggae.

Rooted in jazz, the group, Bella Donna, blends finger-picking and rural influences with a touch of vaudeville from their home in the Missouri Ozarks. The first release is self-titled with a follow-up expected later this year. The group is Liz Carney, vocals, guitar; Matt Guinn, guitar; Mike Williamson, bass, cornet; B.J. Lowrance , drums; and Jeremy Chapman, mandolin.