Jackson Free Press

I'm a big fan of the Man In Black, and so I am happy to report that something cool is happening in Starkville this weekend. The Johnny Cash Flower-Pickin Festival is put on by the Pardon Johnny Cash Project and celebrates his life and the music he made and inspired. "Pardon Johnny Cash" refers to a night Cash spent in the Starkville jail for public drunkenness in 1965. The group wishes to have a posthumous pardon given by the city of Starkville. According to the group's website, "The pardon doesn't suggest anyone condoned Cash's behavior. It symbolically recognizes Cash an imperfect human who made mistakes but gained insight and wisdom by learning from his indiscretions."

The Flower-Pickin Festival begins on Friday, November 2, with a lecture, a social, a charity auction and a showing of "Walk the Line." On Saturday, November 3, the music begins at 10:15 am and goes until 10:30 pm, including Superstar Donkey Donkey, Cash's own son-in-law Jimmy Tittle (married to Kathy Cash), and headliner Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives. See the full music schedule here. And, in fulfillment of the wishes of the Pardon Johnny Cash project, there will be an official pardoning ceremony around 8pm on November 3.

Sunday, November 4 concludes the festival with a "Redemption Service" featuring Cash's sister Joanne, Kevin Max (formerly of DC Talk) and other locals singing some of Cash's favorite gospel tunes. Check the website for a full schedule and other details.

Previous Comments

ID

115209

Comment

I like the Man in Black as well. To tell you the truth, I didn't appreciate his music until after his passing. My favorite of his is "Jackson", which he sang with his wife.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-10-29T08:25:14-06:00

ID

115210

Comment

me too, golden... my Maw Maw used to sing that song when Paw Paw went to Jackson to "fool around" for the day. :)

Author

andi

Date

2007-10-29T08:37:25-06:00

ID

115211

Comment

You know, the people of Jackson, TN swear that the song is about their town, not ours...

Author

Rico

Date

2007-10-29T22:13:07-06:00

ID

115212

Comment

Yeah, but nobody goes to Jackson, TN, to fool around.

Author

music chick

Date

2007-10-30T07:30:46-06:00