Jackson Free Press

Folk rock/ indie artist and Hernando native Garrison Starr demonstrates her Southern roots through songs that tell rich stories of love and overcoming adversity.

Since her debut album, "Pinwheels," released in 1993, Starr, 34, has gained a national following and toured with Steve Earle, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin and Melissa Etheridge. This Saturday, Oct.23, she will return to Mississippi when she performs at Unity Mississippi's annual OUToberfest at Smith Park.

While attending Ole Miss in the mid 1990s, Starr played drums for the band "The Living Hand." After a few semesters at Ole Miss, she moved to Memphis, Tenn. where she worked for Ardent Records. In 2007 she marked the released of her seventh album "The Girl that Killed September." On Tuesday, she will release her ninth album, "Relive."

Starr is one many performers during this weekend's festival to celebrate Mississippi's LGBT community and it allies, held in recognition of National Coming Out Day and National LGBT History Month. Other performers include: Baron, Patrice Moncell, Jazmen Flowers, Natalie Long and Clinton Kirby, Tori Mattison, Josephina Gabbana, Madison Lashay, Syrn Mirage, Brooklyn Alexander and Trinity Starr. The event also features guest speakers such as Veronica Rodriquez, mother of Ceara Sturgis, and Constance McMillen. Sturgis and McMillen lesbian teens filed suit against their school district officials, alleging discrimination over their sexual orientation.

OUToberfest is free and open to the public from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Smith Park (302 E. Amite St.) For more information, visit the festival's website. Unity Mississippi will announce performance times this afternoon on the festival's Facebook page. Bottom of Form