Jackson Free Press

I hope all of you have recovered from the St. Paddy's Parade weekend or are on the mend from such a glorious parade this year. With three parades in two weeks, Jackson is blessed with the opportunity to win the hearts of thousands of people who come to the city and take part in our finest traditions.

As usual, this week has a pretty impressive lineup of musical acts.

On Wednesday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m., Duling Hall (622 Duling Ave., 601-941-1432) and Whiskey River Saloon (209 Commerce St., 601-592-1000, formerly known as Club Fire), bring SXSW to Jacktown. Lovedrug from Canton, Ohio, Maggie Eckford from Nashville, Tenn., and Happy New Year from Brooklyn, N.Y., perform at Duling Hall for an all-ages show. Continue the Jackson SXSW experience and head over to Whiskey River Saloon at 9:30 p.m. to hear American Royalty from Los Angeles, Machines Are People, Too from Chattanooga, Tenn., and Cherub from Murfreesboro, Tenn. Visit ardenland.net for more information.

Thursday, March 22, the famous Sweet Potato Queens roll in with a huge party! The SPQ's Come On In Party is at the Jackson Hilton (1001 E. County Line Road, 601-957-2800) with a stellar lineup of Mississippi musicians starting at noon and going until the wee hours of the morning. Bob Gates, Kathy Dougan, Virgil Brawley, Hunter Gibson, Cody Cox, Taylor Hildebrand, and several other wonderfully talented acts will be playing throughout the day and night. The event is free and open to all; be prepared to feel totally regal after attending.

On Friday, March 23, the SPQs hosts their Big Hair Ball at the Hilton at 8 p.m. featuring The Mississippi Blues All-Stars (Fingers Taylor, Jewel Bass, Jesse Robinson and King Edward), and Kacey Jones. The event is a fundraiser for the Animal Rescue Fund (ARF), a local animal shelter run by SPQ Pippa Jackson, so please come out to support the cause. (Other SPQ events benefit the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children.)

At 7 p.m. Saturday, March 24 (immediately following the Zippity Doo Dah Parade featuring the Sweet Potato Queens, Jackson State University's Sonic Boom of the South and the famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses), the Fondren neighborhood hosts a street party featuring The Delta Mountain Boys. The Mississippi Mass Choir performs at 2 p.m.

For information on Zippity Doo Dah and all the queenly activities, visit http://www.sweetpotatoqueens.com and http://www.zddparade.com.

If you're looking for alternatives to the SPQ happenings, I highly suggest checking out teenage country-music heartthrob Hunter Hayes Thursday night at Hal and Mal's. Also Thursday, Wooden Finger with Chimney Choir from Denver, Colo. Is at Sneaky Beans. Alvin Youngblood Hart's Muscle Theory plays at Martin's Friday night, and Coke Bumaye's "Translation 3" CD release party is at Suite 106 Saturday starting at 9 p.m. Also on Saturday night Glasgow rocks it out at Old Tavern, and Underground 119 has Eden Brent.

Please continue to send me your listings by Monday at noon for the upcoming weekend. Check out more upcoming events at http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/music, and if you see me out and about, please say hello!