Jackson Free Press

With floats, beads and libations abounding, Jacksonians will have plenty of colorful sights and sounds to enjoy during Hal's St. Paddy's Parade, but the party won't end with the parade route. Here's a look at the musical lineup for this year's St. Paddy's Festival.

Mississippi Mass Choir

One of Jackson's foremost gospel acts will get the honor of kick-starting the St. Paddy's Festival festivities at 3 p.m. Since forming in 1988, the Mississippi Mass Choir has stacked up accolades both here in the state and internationally, including its selection as Billboard Magazine's Gospel Artist of the Year in 1990, 1992 and 1994; Grammy Award nominations in 1997 and 2000; and induction into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame in 2000. The choir also has an exhibit in The Iron Horse Grill's "Mississippi Music Experience" museum.

Sweet Crude

New Orleans natives Sam and Jack Craft and their compatriots in Sweet Crude have performed in Jackson on numerous occasions, but the band's energetic live performances have kept local fans coming back for more joy-inducing jams. The Cajun-chanting septet should feel right at home in the capital city at Hal's St. Paddy's Festival, an event that's probably a little more French Quarter than Cork, Ireland. Sweet Crude will get the good times rolling at 4:15 p.m.

Flow Tribe

Funk-rock outfit Flow Tribe, performing at 6 p.m., will be the second New Orleans act to pack out the Hal & Mal's parking lot for the 2016 Hal's St. Paddy's Festival. The brassy and brass-fueled six-piece first began performing together while the musicians were still at Brother Martin High School in New Orleans. Now, Flow Tribe delivers the heavy-hitting funk of its musical hometown to audiences across the country, including several stops here in Jackson.

Robert Randolph & the Family Band

Growing up in the gospel scene, pedal-steel guitarist Robert Randolph remained largely removed from the secular-music world, but that hasn't stopped him from making a healthy dent in it as an adult. In addition to his own successful releases, Randolph, who is No. 97 in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time," has played on tracks for multiple platinum-selling artists, including Buddy Guy, Elton John and Dave Matthews. Robert Randolph & the Family Band performs at 8 p.m.

Hal's St. Paddy's Festival begins at 2:45 p.m., Saturday, March 19, at Hal & Mal's (200 S. Commerce St., 601-948-0888). For more information, visit halsstpaddysparade.com.