Jackson Free Press

Wooden Finger Releases New CD

The members of Wooden Finger all have different ideas of how certain songs are going to sound when they come together to make music. They begin playing, and the creative …

A Soulful Messiah

Legendary producer Quincy Jones took the classic Handel's "Messiah" and added some soul. Jackson school choirs and area dancers will add life when they perform the modern classic this holiday …

Bulldog Bash Winner

Rocktwang is one way Jackson native Jason Turner describes his music. Southern rock, alt-country, Americana-whatever you call it, it's a genre that is versatile enough to appeal to many tastes. …

‘Kiss Me, Bess'

Mississippi Symphony Orchestra presents its first pops concert of the season, "Another Opening, Another Show," featuring Cole Porter tunes from "Kiss Me Kate" and "Porgy and Bess." Vocalists Sherri Seiden …

‘The Black Codes'

I know, I know. It was just a few months ago that I wrote about Herbert Brown. So why am I doing it again? If you remember, Herbert Brown, 32, …

Blowing the Roof Off

Baby Jan Smith and Chalmers Davis joined forces in the spring after meeting and working with each other in the choir loft at Wells United Methodist Church. The two hit …

Esperanza Extravaganza

On Dec. 17, Jacksonians home for the holidays will have a chance to hear what they have been missing on the Jackson music scene, and newcomers can get a taste …

Glasgow: Classic(al) Rock

Sitting with a guitar in lap and notepad on the ground awaiting inspiration is a luxury foreign to Sam Craft. Instead, an idea will hit him while driving down the …

Finding a Musical Home

John Paul Keith is not what you'd expect in a Memphis musician. Originally from east Tennessee, the Memphis-based guitarist and singer's music brings together a bunch of roots music styles, …

Blues Cowboy

Grady Champion approaches the microphone like a gun fighter ready to take you out. His belt, laden with harmonicas in various keys, one for each of the keys he sings …

Eating Streets

After a brief first listen, you may think you are hearing just another punk band. The Street Eaters, though, prove to be more than a three-chord angst fest. Comprised only …

The Full Circle

He was a tall, kind of goofy-bumbling-professor type who was nice to me, even though I was there to whisk his daughter away. We did not get much time to …

Microcosm of an Industry

The Be-Bop sign still hangs prominently in Maywood Mart, but the shelves inside are empty. Be-Bop Record Shop was once the largest record store chain in Mississippi, but the last …

Sit Down and Do It

From the moment the modern composer pulled up in his little red truck wearing jeans and tennis shoes, to the final moments of conversation in Cups Espresso Café in Clinton, …

Advice for aspiring Jackson musicians

My music isn't the kind people go to listen to at happy hour after a long day of work. I totally understand that at 5 p.m., people just want to …

Tales of a First-Grade Rocker

As my siblings and I were growing up, my daddy turned us on to The Statler Brothers, Oak Ridge Boys, Kenny Rogers and for balance, the gospel group The Happy …

BOY is Back in Town

"We left Mississippi as men," the invitation teases. "We return as BOY."

"We left Mississippi as men," the invitation teases. "We return as BOY."

Strength from the Old Ways

Music, motherhood, quilts and homemade pickles define Valley Gordon. Her worn guitar case proudly displays a sticker that reads "Old Time Music." Gordon, 34, has played guitar since she was …

The Search is Over

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 21, the normally "reserved and nonchalant" Jason "PyInfamous" Thompson was concerned and nervous. The Jackson MC had just put the last 10 …

A Rocker's Lament

I received a Facebook message the other day from a guy I'll call Rocker99. His letter was pretty critical, citing he never sees me at any shows in Jackson, or …