Music
The Making of Michissippi Mick
From the time that Mick Kolassa was 15 years old, he says blues music has pulled him in like a tractor beam, but it wasn't until a few years ago …
Music
Caroline Herring
Longtime listeners of "Thacker Mountain Radio Hour" may recognize one voice in particular at the program's latest live taping. Canton-native folk singer Caroline Herring will be a featured guest when …
Books
Darden North
Jackson author Darden North was at a literary conference when the phrase "five manners of death," in reference to natural causes, accident, suicide, undetermined and homicide, truly stuck with him.
Music
Sounds from the Empty House
For many years, musicians Judson Wright and Nigel Cole were friends and ran in the same circles, but they didn't make music together—at least, not outside of the school band.
Music
A Jumping Point for Jazz
Jackson musician Raphael Semmes and the management at Hal & Mal's launched their weekly jazz offering, "Dinner, Drinks & Jazz with Raphael Semmes," in May and planned to keep it …
Music
The Bacon Brothers
When someone discovers that a film star also plays music, it can instantly become little more than trivia. For longtime fans all over the world, though, the Bacon Brothers are …
Music
Ribs, Rubs & Rock ‘N’ Roll
As the members of Jackson alternative-country band Young Valley put the final touches on their upcoming sophomore album about three months ago, they began brainstorming how to raise funds to …
Art
Lizz Winstead
When writer, producer and comedian Lizz Winstead visited Jackson in 2015, she wasn't in town for a stand-up show or filming a segment for "The Daily Show," which she co-created, …
Music
Flywalker’s Next Steps
The track, "ctrlaltdelete.", is just the latest of many that Jackson producer Darrin Givens, known to fans as Flywalker, has put out on online music communities such as SoundCloud. It …
Music
Grace Askew: A New Warpath
The Americana realm will be well represented in this year's Stray At Home Art & Music Festival on May 13. The music lineup features nationally known singer-songwriters Marc Scibilia, Joe …
Music
Behind Vicksburg’s Blues
If you have made your way over for one of Vicksburg's many concerts, festivals and shows in recent years, the odds are good that you've crossed paths with Shirley Waring, …
Music
The Weeks: ‘Easy’ Writers
It's been four years since Jackson-native rock act The Weeks released a true follow-up to their 2013 album, "Dear Bo Jackson," although the band has been far from quiet.
Music
The Days of Deejays
As an artist who came up in the early-2000s hip-hop scene and still performs today, New York native Sam Zornow, whom fans know as DJ Shiftee, has experienced two different …
Music
The Highs and Low Ends
Iconic hip-hop act A Tribe Called Quest surprised many longtime listeners in late 2015 when the group seemingly began ramping up for a full return.
Person of the Day
Disney's 'Dream' in Jackson
Parents, children and general fans of the "House of Mouse" will see quite a few stories at the Jackson production of "Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream," which takes place …
Film
A Thankless Job
Airport baggage screeners have an important position that is not only thankless but also, on occasion, outright despised. In German filmmaker Florian Heinzen-Ziob's dramatic short film "For Your Own Safety," …
Film
Raising the Steaks
It's a classic tale of politics, power struggles and savory revenge, albeit in an unexpected setting. Writer-director Felipe da Fonseca Peroni's aptly named short film, "Brazilian Steakhouse," follows Rodney, who …
Music
Jazz Fest Fellowship
Hitting the "big 1-0" is a significant milestone for any annual event, which is why Raphael Semmes and Tripp Douglas wanted to do something spectacular for the 10th anniversary of …
Music
Weighing in on ‘Wolves’
Ron Etheridge will likely be a familiar name—and voice—to many Jackson music fans.
Books
Hari Kunzru
To those who aren't familiar with his critically acclaimed past works, such as 2011's "Gods Without Men," Hari Kunzru is known for his lively writing style and his ability to …
Books
Greg Iles: From 'Burning' to 'Blood'
For many people, today is an average Tuesday, but for longtime fans of author Greg Iles, March 21 has been a long time coming. Today marks the release of the …
Music
Brantley Gilbert: All on the Table
For several years now, Brantley Gilbert has been a big name in the world of country music.
Music
A New Palette for City and Colour
When Dallas Green released his first music as City and Colour in 2005, he says it was meant to be a collection of "other songs."
Music
Champion, Unplugged
Concertgoers who catch blues artist Grady Champion whenever he plays in Jackson might think they have his live show figured out. However, when the Canton, Miss., native rolls back into …
Jacksonian
Adam Farcus
Artist Adam Farcus hasn't needed much time to make friends and make a difference in Jackson.
Music
Kari Jobe: Growth in ‘The Garden’
In the worship-music industry, few contemporary artists have achieved the staying power of singer-songwriter Kari Jobe. Since the Waco, Texas, native released her self-titled debut in 2009, many of her …
Music
Mandisa: Becoming an ‘Overcomer’
California-native singer Mandisa has been a constant on Christian radio since the release of her debut album, "True Beauty," in 2008, and her star has only risen in recent years.
Books
Hurt & Healing in ‘Unspeakable Things’
Author Jackie Warren Tatum has always written, but her work was far from the field of crime fiction that readers will find in her debut novel, "Unspeakable Things" (Mill City …
Music
Moonshine Bandits: Outlaws & Originators
For some music fans, country music is the quintessential “southern” sound, and yet, many of its biggest stars hail from elsewhere. That includes Bird and Tex of country-rap duo Moonshine …
Music
Sweet Lillies, Southbound
Since forming in late 2013, Boulder, Colo.-based Americana act The Sweet Lillies has been working its way around the country, carving a name for itself in the string-band music scene …
Art
Writing ‘Desperation’
Many great books start from a small idea. Columbus, Miss., author Michael Farris Smith's latest novel began with a single image: a woman and her child walking down the side …
Music
A Follow-up to Fanfare
Given the positive response to the Mississippi Chambre Music Guild's inaugural Fanfare Festival in 2016, a second installment isn't that surprising. However, the event wasn't always so certain.
Music
Jason Turner Hits 'Reset'
When singer-songwriter Jason Turner went into Malaco Recording Studios to record his seventh full-length album, "Reset," he knew that he wanted something different, from the mindset behind the project to …
Music
LPs and the People Who Press Them
Vinyl is back. At least, that's been the experience for Jackson singer-songwriter Jason Daniels, frontman of the Jason Daniels Band.
City & County
WLEZ-FM Goes Silent, In 'Wait and See' Mode
Jacksonians trying to tune into local FM radio station WLEZ last week may have been surprised to hear silence instead of their favorite American standards and jazz tracks.
Person of the Day
Lady Cajun
Desirae Thomas, known to fans as Jackson hip-hop artist Lady Cajun, says she felt drawn in two directions when launching her career: pop music and hip-hop.
Jacksonian
Suzanne Hatch
As one of the only bookstores in Rankin County, Bay Window Books in Brandon has a big responsibility, and one that owner Suzanne Hatch says she takes seriously.
Music
Indie Music Week Ins and Outs
The second annual Jackson Indie Music Week is approaching fast, with many concerts, showcases, panel discussions, and other activities that highlight music from around the state, the region and the …
Music
The Vamps Rev Up
When The Vamps performed at Duling Hall in December 2015, attendees kept telling the musicians how thrilled they were that the band was playing a reunion show. Of course, the …
Person of the Day
Thomas J. Ward Jr.
As with all of Mississippi, the rural town of Mound Bayou in Bolivar County has its fair share of interesting landmarks, including one that even some residents might not know …
Mississippi Music of 2016 (So Far)
Over the years, I've done plenty of interviews with local Jackson acts and nationally known recording artists, and I've been surprised at how many of the same topics of conversation …
Music
Vinyl for Life
When Jay Ferchaud returned my call on a Friday in October, he was equal parts apologetic and ecstatic. Just before our scheduled interview, he learned that a store in Arkansas …
Music
Blues in Black and White
Mississippi bluesman Robert Johnson may have only lived to be 27 years old, but his legacy has grown exponentially since his death in 1938, inspiring many generations of artists. Of …
LGBT
Queer-Punk Act Faces Protesters in Downtown Jackson
Ben Hopkins was eating spicy shrimp pasta in a van when a handful of protesters began organizing in front of Big Sleepy’s, an all-ages music venue in downtown Jackson. The …
Music
Beat Down, Not Out
Stepping inside midtown-based record, comic-book and collectibles store Offbeat, you'll notice plenty of products that come from all over the United States and from different corners of the world, including …
Jacksonian
Lesley F. Collins
Even if you aren't yet familiar with found-object artist Lesley F. Collins, your kids might be.
Person of the Day
Veronica Parrales
Those who haven't attended a Mississippi Symphony Orchestra performance in recent months will notice a few new faces at the latest show in the Bravo Series, "Bravo! Copland!", a program …
Music
Giving a Voice to ‘Throatless’
When producer Curtis Lehr first began making electronic music in 2009, it was an experiment in limitations, as they were relegated to a few sample loops on free recording software.
