By Josh Troy
Clarksdale Advocate
Approximately 300 individuals attended the Birthplace of American Music Festival in downtown Clarksdale from June 16 to 18. Delta Blues Alley Cafe owners JeCorry Miller and Adhel Henderson have been organizing the BAM Fest since 2018. The Juneteenth Invest Fest consisted of the BAM Festival and Higher Purpose Co.’s Black Market Initiative, collaborating on Delta Avenue in the afternoon of June 17. Entrepreneurs sold their products during the Black Market Initiative next to Delta Blues Alley Cafe on Delta Avenue.
The Juneteenth holiday is observed every June 19.
“I think this weekend was a great weekend,” Miller said. “The weather held.”
Musicians played at 10 different venues in the downtown Clarksdale area during the festival.
“It was a good weekend,” Miller said. “The BAM Fest turned out real good. We had people coming all the way from Mexico, New York, Kentucky, and California. It was a good event. I wish we had more people as always. I really wish we could get more local participation.”
After talking with Henderson, Miller said Frank “Guitar” Rimmer & Band playing at Red’s Blues Club, Big T & The Family playing at Levon’s Bar and Grill, and The Grandboiz playing at Meraki Roasting Co. had the biggest turnouts because of the times they played. They all played between 3:30 and 7 p.m. on June 17.
“People loved the entertainment,” Miller said. “People loved each and every one of the venues. People loved the service of all the venues. People loved the fact that they had a whole day of events that were able to keep them going the whole day. The hardest part was being able to make it to the end. Some people came later. Some people came early.”
Miller said he and Henderson will do a better job of letting people know about the 2024 BAM Fest.
“One of the things that we’re going to try to do better next year is get off to an earlier start on promo,” Miller said. “We never really did as well as some of the other festivals on promoting early. Some of the high points of other festivals promote the day after their event ends. We’re going to try to start tomorrow on promo.”
Miller said he would work with the venues to promote next year’s festival.
“Each one of the businesses, they all appreciate it because their business individually benefited from the festival the same,” Miller said.
Miller thanked all of the sponsors and everyone who attended the BAM Festival. Anyone looking for more information can go to www.bamfestms.com or contact dbacclarksdale@gmail.com or 662-621-2221.
