On June 4th, Picayune will present its fourth annual June Summer Blues Out 2011/Greater Picayune Arts Council Art Walk. After last year’s success, the Blues Out has grown to accommodate some new entertainers as well as to bring back some of the more popular blues artists from previous concerts. This year our event will include “Blues Out Sales” at participating shops and shopping all day in our Downtown from ten until five with the free entertainment beginning at 5 p.m.

 Hosted by the ever-active Picayune Main Street, Inc., the event promises an even larger group of performers, a longer presentation, and name entertainment. Primarily among the musicians will be McComb’s Little Freddie King, fresh from the New Orleans Jazz Fest. Other artists include hot instrumentalist and singer Melanie Wilkinson, the incredible War Vichayanond on drums, the sizzling Wardell Williams and his band, and the ever popular “born to the blues” songstress Brenda Davenport Taylor, daughter of the late great trumpeter Wallace Davenport whose credits include tours with Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, and Ray Charles. Sound will be provided by Aaron Lee’s Big Noise Productions.

 The Blues Out has now become part of the Mississippi Blues Trail which is no small honor among blues aficionados and as any devotee will inform you represents the supreme tribute regarding the blues. The Trail was established by the Mississippi Blues Commission as a project to place instructive markers throughout the state in recognition of significant historical sites and to acknowledge the birthplaces of the many blues icons that Mississippi has produced such as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and, of course, Elvis himself. But so popular has the Blues Out become that it has been selected among the top twenty events for the month of June by the Atlanta based Southeast Tourism Society which disseminates such information to over 800 media outlets.

To complement this year’s affair many individual restaurants and shops will be featuring blues artists of their own. Look for “masks” on various shops which will have artist’s works for viewing. Jimmy B returns to Café Amoré on E. Canal and Becky Eynard will be performing at the Gallery/GPAC at 106 A Church Street. There will be the popular Boulevard Cruisers hot rod/car show, a rib eating contest at Stonewall’s, and art exhibits by GPAC which will be having a membership drive and raffle on Blues Out night.

Joining our regular Downtown eateries Dockside and The Italian Grill will be set up on N. Main Street so bring your appetite.

This year Picayune Main Street hosted the first Blues Out poster contest in which the winner’s art work celebrating the event will be displayed on T-shirts and posters and which will both be on sale the night of the concert.