If you’re generally a fan of live music or specifically a fan of Louisiana music, you’re going to want to have your eyes on the Prize Cast Youtube channel at 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, when Prize Fest’s PrizePalooza kicks off. This three-hour “online concert experience” (there’ll be live and pre-taped elements) and fundraiser (there’s no cost to tune in, but organizers suggest a $10 donation) will feature exclusive performances from:
- Kevin Russell (of Shinyribs and The Gourds)
- Kenny Wayne Shepherd
- Papa Mali
- Kathy Valentine (of The Go-Go’s, The BlueBonnets)
- AJ Haynes (of Seratones)
- Brady Blade and the Bayou Punks
- *repeat repeat
- Airpark
- Lumpy Grits
RSVP to the PrizePalooza Facebook event.
Many of the acts involved hail from Shreveport-Bossier or have deep roots in northwestern Louisiana, and it’s undeniably interesting to see them all sharing a program. Russell, who was raised in Shreveport and started his first band here before moving to Austin and founding The Gourds, is one of the artists that Prize Fest majordomo Gregory Kallenberg is excited to share with viewers.
“He’s going to sing a Huddie Ledbetter tune and do his cover of ‘Gin and Juice,’ which he never does anymore,” Kallenberg told me.
It’ll be interesting to hear what Brady Blade Jr.’s been creating with his Swedish blues-rock trio, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s just gotten more and more talented these last few years. AJ Haynes of Seratones brings a fiery energy to anything that she touches, and the local music/theatre/literary arts collective Lumpy Grits could wind up doing anything. All in all, it’s going to be an interesting three hours that should make a strong case for the argument that Northwest Louisiana produces more than its fair share of great musicians.
If you’re looking for more upcoming events in Shreveport-Bossier, you can find them at www.SBFunGuide.com. To stay up-to-date with news like this, sign up for Getaways, the monthly e-newsletter of Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.
20×49.com is a publication of the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.
All photos used courtesy of Prize Fest.
