The following is an extract from a review of the Freedom Creek Festival printed in the Chicago Tribune, 21st June 2002:
". . . For King is not only a professional musician; he's also a community organizer in western Alabama's Pickens County.
He combines his two pursuits every June when he hosts his Freedom Creek Festival, a gathering of musicians, political activists and barbecue cooks on King's farm in Aliceville, Alabama. . . .
. . . To get there, you pull in off the paved road, drive past the two sagging white trailers where King lives and works, slip through the break in the trees, cross the freshly mowed field and park near the stand of maple, oak and pine. Those trees hug the steep slopes of a V shaped ravine cut by a small creek. At the top of the north bank is a lumber and cinder block stage, spray painted with silhouettes of the maple leaves lying all around.
Performing on stage in the John Lee Hooker style that seems to dominate the festival is Little Lee, a veteran bluesman from just across the border in Mississippi. He is backed by Debbie Bond, the guitar playing director of the Alabama Blues Project, and by Clay Swofford, the 18 year old keyboard prodigy from Dakman, Alabama.
But King strides away from the stage, past the eight foot long gas tanks that have been converted into charcoal grills, past the brochure laden community tables, past the whiskey drinkers in their lawn chairs, out into the woods where he can sit cross legged on the ground and explain his work. . . .
Willie King at last year's festival. . . After all the other bands have played, just as the sun is reddening the line of trees to the west, Willie King & the Liberators take the stage. The lights strapped to the maple trees come on, and the small crowd of maybe 200, black and white, abandons the nylon chairs to wriggle and writhe in the dust before the stage. . . .
. . . The set's highlight is 'America,' a song from the new album. Backed by a groove that reminds one of Booker T. & the MGs, King sings of a broken love affair with a mixture of hurt over the broken promises, and of hope that the separated lovers can be reunited. But the song is not about a woman; it's about the singer and his nation. 'America,' he sings in a plaintive tone, with Halbert shadowing his every move, 'we've been separated too long.'
'Like that song says,' King argues, 'all of us in America have to try to make up with each other, just like a man and a woman. I love America, and America has been divided too long. We have to heal those wounds and really try to get it together this time.' "
Music on this site is used with permission of the artists, who perform at our festival! Photos were given to the ABP with permission to post with photo credit. Enjoy!
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The 12th annual Freedom
Creek Blues Festival will take place this year on Friday, May 29th and
Saturday, May 30st near Aliceville, on Old Memphis
Road in Old Memphis, Alabama. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and 11:00
a.m. on Saturday. Both nights go till late! Free camping is offered on site.
Starting as a small, local event, the Freedom Creek Festival has grown to an internationally renowned festival, attracting audiences from across the nation and overseas. Known for its warm welcome and outstanding blues performances, this is a unique festival set in the backwoods of the Alabama Black Belt. Local juke-joint musicians perform along with national and international acts, combining to make an outstanding display of blues talent - all in the peaceful setting of rural Pickens County.
This year's festival features an outstanding roster of premier blues artists including headline acts Kenny Neal , Jerry "Boogie" McCain, Cedric Burnside and Lightnin'
Malcolm along with Alabama blues women Carroline Shines, Debbie Bond, Shar-Baby and Sweet Claudette, plus Alabama blues
talent Taylor Moore, Julius Conner, Caleb Childs and the Old Memphis Kings, Little Willie Farmer, Willie Lee Halbert, Vanessia Young and the Pure Blues Express, "Birmingham" George Conner, Clarence Davis, Rev. Little, Todd Johnson, Big Joe Shelton, plus Pat Moss and more! The festival
promises to be an explosive celebration of the blues, deep in the land from
which it is was born!
Admission to the festival is a
suggested donation of $10 on Friday and $12 on Saturday, in support of the Rural
Members Association. For further information, check out the web site at www.willie-king.com, email to info@willie-king.com or call (205) 752
6263.
The Freedom Creek Festival is
presented by the Rural Members
Association (RMA), a non-profit organization located in Old Memphis,
Alabama, that seeks to preserve traditional local culture and assist the
community in Pickens County.
Founded by Willie King in
1983, RMA's Freedom Creek Blues Festival brings all walks of life together once
a year, allowing local musicians to display their musical talent alongside
national and international acts and bringing much-need attention and interest to
this underserved area of the Alabama Black Belt. The festival has been endorsed by
attracting sponsorships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Alabama
State Council on the Arts, Music Maker Foundation, the Black Belt Community
Foundation and other generous supporters, plus assistance from the Alabama Blues
Project. This collaboration of national, state and local organizations and
individuals makes a delicious community gumbo everyone can get a taste
of!
Hey Hey,
Just checking in to see how things are going these days? Looking forward to meeting up at a show at some point. Keep in touch.
Cheers,
Matt & Kane
HI THERE! THANKS FOR YOUR KIND FRIENDSHIP. SO GOOD ARTIST LIST FOR THE FESTIVAL THIS YEAR... ..YOU GROVE, YOU ROCK, YOU BLUES... GOOD LUCK GREETINGS FROM ITALY MAX&FRED
We had another wonderful time at the world's greatest blues festival.It was great meeting new friends and seeing the old ones again.Peace,love,and blues was everywhere.Hope everyone made it home alright,and lets say we all do it again next year around this time!
Comme ces fleurs que j ai prises dans mon jardin ou un doux coeur se releve a nos yeux surpris, .. le coeur humain est souvent cache..il suffit d aller au dela des apparences. J te souhaite un week end enchanteur.. amitie
Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956) have a wonderfull week end ..
Joelle
You may get a lot of negative
feedback from others,
and so much happens in life
to block the road you wish to travel.
But you must dream anyway
and cherish your dreams
as they come from your soul
and are the blueprint
of who you are.
What's more, they represent
the direction you should take on earth.
Let your heart set your goals
and remain dedicated to them.
Let your voice be heard
for yours is the soulfilled sound of an angel!!!!!!
If we dare not to dream
We are doomed to fail!!!!!!!
Dream on and reach for the stars they are yours for the taking!!!!!!!!!
I love ya ~~~~Debbie Kendrick & Mo Mo Betta Blues Band
The Blues had a baby and called it "Rock and Roll". May the blues live on forever. May your favorite music live on forever as well Freedom Creek Festival
Online Now!
Comme ces fleurs que j ai prises dans mon jardin ou un doux coeur se releve a nos yeux surpris, .. le coeur humain est souvent cache..il suffit d aller au dela des apparences. J te souhaite un week end enchanteur.. amitie
