Here is your FINAL MMHF Schedule for this weekend!

MOVED TO THE TOP.

Heads up, Crackerphiles, unless something dramatic happens, your Cracker is now in FESTIVAL mode. There won't be any posts until Monday at the earliest. Come down this weekend, the weather is going to be exquisite, nothing short of it. You will want to be outside, come down and hang with us. I will be at the ArtsMemphis stage, and I will be live-tweeting from my stage and twit-picing as well. Look for hashtag #MMHF for all festival tweets. Go also to the Center's Facebook page at http://facebook.com/southernfolklore.

Saturday, Sept. 4				Sunday, Sept. 5
ArtsMemphis Stage @ Peabody Place & Main St.				ArtsMemphis Stage @ Peabody Place & Main St.
2:00pm	MouseRocket	Indie, Cello Pop		1:30pm	Hickory Withe  Bluegrass	Bluegrass
3:00pm	Devil Train	Blue grass Jam Band		2:30pm	Voice of Golden Eagle	Cherokee Flute
4:00pm	Stevenson Clark	Gospel Choir Ensemble		3:30pm	Promise	Gospel Jazz
5:00pm	Los Cantadores	Latin		4:30pm	Daddy Mack  Blues Band	Blues
5:45pm	Watoto Memphis	Latin Dance		5:15pm	Watoto Memphis	Blues Dance
6:00pm	Elmo &  the Shades	R&B		5:30pm	John Paul Keith &  the 145s	Rock, Country
7:00pm	Bluff City  Backsliders	Jug Band		6:30pm	Sonny Burgess &  the Pacers	Rockabilly
7:45pm	Watoto Memphis	Ragtime Dance		7:30pm	The Brown Singers	Gospel
8:00pm	Joyce Cobb	Jazz, Rock, Blues		8:30pm	Reba Russell Blues Band	Blues
9:00pm	Darrell Petties  & SIP	Gospel		9:30pm	Funzo Crush aka Young AJ  ft. Al Kapone	Rap
10:15pm	Bobby Rush	Soul, R&B		10:15pm	Hill Country Revue	Indie Blues
Folklore Store Stage @ 123 S. Main St.				Folklore Store Stage @ 123 S. Main St.
1:15pm	Roy Harper	Old-time Country		1:15pm	Roy Harper	Old-time Country
2:15pm	Nancy Apple	Alternative Country		2:15pm	Lauren Strange	Pop
3:15pm	William L. Ellis &  Jimmy Crosthwait	Songwriting Workshop		3:00pm	Bill Shipper	Funny Folk
4:15pm	Tonya Dyson &  Green Onions	Neo-Soul		4:00pm	Deborah Swiney	Jazz
5:15pm	The Josh Shoe Band	Bluegrass		4:55pm	The Paperboyz	Hip-Hop, Rap
6:15pm	Don McMinn	Blues, Boogi Woogie		5:15pm	Last Chance Jug Band	Jug Band
7:15pm	Sidney, Cidney,  Sidney	Jazz		6:15pm	Cody Dickinson Project	Experimental
8:15pm	The Sultana	Gothic Americana		7:15pm	Sons of Mudboy  Small Band	Folk
9:15pm	William Lee Ellis	Blues		8:15pm	Valerie June	Folk
				9:15pm	Eden Brent	Blues
Comcast Folklore Hall Stage @ 119 S. Main St.				Comcast Folklore Hall Stage @ 119 S. Main St.
2:45pm	Barbara Blue	Blues		2:45pm	The Agitators	Blues
3:45pm	The Jumpin' ChiChis	Jazz		3:45pm	Memphis Klezmer Orchestra	Klezmer
4:45pm	The Kattawar  Brothers	Boogie Woogie		4:45pm	Moments of Joy	Gospel
5:45pm	The Golden Keys	Gospel		5:45pm	Eddie Bond	Country, Rockabilly
6:45pm	Lisa Lambert  & the PRB	Bluegrass		6:45pm	Papa Top's  Westcoast Turnaround	Country
7:45pm	Jack Oblivian &  the TN Tearjerkers	Garage Rock		7:45pm	Orange Mound  Jazz Messengers	Jazz
8:45pm	Blind Mississippi  Morris	Blues		9:00pm	Kate Campbell	Folk
Tennessee Arts Stage @ Main St. and Gayoso				Tennessee Arts Stage @ Main St. and Gayoso
12:30pm	Randal Morton	Banjo Workshop		12:00pm	Valerie & Jason	Children's Songs
1:00pm	Watoto Memphis	African Dance Clinic		12:30pm	Watoto Memphis	African Dance Clinic
1:30pm	David Evans	Jug Band Workshop		1:00pm	Pyramid Dancers	Belly Dance
2:00pm	Desert Rose	Belly Dance		1:30pm	Michael Graber & Jason Freeman	Kazoo & Jug Workshop
2:30pm	David Bowen	Guitar & Memphis Music Workshop		2:00pm	Chang Shu	Chinese Dance & Martial Arts
3:00pm	Danza Azteca  Quetzalcoatl	Aztec Dance		3:15pm	The Jazz Collective	Big Band
3:30pm	Johnny Yancey &  the SJO	Big Band		4:15pm	Smoochy Smith Trio	Rockabilly
4:30pm	Sweet Angel	R&B		5:00pm	Millennium Madness	Drill & Drum Show Team
5:15pm	Millennium Madness	Drill & Drum Show Team		5:15pm	Memphis Harmonizers	Gospel
5:30pm	The True Sons  of Thunder	Rock, Metal		6:15pm	Star & Micey	Folk Pop
6:30pm	The Bell Singers	Gospel		7:00pm	Watoto Memphis	Folk Dance
7:15pm	Watoto Memphis	Gospel Dance		7:15pm	The Mellow Tones	Gospel
7:30pm	The Bo-Keys	Soul		8:15pm	FreeWorld	Jam, Rock, Funk
8:30pm	Symbiosis	Latin		9:30pm	Homemade Jamz Blues Band	Blues
9:30pm	Exodus	Reggae

MMHF wants YOU!

CALL for VOLUNTEERS

Memphis Music & Heritage Festival

The Memphis Music and Heritage Festival is just a few short months away!!

You are receiving this announcement because you have signed up for information about events at the Center for Southern Folklore, have been a valuable volunteer in the past, or have asked to be a part of the 23^rd  Memphis Music and Heritage Festival.

(Well no, I'm on the Board and I'm putting it up so YOU, dear reader, can be a part of this magnificent event!)

We would like to welcome all y’all to come out and participate in what has become THE music and cultural event of the year in Memphis.  Please take a moment and explore the opportunities that are offered by being a festival volunteer.

One of the most amazing facts about an enormous undertaking like the Memphis Music & Heritage Festival is that it’s produced by the Center for Southern Folklore with a full and part-time staff of only a half dozen people.  The secret is VOLUNTEERS.  Every year, dozens of Memphians and Mid-Southerners contribute their time and their energy to a variety of jobs – setting up vendor booths, serving dinners, keeping the trolley tracks clear, decorating Main Street with festive lighting and so on.  This volunteer spirit makes it a truly Memphis festival and represents all the good things about our region that the Center celebrates every day.

If you or your organization would like to be part of the special team of volunteers that produces the Memphis Music & Heritage Festival –Saturday and Sunday, September 4^th & 5^th  -  Click here to fill out volunteer application  or call 901.525.3655 for more information. 

The Festival staff asks that prospective volunteers attend the remaining volunteer orientation meeting on Wednesday, August 18 at 6:00 p.m. in the Folklore Store at 123 S. Main.  There, volunteers will meet the staff, learn about the duties involved, and get a background briefing about the Festival.  Whether your volunteer form has been filled out, all volunteers are welcome to attend this meeting.  The staff will do their best to put this year’s volunteers into positions fitting their desired placement and overall abilities.

Thanks for your help and support. We look forward to seeing you soon at our 2010 Memphis Music & Heritage Festival!

STEVE again - I can tell you that you will have a great time and enjoy yourself, and remember this - per the Weather Channel, the Average high for September 4 and 5 is ONLY 88 degrees, with average lows of 68 degrees, so we should be past this horrible heat by then! 

Your notice of early voting

NOTICE OF EARLY VOTING AUGUST 5, 2010 FEDERAL AND STATE PRIMARIES & COUNTY GENERAL ELECTIONS Pursuant to Sec. 2-6-103, Tennessee Code Annotated, notice is hereby given by the Shelby County Election Commission of unrestricted early voting for the August 5, 2010, Federal and State Primaries & County General Elections as follows:

Site Locations, Dates and Times

SHELBY COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION
157 POPLAR AVE., SUITE 121

Beginning, Friday, July 16, 2010 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Saturday, July 17, 2010, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Weekdays, July 19, 2010 through July 30, 2010, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Saturdays, July 24 and July 31, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Satellite Sites

Beginning, Monday, July 19 through Friday July 30, 2010

Weekdays 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Saturdays, July 24 and July 31, 2010, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

LOCATION NAME	LOCATION ADDRESS
Agri Center (Rotunda Hallway)	7777 Walnut Grove Rd., 38120
Anointed Temple Of Praise (Youth Room)	3939 Riverdale Rd., 38115
Baker Community Center	7942 Church St., 38053
Bellevue Baptist Church	2000 Appling Rd., 38016
Berclair Church of Christ	4536 Summer Ave., 38122
Bethel Church	5586 Stage Rd., 38134
Bishop Byrne High School	1475 E. Shelby Dr., 38116
Bridge at Lakeland, ste. 106	3570 Canada Rd., 38002
Collierville Church of Christ	575 West Shelton Rd., 38017
Dave Wells Community Center	915 Chelsea Ave., 38107
Glenview Community Center	1141 S. Barksdale St., 38114
Greater Middle Baptist Church (Fellowship Hall)	4982 Knight Arnold Rd., 38118
Mississippi Blvd. Christian Church - Family Life Center	70 N. Bellevue Blvd. 38104
Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church (Fellowship Bldg)	3045 Chelsea Ave., 38107
New Bethel Baptist Church - Family Life Center	7786 Poplar Pike, 38138
Pyramid Recovery Center	1833 S. Third St., 38109
Raleigh United Methodist Church	3295 Powers Rd., 38128
Riverside Baptist Church	3560 S. Third St., 38109
Shiloh Baptist Church	3121 Range Line Rd., 38127
White Station Church of Christ	1106 Colonial Rd., 38117

Deidre Malone opens her County Mayor Campaign HQ THIS SATURDAY!

This Saturday from 12-3 P.M., Commissioner Deidre Malone opens her campaign headquarters at 3161 Poplar Avenue, across from East High School. The event is open to the public, so come on out and meet the next Mayor of Shelby County!

MOVED BACK TO THE TOP

I couldn't have said it any better

Charlie Brooker of NewsWipe shows you HOW TO REPORT THE NEWS!

Lee Winchester and I have come to the same conclusion

And that is that Danny Kail is the best possible choice for Probate Court Clerk in the May 2010 Democratic Primary (not to mention in August 2010 as well).

I have known Danny for well over 25 years, as he has worked for the IBEW and for Shelby County. He understands the role of Probate Court Clerk well and would streamline the office. He has been on the SCDP ExecCom and has been a loyal Democrat as long as I have known him, so I hope that you will agree and support Danny Kail for Probate Court Clerk.

Kleinheider talks about the Herron incident and the new power of bloggers

Remember this? Kleinheider talks about how the blogging community is now a power to be dealt with in statewide politics.

Oh, and Herron has a new website up (linked below in THE ENDLESS BLOGROLL).

Crazy 2010, Part 2

Well, the 2010 race is getting in our face whether we like it or not.

Former Senator (and long-distance diagnostician) Bill Frist bowed out of the GOP race this weekend, giving some reason that, frankly, I ignored.  The GOP side got downright crazy, with Knoxville Mayor (and Pilot Oil scion) Bill Haslam getting in (and apparently receiving the blessing of the GODFATHER himself, Howard H. Baker, Jr.).

Haslam joins Chattanooga Congressman Zack Wamp and, inexplicably, our own Attorney General, Bill "No Deals" Gibbons, who has no base outside Big Shelby of which I am aware.  Also talking about the race on the Elephant side is Rep. Beth Harwell of NashVegas (former TRP Chair), but apparently NOT Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn of Brentwood.  

Damn, we just can't get rid of her, can we?

On our side of the line, former State Representative Kim McMillan of Clarksville is mulling the race, as is Congressman Lincoln Davis of Pall Mall and State Senator Andy Berke of Chattanooga, whom I had the pleasure of meeting last week.  Add to that the name of former TDP Chair Doug Horne, who seems interested should Davis decide to stay in DC.

Who have we NOT mentioned here?  Hmmm, maybe THIS guy?  While Harold DOES still have a place here (says an unimpeachable source), his heart, to me, is in the NYC and DC areas, where his wife and his job happen to be.  And, about his wife, cutie that she is, how would that play A) in the western sections of Big Shelby and B) in the rural areas of Tennessee?  Come on, while it's something none of us like to talk about, you KNOW it's there.  I think it's ridiculous, but I'm a Damn Dirty Hippie, so what do I know?

I'm just not sure that Harold's political future is in this city, or even this state.  New York?  Now, that's another matter entirely.  His is a face for mass media, which you WON'T find in Tennessee unless you're Faith Hill or Tim McGraw.

Much will shake out over time, as people come to realize that while Haslam has more money that Croesus, no one really knows him west of Knoxville.  Horne has money, but Berke seems to have an idea about where he would take the state, and it's closer to my direction than anyone else whose name has been discussed.

Frankly, if a gubernatorial candidate wants my vote, all she/he has to do is come out in support of A) a graduated income tax combined with B) a drastically lowered (and CAPPED) sales-tax AND the elimination of the local option on sales taxes.  Look, I'm a Cubs fan, why not dream big?  Maybe some day we'll be like all of our bordering states and do something smart to stabilize our revenue in Tennessee.

Then again, we just gave control of the Lege to the Republicans.  Oops.

The GOP race is getting crazy....

I just found out a while ago that A) as expected, former Senator Bill Frist is NOT running for Governor in 2010, and B) that means our AG Bill Gibbons IS running, and Senator Mark Norris of Collierville is considering a run.

OK, let's all take a deep breath here.  Even though Terri Schiavo's long-distance diagnostician is out, let's look at the GOP candidates who are probably in:

1) Gibbons, who happens to hail from the county with THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING REPUBLICAN PARTY, is not nearly as well-known outside Big Shelby as 2) 7th District Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn or 3) 3rd District Congressman Zach Wamp of Chattanooga.  And NONE of them have the financial wherewithal of 4) Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, he of the Pilot Oil Haslams.

Which makes me wonder why 5) Rep. (and former TRP Chair) Beth Harwell (R-Nashville),  6) Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey of Blountville and 7) Mark Norris all think they have a chance.

Seriously, this is going to be about Blackburn's notoriety, Wamp's determination, and Haslam's money.

The good news is that, just as I had hoped, these folks are responding to new-found power about the way one would expect folks who have been out in the wilderness for 140 years.  Now, I suspect that when all is said and done, we'll be down to 3 or 4, and then we can sit back and watch the fun.

The bad news is, who the hell do WE have right now to go against them?  Kim McMillan? Uh-uh.  Lincoln Davis?  Hell, the REPUBLICAN might carry Big Shelby.  Junior?  He may still have a house here (as I was recently informed), but his heart is where his wife is, in the heart of Manhattan.  Our Congressman?  I would take a bullet for him, but I like him where he is just fine.

So, we have to get our house in order PDQ in order to keep this lot out of Curtisswood Lane.  don't worry, we're working on it; just watch this space.  The Cracker is back and ready to rock as I hit the 5-0 on Monday!

In which lifetime?

It seems that our local Attorney General, Bill Gibbons, has decided that he is going to run for the Republican nomination for Governor of Tennessee in 2010, unless Bill Frist runs, of course.

Ok, first, this is an easy out; barring an unexpected indictment, Frist WILL run, because he wants to revive his political career that he thoroughly destroyed as Senate Republican Leader by doing such bright things as diagnosing Terri Schiavo by watching tapes of this poor brain-damaged woman and determining that she could recover.  Good move, Doc.

His hope, of course, is that he will do such a good job as Governor that he will once again be thought of in Presidential terms.  Right.  And I'm going to be the next James Bond, too, if that happens.

However, is the Doc any less delusional than our AG?  Ok, let's say, and why not, that Frist's wife says no friggin' way you're running, and that opens it up for Gibbons.  First, he might not even carry Shelby County, what with Marsha Blackburn, Ron Ramsey, Zach Wamp and other Gooper wanna-bes in the race.  What's he running on, his record?

I can see THAT now: LOOK HOW SAFE I'VE MADE SHELBY COUNTY!  That's a winner, bubba, I'd take that and really run with it if I were you.  Oy.  Next, other than the Baker-Alexander-Thompson tribe, who knows Gibbons outside of Big Shelby?  Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? I digress.

Frist is the 800-pound gorilla in the race; if he runs, does Blackburn?  If she DOESN'T go for Governor and runs for re-election instead, she prevents the potential 10-candidate pile-up in TN-07 that would lead to some rube from Williamson County taking the seat.  This, of course, would frustrate David Kustoff, Senators Norris and Stanley, and other assorted Shelby Countians utterly convinced that they would not split the vote 146 ways and give the race to the aforementioned rube.

All in all, lots of ways for the GOP to shoot itself in the foot in Tennessee; grab some popcorn and sit back and watch!

And y'all thought I was rough on HFJ???

Any reader of this blog knows that I have no use for that sellout, Harold Ford, Jr.

However, many thanks to Autoegocrat for sending me the link to Skeptical Brotha's vicious (but not inaccurate) hit on Junior, Harold Ford, Jr: Prince of Tennessee.

I'm not even going to excerpt it, you just need to read it all.