Jubilee Jam Gigs Hitting Pollstar - June 13-14

I'm anxious to see how Blind Melon sounds since they got back together with a new singer. I used to love them back in the day, but they will never be the same without Shannon Hoon. :)

Looks like they have added Old Crow Medicine Show to the line-up. Awesome! Now, I wonder if there will be any female artists.

There definitely need to be major female acts involved. A petition?

I didn't think Blind Melon was still together.

I'm all for more female acts coming to Jubilee Jam, as long as Celine Dion or Hannah Montana isn't one of them.

The Miller Lite Crawfish Boil has a pretty good lineup this year, too.

Cowboy Mouth, Good Charlotte, Finger Eleven and 3 Doors Down to top the list.

Should be a good late spring/early summer for Jacktown.

There definitely need to be major female acts involved. A petition?

I can remember some major female acts in the past, but I can't recall any from the last three years or so. Maybe a petition would be a good idea.

I didn't think Blind Melon was still together.

Well, they broke up in '95 after the lead singer died, and they just recently got back together with a new singer. I haven't heard the new guy yet.

I'm all for more female acts coming to Jubilee Jam, as long as Celine Dion or Hannah Montana isn't one of them.

Haha! Yeah, I'm with you on that. I'm thinking more along the lines of Bettye Lavette, Aretha, Lucinda Williams, Edie Brickell, Grace Potter, Ani DiFranco...somebody with some soul that can really get the crowd going.

Would be nice if more Mississippi female acts would be part of it, like Denise LaSalle and Cassandra Wilson.

I agree, GE. Actually, Cassandra Wilson did play at Jubilee Jam a few years back (same year as Bob Dylan). She was great, too. I certainly would not mind seeing her again.

This has been a major issue the past few years. There have been some female performers in the past, but it's been a while. I heard a commercial for Memphis in May the other day, they have Sheryl Crow, Aretha Franklin, Joan Jett... why can't we get anyone like that? There really needs to be a healthy balance of genres and genders here.

Oh, man! And I wanted to go to a Braves game for my birthday. Blind Melon? What a decision!

Memphis in May, I'm sure, has a lot more resources to work with to get Sheryl Crow and Aretha Franklin to perform. But it would be nice to get them here, too. Heck, the Jam managed to get Hootie & the Blowfish here (though it was after they hit their peak, but still).

It's true that budget is related to the size act available, but the issue of resources is totally unrelated to the issue of gender - no matter what budget you're working with there are women artists out there. We need to do something about this, I'm feeling really frustrated that this is happening once again.

There are woman artists out there in their budget level, but for the newly reconstitued version of the festival, they need to come from a more specific genre (rock instead of jazz or pop). JJ had success catering to a rock-oriented under-30 crowd last year, and given the costs of putting on the event, it seems only natural that they would continue in this direction. I'm sad to see the more diverse lineups they had in the past go by the wayside, but the economics demand a tighter focus.

are you saying there aren't any female under-30 rock artists to choose from??? That confuses me. Is the new era of rock MORE gender segregated than the last one. omg we are going backwards in time since the Bush era. Or maybe there ARE artists? who out there knows these younger bands well? please chime in...what about Michelle Branch or ????

but the economics demand a tighter focus.

I'm not following this at all. It sounds like they're are going for an under-30 white crowd specifically from that description. Are you truly saying there are not people under 30 who will go see a female act?!?

I'm frustrated, too. This is the kind of thinking that limits the market potential of the event. Why can't you have the acts that draw that oh-so-coveted demographic and throw in a few bones for those of us out here interested in more than conventional rock? Wouldn't that simply draw more people? Surely to God they're not worried about turning off the coveted demographic by having female acts and non-rockers, right? Give the under-30 set some credit.

Also, are you really saying that the "reconstituted" JAM is now a rock event?

Two words of cautions. This is not a complete list. We have no idea who else is coming. Another thing. I we also have absolutely no idea who turned them down to preform. I'd just like to get some actual information from people that are intimately involved with Jublie Jam. Those people might have already posted. I'm not sure.

I know for a fact there is a Gospel Stage this.

It is true that we only have three bands listed so far, so maybe we should not get ahead of ourselves. BUT if it does turn out like it did for the past 2 or 3 years where there were NO big female acts, then I think we definitely have a reason to be upset.

Lots of times we get many of the same artists who are on the line-ups of other regional music festivals that fall on the same weekend as Jubilee Jam. Bonaroo Music Festival in TN and City Stages in AL both take place the same weekend as JJ this year, and they have some female artists who happen to have an open day either that Friday or Saturday...Diana Ross, Tegan and Sara, Cat Power, and Susan Tedeschi. These would all be great options. Lets keep our fingers crossed.

I agree with Ellen. If there are no big female acts this year, that is going to send the message that they're trying very hard to get female acts, because it's not a priority. And that's B.S. in the 21st century.

Does anyone know how well funded the JJ organizationn is this year? I know they've really been strapped for cash the last several years. I'm sure that Kamikaze can speak to this much better than I can, but it must be hard getting any national acts to play in Jackson. There are much larger cities and larger festivals less than 4 hours away in every direction that offer much larger paychecks. If you want Sheryl Crow to play at the Jam, someone needs to write a a big check. To be honest, I think everyone should just be grateful that the Jam still exists at all.

I think Sheryl Crow is great, but I don't think she is the only option.

Hell, what about Teneia Sanders? She's amazing and from here. Why doesn't Jam introduce her to a whole new audience? The point is that little effort seems to be out there to ensure that we have a significant female act. It's kind of like a couple years when Kaze got crazy, and rightfully because, they were cutting out hip-hop. He changed things. Women should do the same thing here. There is really no excuse, although I suspect we'll hear lots of them.

Young women in Jackson deserve to see female acts on a big stage. And many of us grown chicks like to see female acts mixed in as well.

I started last year writing and e-mailing female artists to come to JJ. From kt tunstill, Wynona, kd lang, Cassandra Wilson, The Wreckers, LUCINDA WILLIAMS(!), emmylou harris, Heart, Tracy Chapman, Taylor Swifft, Joan Jett and others. All ages, all genres. I would love to listen to local female talents too!

Remember, last year the only female artists were the back-up singers for Ludicrus.

I will suceed in my mission!

Now if I could just SUCCEED in learning how to spell!

If JJ is going for an under 30 demo this year, having ZZ Top is not the way to do it. I’m a long-time ZZ Top fan, but then again, I’m way past 30 as well. LOL

From experience..youre gonna have to raise hell.blog..email and call. I was a one-man wrecking crew..you almost have to shame them into submission..There has been a few financial problem in past years but last year was the beginning of putting things back on track.

It does take big budget kind of money to get bigger acts. sometimes budgets are blown getting one or two big names and theres not much left so money will be an issue for another couple of years.

Two issues I see. The female act thing is a huge oversight and last year I saw a scary trend toward trying to attract a ''crawfish boil'' kind of crowd. To be honest..Black folks I talked to were only familiar with two acts on last years jam..me and Ludacris..no urban artists in equal numbers..I hope this not a trend. We've already got a crawfish boil that obviously is not interested in attracting too many black patrons. dont wanna see Jam alienate women and black folks either..Especially since they have not green-lighted any two-day hiphop/urban festival EVER in this city.

Teneia would be fabulous, there's also Lizz Strowd, local to north Jackson. It wouldn't take a lot of money to get either of them. Money, again, has NOTHING TO DO WITH GENDER here, folks. That's a big bunch of bullshit! Please try harder to work with this issue...it's not such a big thing - fesitvals and local jams have women artists ALL the time, in fact in every other city I've ever lived in. And that's quite a few.

Also, I'm running out of patience with this notion that because the jam has been struggling somehow that means they can't program women artists. That makes no sense...I don't get it. I do know from talking with someone on the committee that the local folks don't set the line up - it's done by a national group. They are who choose the acts. I'm ready for a petition & press coverage, Donna, ellen, bourree...shall we?

Well Laurel..when you outsource your booking to an outside promoter this can happen..Ive always been under the impression that a knowledgable group of folks here could program that festival. But its the inferiority complex we fight with here that makes us believe a big name booking agent can feel the COLLECTIVE pulse of a city like Jackson.

We need to find the source and voice our concerns there. And again you can tell where a promoter or festival is targeting in Jackson by the amount of advertising it spends at what station. Last years jam. Heaviest campaign Y101, next..Rock 93.9..last with fewest commercials bought(and they ran for only a week) WJMI. Again tells me we arent bucking to get a lot of black folks down here..This is where those ''fears'' that I spoke about on the other thread raise their head. The Black dollar, the female dollar appear to be no good 'round here.

"are you saying there aren't any female under-30 rock artists to choose from??? "
- No, just that the artist would need to be someone that's going to be a draw for the 14-25 age group. Like the metal band Everescence (sp?) or someone similar.

I think some of what's being asked for could be accomplished on a side stage. Teneia Sanders is a good example - talented, young, would add variety to the lineup, but she's not going to bring many people out. With an event that is dependent on the gate money to keep afloat, they're going to play conservative with the headliners.

"Ive always been under the impression that a knowledgable group of folks here could program that festival. "
-Sure, there are plenty of knowledgable folks in town, but with this level of event, the pro bookers can negotiate packages w/ agents and make other deals that a group of volunteers can't put together. I think Jam finally realized this and brought in TCB from Memphis.

In the long run, I don't know if a large format festival like this is the best strategy for building Jackson as a music destination. It seems like it might be better to create a smaller event that would attract a more specific music fan - For example, the Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans - they focus on lesser known R&B;acts from the 50s and 60s, but bring in an international crowd. Jackson should look at what it has that's distinctive (soul blues and contemp. gospel, I thinks) and build a unique event that could be a national/international draw.

No, just that the artist would need to be someone that's going to be a draw for the 14-25 age group. Like the metal band Everescence (sp?) or someone similar.


Or ... ZZ Top.

George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic is listed on Pollstar now for Sat.

Joan Armatrading would be fantastic!

George Clinton!

Edited to add: Hey, I can edit comments? Awesome!

Clay Edwards, owner of 105 Capital adds to the list: saving abel, absence of concern ....

"Young women in Jackson deserve to see female acts on a big stage. And many of us grown chicks like to see female acts mixed in as well."

I defnitely agree. I have a little of that Evanescence sound. I would absolutely love to perform anywhere anytime. As far as I know I'm the only female artist here in the Jackson area that incorporates gothic rock, opera, piano, and a little bit of trip-hop with a Middle Eastern touch. But for some reason I get overlooked. I have finally gotten support from the record label that is signing me in Hattiesburg and I am headlining the Women In Music festival there on May 10. Jackson just doesn't seem to want to support it. I'm available. Book me. My older music is on my MySpace page. The songs there are about 8 years old and my sound has gotten a lot heavier and matured. http://www.myspace.com/carolinespiano
If Jackson wants women in music then book me. You can reach me at my MySpace page.

And another thought. Why is it that the majority of female artists I see are the typical singer/songwriter with an acoustic guitar or they sing blues? That's been way overdone here. I have nothing against the acoustic stuff. I have done my fair share of that. But I can only fall asleep over my vodka tonic so many times before I just want to stop going out. I don't want to just see more women in music here,I want to see some with power and not the same old stuff.

Well ladies there WILL be a kick-ass female act this year...Your concerns were heard I believe. Shes from Hernando and is a veteran of the Lillith Fair Festival. I wont say more..but The whole lineup will be annouced real soon.

Lillith ... cool.

Hernando ... hmmm. Thoughts?

Next year, we'll work on getting two. <sarcasm off>

Ah, Garrison Starr. I do agree that she is kick-ass, but I don't really consider her to be a well-known national act. She has played at Jubilee Jam in the past, and she is definitely worth going to see. So she's our only female act?

I have done my fair share of that. But I can only fall asleep over my vodka tonic so many times before I just want to stop going out. I don't want to just see more women in music here,I want to see some with power and not the same old stuff. -Caroline

Caroline, I thought this was hilarious! And I myself am at times one of those acoustic singer-songwriters. You are absolutely right, we need both variety and also more younger, experimental women playing out in Jacktown. So let's have at. BTW are you aware of the CHick Ball? July 19th this year at Hal & Mal's . Line up is set but you could come and maybe get on the line up next year.

Garrison Starr plays well & writes well, in my book, she's getting radio play in Nashville and Memphis, tours, etc. And I for one am grateful for that addition. Ladd's right, we need more than one. This is a good start! Thanks for the news, Kaz

btw I think Garrison Starr is from Hernando but living in Nashville now. She's produced by Neilson Hubbard

Well, it looks like ZZ Top is no longer scheduled for Jubilee Jam. Pollstar now has them playing elsewhere on the 13th and 14th.

Yup, they had an error on their site -- it was supposed to be Jackson, TN, not Jackson, MS. Bummer, I really like them.

Poo. I wanted to see them, too. :( Wonder who the headliner will be now. I like Blind Melon, but surely they won't be the headlining band?

I think the JJ committee is holding a press conference or something this week to announce the lineup. It's about time!! They should have done that a month ago.

I really hope the P-Funk is coming for sure.

Yeah, it is about time. All of the other music festivals going on that weekend (City Stages, Bonnaroo) have had their schedules out for some time now. Hopefully those festivals won't draw from some of the audience we would have had, had the JJ line-up been announced sooner.

I forgot about P-Funk. They were lots of fun when they were here a few years back.

As long as we're lobbying for our preferred female acts, put me down for Liz Phair. She is my fave, for what it's worth.

Liz Phair is pretty cool...and sexy. "Extraordinary" is a masterpiece on the strength of the "average everyday sane psycho supergoddess" line.

I LOVE Liz Phair, she would be awesome.

Just announced on clarionledger.com:

ZZ Top
The Ohio Players
Three 6 Mafia
Robert Randolph’s Revival
Blind Melon
North Mississippi All Stars
Citizen Cope
Old Crow Medicine Show
Shinedown
Tantric
Pat Green
Eric Church
Blue Mountain
Mel Waiters
Mississippi Mass Choir
Hurt
Hill Country Revue
Endeverafter
Back Door Slam
Speakeasy
Jonezetta
Saving Abel
Egypt Central
Lucero
Kamikaze

And where are the females?

And where is P-Funk, and WHY is ZZ Top still on there?

Andi, I just looked on ZZ Top's website and apparently they are going to be there.

But, like golden eage asked, where are the females?!? Garrison Starr is not even on the list, and I thought she was suppose to be there according to Kamikaze. This is just ridiculous!

I'll be there to hear the Ohio Players perform their hit songs - fire and skin tight. Skin tight goes something like this, "She's a bad, bad missus in those skin tight britches, running folks in ditches, she's about to break some stitches." Sugarfoot the lead singer forever secured his place with the band decades ago when the record label tried to sign him without the band. He told them there is no way he would sign unless they signed his band too. I've seen him so drunk or high that he barely knew where he was yet his band mates always made sure he was where he was supposed to be. How about that for loyalty. And they're still together after all these years.

Ellen, ZZ Top is confusing the crap outta me! :D I'm glad they are going to be here after all. But I am very disappointed in the majority of the lineup, and the fact that there are no women, not even the one that was rumored to be on there. What is the deal? How do you get on the JJ committee -- I would love to get on there for next year.

I'm glad about ZZ Top, too. I'm also happy to see Robert Randolph and the MS Mass Choir on the line-up. I just can't believe that out of the 25 acts lined up, they couldn't find ONE single female act. At least the bassist for Blue Mountain is a chick.

golden eagle asked, "And where are the females?"

Look in the Mississippi Mass Choir. :D

Even though we won't be going, and I don't have a dog in this fight, I'd like to see more female acts too. Diversified entertainment for a diversified Jackson.

Liz Phair would be so cool. Joan Armatrading would be too.

this morning seeing the C-L spread on it I thought, maybe we need to set a protest. Get a bunch of female musicians down there, maybe some girls and supportive guys and make more noise about this. As far as I can see (correct me if I'm wrong) this is the 3rd year in a row no women in line up for jam. what's up?!!!

So is everyone going? I must admit that I plan on going Saturday evening, even though I am still ticked about the lack of female musicians...again.

I'm looking forward to the MS Mass Choir and Robert Randolph.