Oxford Blues Fest Starts Tonight

Don’t miss out on the 3rd Annual Oxford Blues Fest that starts tonight, especially because there will be tons of good food along with some awesome blues music, including appearances by Blind Mississippi Morris, Jody Williams, Effie Burt, Terry “Harmonica” Bean and more (find all the details at the official website at oxfordbluesfest.com).

The festivities start at 4:00 p.m. tonight at the University Museum. A catfish fry, catered by Taylor Catfish, commences at 5:15 p.m. (chicken tenders will be provided for the kiddies).

Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. is Barbecue and Blues, with slow-roasted pulled pork catered by Taylor Catfish, and smoked turkey legs and fried green tomatoes from Kenny’s Catering (remember Kenny from Red House Burgers & Blues?).

Sunday, the music continues out at Foxfire Ranch from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and you know you can always count on the some good food coming out of that kitchen.

Tickets are $10 online (at the website above). If purchased on site, tickets are $15. However, festival organizer Darryl Parker has graciously decided to support our local Pantry, so if you show up with at least 2 cans of food to donate, your ticket price ($15 on site) is cut in half ($7.50), plus, you’re entered to win an autographed guitar signed by several of the festival performers. Even if you’ve already bought your ticket online, consider bringing a can or two anyway; it’s for a great cause!

 

Catfish Lovers Only!

Did you know that August is National Catfish Month? I don’t think I ever tried catfish before visiting Oxford five years ago, and now that I live here, I eat it all the time!

In honor of catfish month, I’ve attempted to name all of the local restaurants in which you can quell your catfish cravings. If you go through the entire list below, you should be able to hit a different place every day for nearly the rest of the month!

Let me know if I’ve left out one of your favorites.

• Ajax Diner – southern fried catfish, southern fried catfish po-boy (lunch/dinner), black eyed pea and catfish cakes (dinner)
• Bangkok Thai – Siam spicy catfish
• City Grocery – grilled ginger catfish (lunch)
• Foxfire Ranch – catfish sandwich (Sundays)
• Frank & Marlee’s – fried catfish po-boy, fried catfish filets
• Irie – catfish bites, fried catfish po-boy, fried catfish filet, 10 oz. ribeye with catfish filet
• Laws Hill Fish House – catfish combination plates
• McEwen’s – blackened catfish (lunch), sweet potato crusted catfish (dinner)
• Oby’s – catfish platter, cajun catfish po-boy
• Phillips Grocery – catfish sandwich, catfish basket
• Proud Larry’s – Creole catfish sandwich
• Red Onion – catfish buffet, catfish sandwich
• Rice & Spice – crispy catfish salad
• Rooster’s – catfish bites, fried catfish po-boy
• Taylor Grocery – blackened, grilled or fried catfish on a variety of combination platters
• The Sizzler – several catfish variations, including a whole fried catfish

Foxfire Ranch Reopens Tomorrow

The warm weather has returned, which means Foxfire Ranch in Waterford is once again open for business. If you’ve got a craving for some outdoor music, barbecue, catfish and beer on a Sunday, check out the lineup here and head in the direction of Holly Springs tomorrow afternoon.

Foxfire Fall Festival, October 8-10

The Foxfire Fall Festival is being held this Friday through Sunday out at the Hollowell’s Foxfire Ranch in Waterford, MS (about 10 minutes outside Oxford going toward Holly Springs). Find directions here.

In addition to some great barbecue, which is always available on the ranch, there will be three full days of music to delight your eardrums. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at Parrish’s.

The lineup includes:

Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

• Balance Trio
• John Nix
• The Davide House Band
• Silas Reed & Da Books
• Zephyr Ellis

Saturday, noon to 9:00 p.m.

• Solar Porch
• Orange Dog
• Marlena
• The Reviews
• Gonzo & The Clean Sneak
• Good Paper
• Kevin Waide
• Jay Lang & The Devil’s Due
• CadillacFunk

Sunday, noon to 11:00 p.m.

• Jay Lang & The Devil’s Due
• Seth Libbey
• John West
• Kenny Brown
• Casey Lipe
• Bill “Howlin Madd” Perry
• Adam Gussow
• Maybelle’s Lover
• Scott Chism and The Better Half
• The Bad Hand Band
• AM Band
• Mark “Muleman” Massey

For more info and specific showtimes, click here.

Food and Music on The Ranch

Photo: Foxfire Ranch

There’s no denying the pleasure of sitting around a picnic table eating delicious, homemade food while watching great musicians perform nearby.

Located about 10 miles north of Oxford in Waterford, Mississippi, owners Bill and Annie Hollowell have been inviting guests to their home to experience the Foxfire Ranch every summer Sunday starting at 5 p.m. since 2008.

In addition to popular blues artists performing each week, the food selection at Foxfire Ranch is ideal for the outdoor environment with menu offerings such as hickory smoked and grilled barbecue pork shoulder; pork ribs; smoked sausage; all-beef hot dogs; baked macaroni and cheese; charcoal-grilled cheeseburgers; hickory smoked chicken; catfish and homemade desserts. Cold beverages are also available and BYOB is welcome.

Gary Burnside performs tonight; check the Foxfire Ranch website for additional information, directions and a list of future performers.

May 16, 2010 Robert Belfour
May 22-23, 2010 Hill Country Harmonica Clinic: Mississippi Blues Harmonica Homecoming
May 23, 2010 Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry
May 30, 2010 Highway 69 Band

Photo: Foxfire Ranch