Voices of Mississippi: A Box Set Becomes a Live Show

Tour brings vintage recordings and films back to life on the road.

“All people have a story, and they’re waiting for someone to listen.” — Bill Ferris

89-year-old, Jackson, Mississippi-based bluesman Bobby Rush at The Strathmore on February 4, 2023. Photograph by Ari Strauss.

In the weeks following the 2019 Grammy Awards, we were contacted by several music industry agents interested in creating a live show based on our award-winning “Voices of Mississippi” box set. We were excited by the concept of bringing the vintage films of Bill Ferris to a live audience by interweaving video with performances by musicians — most of whom are descended from artists that Bill worked with and documented decades ago.

Bill Ferris filming a fife and drum band featuring Napoleon Strickland and Otha Turner in Gravel Springs, Mississippi in 1971. Photo by David Evans.

Flash forward a few years (plus hundreds of emails), and we’re now in the midst of touring our second run of shows that we produced under the same title as the box set. Most recently, we set up a website for these live shows.

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Tonight we will be in St. Louis at the Sheldon Concert Hall.
(Use promotional code VOICES25 for a special discount on tickets.)
On Saturday we travel to Overland Park for a show at the Midwest Trust Center.
(Use promotional code VOM50 for a special discount on tickets.)

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For a preview of these shows, check out Daniel Durchholz’s write-up for the Post-Dispatch: ‘Voices of Mississippi’ brings unheralded songs, stories back to life on the road.

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Luther Dickinson, Chris Mallory, Sharde Thomas, Cody Dickinson, Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Marcus Machado on stage at The Strathmore on February 4, 2023. Photo by Ari Strauss.

“This was a celebration of music and heritage, and the joy from the performers was palpable.” — Ari Strauss, from his recent review of Voices of Mississippi at Strathmore Music Center

The musicians that make this show so magical include Luther Dickinson and Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi All Stars; Sharde Thomas and Chris Mallory of the Rising Star Fife & Drum Band; plus special guests that have included Ruthie Foster, Bobby Rush, Cedric Burnside, Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Marcus Machado. Our goal is to bring this show to as many cities and towns as possible, so that anyone who wishes can experience this one-of-a-kind production.

Sharde Thomas playing a fife made by her late grandfather Otha Turner, pictured to her left in a film made by Bill Ferris.