April 1, 2008

LIVINGSTON, Ala.--The Sucarnochee Revue, the nationally syndicated radio program that showcases Black Belt music to listeners across the nation and the world, returns to The University of West Alabama on April 18 for the 40th taping of the popular musical variety show. The live taping begins at 7 p.m. in Bibb Graves Auditorium.

Presenting Black Belt music in its most authentic manner, the Revue features many of the top acts in blues, gospel, bluegrass, country and roots music from the Black Belt region of Mississippi and Alabama.
 

“The show not only preserves original music and the works by original artists, but also captures the evolution of that music and its current generation of performers,” said producer and host Jacky Jack White.
 

This edition of the Sucarnochee Revue features Nashville songwriting legend Wood Newton; blues artist Russell Gully; singer/songwriter Austin Cunningham; New Wave rockers, Red Hill City; bluegrass banjo great Herb Trotman; country artist Melissa Luman, daughter of rockabilly king Bob Luman; and Alaska's Ambassador of Country Music Earl Hughes.
 

The Sucarnochee Revue regulars, including Jacky Jack White, J. Burton Fuller, Britt Gully, Track 45 and Mississippi Chris Sharp, will round out the performance.
 

The Sucarnochee Revue can be heard on numerous commercial and public radio stations across the country. The show airs Saturday nights at 10 p.m. on Alabama Public Radio. In addition, the Sucarnochee Revue’s last taping will be broadcast on public television stations later this year.
 

Tickets are $5 at the door. For more information about the show, contact White at 205-652-6680 or visit www.myspace.com/sucarnocheerevue.
 

The Revue is planned in conjunction with Livingston’s fifth annual Sucarnochee Folklife Festival and first Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned BBQ & Blues Cook-off.
 

The Sucarnochee BBQ & Blues Cook-off begins on Friday, April 18 at 5 p.m. at the UWA intramural fields. Guests can dance to live bands while sampling some of the best brisket or perfect pork from professional cooking teams from across the Southeast.
 

The state championship cook-off will feature a $7,000 payout in three divisions, with professional teams vying Saturday in four categories—pork, ribs, chicken and brisket—while backyard teams compete with ribs and young cookers contend in the kid’s chicken competition.
 

The Sucarnochee Folklife Festival begins downtown Saturday, April 19 at 8 a.m. with the Sucarnochee 5K Run and ends that evening with a walking ghost tour of Livingston. The family-friendly festival showcases some of the Black Belt’s best musicians, artists, storytellers and cornbread chefs.
 

“A celebration of regional folk songs, stories and crafts, the festival hopes to restore memories of rural Black Belt folklore that have faded from many people’s minds,” said festival director Dr. Tina Jones.
 

The day is packed with a variety of activities situated around Courthouse Square. The Cornbread Cook-off allows cooks of all ages to wow the judges in three cornbread categories. Artisans from around the region will create a variety of folk crafts including handmade baskets and brooms, quilts, metal works, wood carvings and pottery. Musicians will take the stage throughout the day, including the old-time string band Red Mountain and bluegrass and blues artists. Food vendors and artists allow visitors to take home a piece of tradition.
 

For more information about all of the weekend’s exciting events, please visit www.centerforblackbelt.org.