{"id":88577,"date":"2021-09-17T17:28:19","date_gmt":"2021-09-17T22:28:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/news-and-events\/?p=88577"},"modified":"2021-09-20T08:53:06","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T13:53:06","slug":"delta-state-to-host-the-8th-annual-international-conference-on-the-blues-virtually-oct-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/news-and-events\/2021\/09\/delta-state-to-host-the-8th-annual-international-conference-on-the-blues-virtually-oct-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Delta State to host the 8th Annual International Conference on the Blues virtually Oct. 1"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]CLEVELAND, Miss.\u2014<\/strong>Delta State University will continue its celebration of the blues art form through scholarly activity, discourse and music during the 8th<\/sup> Annual International Conference on the Blues (ICOB) virtual event.<\/p>\n

Slated for Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, this year\u2019s conference will be available through the award-winning event and conference platform, Whova, providing attendees a seamless online experience and on-demand access.<\/p>\n

The conference\u2019s \u201cSpirit of the Blues\u201d theme explores connections among blues, gospel, and spirituals as interrelated African American music traditions in the Mississippi Delta and beyond. The Spirit of the Blues initiative is supported by a grant awarded by the National Park Service\u2019s Lower Mississippi Delta Initiative to Delta State\u2019s Delta Center for Culture and Learning.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Jontavious Willis<\/p><\/div>\n

Featured performances and presenters include Grammy-nominated Jontavious Willis, the Coahoma Community College Gospel Choir, the Rev. Dr. Dwight Andrews and Annette Hollowell.<\/p>\n

Online registration is now open to the DSU community and the general public at www.deltastate.edu\/blues<\/a>. Registration is free for Delta State students, faculty and staff members.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile live music is best, a positive of the virtual platform is that any registrant will be able to watch the performances, presentations, papers, and keynote addresses in real time and again as many times as they wish through Oct. 31, 2021,\u201d said conference co-chair Don Allan Mitchell, associate professor of English at Delta State.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe online platform is interactive, allowing guests and presenters to interact in real time, and includes fun competitions and other features to encourage virtual participation. The virtual format is particularly useful for Delta State students, who will have access to a treasure trove of gospel music and blues discussion,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

The conference will begin Friday morning with performances connecting the Black gospel tradition to the blues.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur keynote solo performer, Jontavious Willis, will play a gospel set on Friday morning,\u201d shared conference co-chair Dr. Shelley Collins, professor of music at Delta State. \u201cSince our 2017 conference, he\u2019s been nominated for a Grammy for his blues album Spectacular Class.<\/em> Legendary bluesman Taj Mahal has nicknamed Jontavious \u2018The Wunderkind\u2019 for his outstanding singing, songwriting, and guitar playing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Attendees will also enjoy performances by a conference favorite, the Coahoma Community College Concert Choir of Clarksdale, Miss.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Coahoma Community College Concert Choir was a big hit when they performed at ICOB in 2018. This summer they were filmed for a travel series on CNN, and they blew the producers away, so we\u2019re glad to have them back again for the 2021 conference,\u201d said Collins.<\/p>\n

The afternoon will feature academic presentations, including a keynote address by the Rev. Dr. Dwight Andrews, professor of music theory and African American music at Emory University and senior minister of First Congregational Church in Atlanta.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Andrews was most recently noted for his work on \u2018The Black Church\u2019 documentary on PBS with famed Harvard historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr.,\u201d said Collins. \u201cHe was August Wilson\u2019s music director for several Broadway productions and helped establish him as one of America\u2019s foremost 20th<\/sup> century playwrights.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition, attorney, social activist and producer of traditional Black music for live music venues Annette Hollowell will provide special presentations exploring the business side of Black music.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnnette Hollowell is the convener of the Foxfire Blues Assembly, at her family\u2019s farm. This farm, Foxfire Ranch, has become a space for retreat, deep learning and celebration of rural Black culture, as well as a resource for artists, healers and lovers of justice,\u201d said Collins.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe also produces a regular series of Sunday night blues performances at Foxfire Ranch, so she serves many roles in the Mississippi music scene,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Rev. Dr. Dwight Andrews<\/p><\/div>\n

Other topics to be explored during the conference include the blues; music of the African diaspora; Black musical traditions and influences on American music and culture; the influence of blues, gospel, spirituals, and soul music; Black music as protest and social commentary; and Black artists and the music industry.<\/p>\n

All academic presentations will be recorded and available for on-demand access.<\/p>\n

The 2021 ICOB will kick-off with a pre-conference concert on Sept. 30 at Delta State\u2019s Bologna Performing Arts Center (BPAC), featuring SHAKE & HOLLA: Grammy-nominated and Blues Music Award-winning North Mississippi Allstars, joined by the legendary Rebirth Brass Band and Cedric Burnside.<\/p>\n

Concert tickets are not included with the conference registration and may be purchased at bolognapac.com<\/a> or by calling (662) 846-4626.<\/p>\n

To learn more about the International Conference on the Blues, view past conferences or register for this year\u2019s event, visit www.deltastate.edu\/blues<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For questions, please e-mail blues@deltastate.edu<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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