The Mississippi Center for Justice (MCJ) will host “Voices of Mississippi,” an immersive multimedia experience and concert event, on September 13th at the St. Andrew’s Episcopal School Performing Arts Center in Ridgeland, Mississippi.
“Voices of Mississippi” combines blues, folk, gospel music, and spoken-word storytelling to paint a powerful portrait of the state’s contribution to American culture. The event features live musical performances integrated with film, audio recordings, and archival photographs, all combining to tell a uniquely Mississippi story.
The event showcases a lineup of artists representing multiple genres rooted in the Mississippi musical tradition. Featured performers will include two-time GRAMMY® Award-Winner and Blues Hall of Fame legend Bobby Rush; Sharde Thomas of the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band; and three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated Luther and Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars.
“Voices of Mississippi” is based on the GRAMMY® Award-winning film, book, and music compilation set of the same name by Dr. William Ferris, founder of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture and former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Dr. Ferris was the 2022 recipient of the MCJ Pathfinder Award, which honors those who promote equity through the arts. Dr. Ferris will MC the event, sharing personal stories from his life’s work documenting Mississippi musicians and artists.
The “Voices of Mississippi” benefit concert will support the work of the Mississippi Center for Justice, a nonprofit legal firm that promotes racial, social, and economic equity.
“Our state’s rich cultural heritage represents every Mississippian,” says Vangela M. Wade, MCJ’s president and CEO. “Much of our state’s most celebrated creativity and most influential work was born from our state’s most marginalized people and most difficult times. ‘Voices of Mississippi’ is an inclusive event that will bring all of us together to celebrate our state’s unmatched influence on American music, art, and culture.”
“’Voices of Mississippi’ celebrates our state’s rich history of music, which has long been a bridge across troubled waters. Music comforts the soul, deepens our humanity, and builds solidarity,” says Dr. Ferris. “Like the courageous work of the Mississippi Center for Justice, the sounds of Mississippians and their rich musical heritage inspire us to work for a better future together.”
EVENT DETAILS
“Voices of Mississippi”
September 13, 2023
7:00 PM
St. Andrew’s Performing Arts Center
370 Old Agency Road Ridgeland, MS 39157
Tickets on sale July 19 via Ticketmaster
VIP Seating $200
General Admission Tickets $125 https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1B005EEEA5F0548A
For sponsorship information, including tickets to a VIP reception with the artists, contact: Tosha Taylor 601.709.0859 or 601.325.2269 ext. 107 TTaylor@mscenterforjustice.org
For media inquiries, interview requests, or further information, contact: Mandesha Thornton Mississippi Center for Justice 601.352.2269 ext. 147 mthornton@mscenterforjustice.org