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If our line up for the 15th Annual Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival on Sat., May 10, 2008, doesn't impress or excite you, perhaps a visit to the artists' Web sites will. Many of their sites feature interviews and sound clips. When you click on the artist's or band's name, the Web site will open in a new browser window. When you're finished surfing the site, simply close the window. This page will still be open in your browser.
From her early days sharing lead vocals with her groundbreaking family group, The Staple Singers, to her powerful solo recordings, she is an inspirational force in modern popular culture and music. She's a 40-year-plus veteran of the music scene, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with her family, the Staple Singers, and is a pioneer of rhythm & blues, while never relinquishing her gospel roots. Mavis has recorded with a wide variety of musicians, from Bob Dylan (with whom she was nominated for a 2003 Grammy Award) to The Band, Ray Charles, George Jones, Delbert McClinton and many others. With the release of the seminal album, 2007's "We'll Never Turn Back”, produced by the inimitable Ry Cooder, she is at the top of her game. Order tickets now! Blues guitarist Duke Robillard from Canada makes a return to Thomson this year. Robillard is a founding member of the great band, Roomful of Blues. The Blues Music Awards (formerly W.C. Handy Awards) have named Robillard "Best Blues Guitarist" four years out of five (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004) making him the second most honored guitarist for that award! Duke and his combo are on the road year in and out for about 250 dates a year. Just as remarkable have been the projects he has produced (and played on) for Stony Plain. These include two albums with Jimmy Witherspoon, two with Kansas City piano king Jay McShann, comeback CDs for Billy Boy Arnold and Rosco Gordon, and a superb album of guitar duets with the jazz legend Herb Ellis. As if this growing catalogue was not enough, he has found time to share studio gigs with Bob Dylan (the Daniel Lanois-produced Time Out of Mind sessions), Ruth Brown, Johnny Adams, John Hammond, Pinetop Perkins and Ronnie Earl, among many others. Visit his MySpace at www.myspace.com/dukerobillard.
Also appearing this year is Anson Funderburgh, the great guitarist from Texas. This marks his first return to Georgia after the passing of long-time Rockets' vocalist Sam Meyers a few years ago. Myers played harp and sang with Anson's band, the Rockets. Out front this year for Anson and the Rockets will be James Harmon on vocals and harmonica. Anson and the band have played Thomson several times in the past and never fail to light up our stage. There ain't any better at playing the swinging Texas blues than this combo. Order tickets now! With a tip of the hat to the acoustic country blues style of guitar playing, the Activities Council of Thomson also presents Mary Flower, who has played our festival in the past. She has also appeared in the Thomson Chamber concert series and comes in to town from Memphis, where she is nominated as best acoustic artist of the year by the Blues Foundation (the Handy Awards). In 2000 and 2003, Mary placed in the top three at the National Fingerpicking Championship. Her career as an internationally known performer and teacher has spanned more than three decades. We couldn't be happier about her return to our stage on the festival's 15th Anniversary. Order tickets now! Vocalist Mike Farris makes his 1st appearance in Thomson this year. His latest album, "Salvation in Lights,” is absolutely one of the finest albums of southern gospel and blues that we've heard in quite sometime. In fact, it not only made all the "best of” Americana charts, but also was one of iTunes Top 10 Christian CD's of 2007, as well as the Christian Music Today's number 1 CD of the year. Farris brings a full complement of musicians including both horn and vocal sections and a show that's not unlike a tent revival from years gone by. Visit www.mikefarrismusic.net/ and click in to the video section. Then select one where he's out front of the full band…that's what you'll see in Thomson! Order tickets now! Opening this year's show will be guitarist Geoff Achison, an Aussie now working out of Atlanta. He's developed quite an international following on both acoustic and electric guitar and we can't think of a better opener. But don't take our word for it. Check out his Myspace page through www.brilliant-
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This year's lineup is set and again, the caliber of the artists coming to Thomson is nothing short of outstanding. Headlining is soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples. Ms. Staples possesses one of the most recognizable and treasured voices in contemporary music. 
Thomson's own Crosstie Walkers will also be on the bill in 2008 after a couple of years away from the festival stage. They are developing new material for a planned 2008 CD, their 4th independent effort. They will be showcasing music from their nearly 20 years of playing together.