Double Decker Arts Festival is set to bring music fans from across the country to Oxford in a massive celebration of artistic talent on Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27 on the Square.
The 27th Double Decker Arts Festival musical lineup is stacked with talented groups and solo artists. Grammy Award winners Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Brittany Howard will perform along with other big names this weekend.
Grace Bowers, a 17-year-old solo artist from the Bay Area is set to open the festival at 6 p.m. on Friday. Praised by Rolling Stone magazine and having recorded with John Osborne of the Brothers Osborne, Bowers has made a considerable name for herself in the music industry despite her young age.
“When you listen to me, I hope you hear the authenticity,” Bowers said on her website. “I’m never trying to imitate anybody else. I’m just trying to make the music I want to make.”
Following Bowers’ opening act on the Nicholas Air stage is emerging country star Conner Smith and Americana band Flatland Cavalry.
“I’m so excited for the lineup for Double Decker. I think they have some great shows,” junior real estate and risk management insurance major Allison McAllen said. “I think they’ve had very great choices in the past too, but this year, especially (with) Connor Smith and Flatland Cavalry.”
After Friday’s musical kick-off, the all-day concert starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday when Mississippi native and blues guitarist Kenny Brown will take to the stage.
Brown’s early performance will be followed by rock band Billy Allen and the Pollies at 11:30 a.m. Shortly after, soloist Jaime Wyatt will bring his soulful energy to the stage starting at 1 p.m.
Rock music will return to the Double Decker stage with a performance by Bass Drum of Death beginning at 2 p.m. While lead singer John Barret is now based in New York City, he is originally from Oxford. Barret collaborated with local label Fat Possum Records to create the band’s latest album, “Say I Won’t.”
“(After) growing up in Mississippi and then staying around Oxford after high school, touring was a way for me to get out,” Barrett said in an interview with Spin magazine. “Now, as I’ve gotten older, it’s kind of flipped a little bit. I really enjoy making songs and figuring things out in the studio. But we’re really excited to get back out there and play some new and old stuff.”
Country singer, songwriter and Yalobusha County native Charlie Mars will usher in the evening performances at 4 p.m. Mars is an artist who thrives on his small-town background.
At 5:30 p.m., singer, songwriter and pianist Neal Francis will take the stage. Though Francis is from Chicago, he draws inspiration from several New Orleans creatives.
Grammy Award-winner Christone “Kingfish” Ingram will perform at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Ingram began his career playing in local clubs in his hometown of Clarksdale, Miss., where he honed his skills, drawing inspiration from B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix.
Ingram went on to earn a Grammy nomination for his 2019 album, “Kingfish,” from which he earned his moniker, and he secured a Grammy Award for his second album, “662.”
Ingram now headlines festivals and concert halls worldwide and has opened for the Rolling Stones. He was also included among Rolling Stone’s Top 250 guitarists.
Closing out the weekend of music at 8:30 p.m. is Brittany Howard. Howard, who hails from Athens, Ala., is a four-time Grammy Award winner with the group “Alabama Shakes.” Since 2018, however, Howard has flown solo, releasing two albums and gaining seven Grammy nominations and one win for Best Rock Song.
Freshman business major Brandt Stewart said that Double Decker will still be a fun way to spend the weekend even for festival attendees not familiar with this year’s artists.
“I didn’t recognize anybody on the lineup. So it looks to me like a bunch of country artists, which I’d rather a little more diversity, but it’s still fine. I mean, I’ll still go and enjoy it,” Stewart said. “Everybody has different music tastes (but) it’s a great way to meet people. Live music is always great. It will be a good time to hang out.”
