It’s headlined by Larkin Poe and Tad Benoit, both high-profile performers
W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival music co-chair Brian Bishop says the upcoming fest’s lineup is the best in years.
“It is my personal favorite since the 2021 festival,” Bishop said of the acts that will grace the 33rd annual Handy Festival June 11-14.
The lineup, posted online Monday morning, includes Saturday night’s headliner Larkin Poe and Friday night’s headliner Tab Benoit, both acts that are at the top of their games, said Bishop, who chairs the music with Dorin Luck.
With Larkin Poe, Bishop sees both a band that is high-profile and younger, traits that could bring new fans to the Handy Fest. It’s also a band based in Nashville, so its local fanbase can easily drive the two hours north.
Larkin Poe goes on at 9 p.m. Saturday, June 14.
Headed by sisters Megan and Rebecca Lovell, the band, with its rock infused blues and harmonies, has been compared to the Allman Brothers Band. Megan plays a slide guitar while Rebecca plays traditional guitar and is the lead vocals.
Larkin Poe’s notoriety is big in the blues world and growing, said Bishop. The band has made several appearances on the Jimmy Kimmel Show and opened up for Guns ‘n Roses on tour, said Bishop. Perhaps most significant to music and Handy Fest lovers is that Larkin Poe won the 2024 Grammy award for Best Contemporary Blues Album with its 2023 release “Blood Harmony.”
“I’m very excited about Larkin Poe,” Bishop said, adding he thinks the band “can bring eyes to the festival that normally wouldn’t be there.”
Tab Benoit on Friday night, meanwhile, offers more of a traditional blues sound, including the Delta blues. He’s known for his solos and riffing on electric guitar.
“I think he’s a blues icon at the top of his game at this point,” Bishop said. “People really love Tab.”
Tab Benoit goes on at 9 p.m. Friday, June 13.
Benoit headlines many blues festivals and many shows—“He’s a big deal in the blues genre,” Bishop said.
A big change for longtime festival goers—especially for those lovers of Thursday’s Zydeco night—is that Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band won’t be up on stage. Carrier announced at last year’s festival he was retiring.
But, Bishop said, that won’t take away from the fun Thursday evening. “Well-known to the Handy Festival audience,” Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers—a traditional Zydeco band—comes back this year to take over Chubby Carrier’s 8 p.m. Thursday slot.
Opening the night will be Waylon Thibodeuax, who doesn’t necessarily play traditional Zydeco but still has that “Cajun feel,” Bishop said.
“We’re still going to have a Cajun vibe,” he said. That’s important for Thursday night because in addition to the music, the Handy Fest continues its Zydeco night tradition of serving red beans and rice, jambalaya, Cajun sausage and sausage. The profit from these sales goes toward funding next year’s festival.
Ana Popovic and Funktastik (7 p.m. Saturday) will be a crowd-pleaser, said Bishop. Popovic is an internationally renowned guitarist who is bringing ten musicians with her. The band boasts two drummers, a horn section and “lots of energy,” Bishop said. Popovic, originally from Serbia. is an internationally renowned guitarist.
Other acts to catch—if you can’t catch them all:
- Joann Shaw Taylor, a blues performer from England (5 p.m. Friday)
- D.K. Harrell, a traditional bluesman who is moving up the ranks and in 2023 had the second-most played blues album on U.S. radio (7 p.m. Friday)
- Dylan Triplett, who at 23 has a soulful voice beyond his years, according to Bishop. “The crowd will be very impressed,” Bishop said. (3 p.m. Saturday)
- Piper & the Hard Times will be making its third straight Handy Fest appearance. “They are back by popular demand,” Bishop said. (7 p.m. Wednesday)
On a final note, longtime Evansville band Blues 4U will perform once again at its traditional 12 noon Friday spot. Those attached to the Handy Fest lovingly call Blues 4U the festival’s house band. According to the Hendersonian’s records, this year will make 31 times (of 34 festivals) the band has played Handy.
“We will have Blues 4U as long as there is a Blues 4U,” Bishop said.
