68th Annual
Jimmie Rodgers Music Festival
APRIL 8-16, 2021
America's Longest-Running Music Festival
The Jimmie Rodgers Foundation is proud to announce the lineup for our 68th Annual Music Festival. Much like Rodgers who influenced all genres of American music, the lineup will include artists performing blues, rock & roll, country and gospel music. The cancelation of last year’s event was just a bump in a very long road for this musical event, a continuation of America's longest-running music festival.
The 2021 lineup will take place over ten days in April, with most of this year’s performances at the historic Temple Theatre, wrapping up with Chris Janson for the final show at the MSU Riley Center. Organizers will provide for safe social distancing at all venues and all performance take place in beautiful downtown Meridian.
TICKETS
Thursday, April 8
Featuring Todd Tilghman
Temple Theatre, 7PM (doors open at 6PM)
Reserved Seating: $30, General Admission: $20
Tickets available through the Temple Theatre Box Office (601.693.5353) 11AM – 2PM Monday – Friday, 9AM – 11AM Saturday
Friday, April 9
Featuring Jesse Cotton Stone, Lightnin’ Malcolm, Robert Kimbrough Sr., Royal Horses
Temple Theatre, 7PM (doors open at 6PM)
Premiere Seating: $20, General Admission: $15
Purchase tickets online through Ardenland.net
Saturday, April 10
Featuring Chapel Hart, Brandon “Taz” Neiderauer
Temple Theatre, 7PM (doors open at 6PM)
Premiere Seating: $20, General Admission: $15
Purchase tickets online through Ardenland.net
Sunday, April 11
Featuring Jamal Roberts
Temple Theatre, 2PM (doors open at 1PM)
Premiere Seating: $20, General Admission: $15
Purchase tickets online through Ardenland.net
Friday, April 16
Featuring Chris Janson
MSU Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts, 7:30PM
Ticket prices vary
Purchase tickets online here through the MSU Riley Center
2021 LINEUP
WINNER: "THE VOICE" SEASON 18
TODD
TILGHMAN
THURSDAY, APRIL 8
LOCATION: TEMPLE THEATER, 7PM (DOORS OPEN AT 6PM)
Once a little-known pastor of Meridian’s Cornerstone Church with vocal pipes, Todd Tilghman is now a nationally recognized musician as the winner of NBC’s "The Voice" Season 18. Tilghman brings his live stage show to the historic Temple Theater, performing soft rock, country, soulful gospel, and your favorite songs from his time on "The Voice!"
We are mighty proud that Todd represents a long legacy of talented performers from Meridian, Mississippi, starting with Jimmie Rodgers!
"HELL COUNTRY BLUES"
JESSE
COTTON STONE
FRIDAY, APRIL 9
LOCATION: TEMPLE THEATER, 7PM (DOORS OPEN AT 6PM)
Jesse Cotton Stone weaves together the stylistic threads of definitive regional traditions of blues music ranging from North Mississippi Hill Country blues, Delta blues, and Cotton Patch soul blues to the urban Chicago blues roots of R&B, soul, funk, and psychedelic rock & roll.
Jesse Cotton Stone brings listeners through the doors of a heart-wrenching boutique of vintage-toned American blues music, with the relentless showmanship of a true entertainer.
CUTTING EDGE BLUESMAN
LIGHTNIN'
MALCOLM
Cutting Edge Bluesman Lightnin' Malcolm, a charismatic and energetic guitar-slinger with a deep soulful voice, has taken his irresistable dance grooves from Juke Joint teen years as a one-man band to world stages with mainstream artists such as Robert Plant, Jimmy Buffett, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, The Black Keys, Widespread Panic, Big Head Todd, North Mississippi Allstars, Lucero, and Gary Clark Jr.
The Mississippi based multi-instrumentalist combines the rhythms and electrifying power of the Hill Country Blues with the songwriting wisdom of his musical heroes. Lightnin' Malcolm fuses elements of funk, soul, rock, reggae, hip hop, West African world beat, gospel and country to create an authentic signature sound.
BLUES CONNECTION
ROBERT
KIMBROUGH SR.
Robert Kimbrough Sr. continues the Cotton Patch Soul Blues style created by his father, the legendary Junior Kimbrough, in North Mississippi.
The Cotton Patch Soul Blues style that Robert plays is a link to the music that his father originated, a deep soul sound that can be traced to his ancestors coming from the cotton fields, singing and ‘hollering‘ as they worked in the tall rows of MS cotton. This distinct and underground style of blues is rooted in hypnotic, rhythms and dance-able grooves.
VOICE OF THE NEW SOUTH
THE ROYAL
HORSES
HEADLINING PERFORMANCE
Forged deep in the Piney Woods of South Mississippi, Royal Horses embodies the very best of what the region has to offer. The trio pays respect to the musical genres that helped shape the New South, including 70's rock, early blues, rockabilly, and folk. Royal Horses has managed to create a name for themselves – one high-energy performance at a time.
Enjoy a gritty, powerfully-unique sound built on the strength of Shelby Kemp's incredible vocals, Kenny Paul Mann's driving bass lines, and Daniel Firth's rock-steady rhythm.
SATURDAY, APRIL 10
LOCATION: MSU RILEY CENTER FOR EDUCATION & PERFORMING ARTS, 10AM
What do Elvis Presley, Faith Hill, Randy Houser, Paul Overstreet, and Hayley Williams have in common? The Jimmie Rodgers Singing Competition! The Radio People is bringing this iconic event back and we want you to be a part of it! Tune in to 97OKK, Q101, KISS 104.1, 95.1 The Beat, and Praise 95.9 FM/910 to learn how you, or that talented singer/songwriter you know, can get involved in this historic competition. We are thrilled to kick off the Jimmie Rodgers Music Festival with the new voices of Meridian!
SWEET SOUND OF COUNTRY
CHAPEL
HART
SATURDAY, APRIL 10
LOCATION: TEMPLE THEATER, 7PM (DOORS OPEN AT 6PM)
Chapel Hart has an amazing ability to tug on your heartstrings with a tender yet powerful ballad, then have you pumping your fist in unison to the pulse of hard-hitting rock & roll.
The band accentuates the three vocalists, who embody the sweet and southern sound of country with the soulful undertones noting their gospel roots. Chapel Hart has entertained people from all over the world as they visit The Big Easy and they all say there is nothing quite like the Chapel Hart experience.
GUITAR
BRANDON "TAZ"
NIEDERAUER
A young guitar sensation blending the influences of his many musical mentors, Taz's unique sound is popping into a contemporary space that the world has yet to hear.
Seventeen-year-old Brandon Niederauer, nicknamed “Taz” for his ferocious guitar playing, is living proof that dreams really do come true. Having performed in some of the most legendary venues in America with many of the most prominent musicians of our time, the young guitarist, singer, and songwriter has already earned himself quite the reputation.
BET'S "SUNDAY BEST" SEASON 10 FINALIST
JAMAL
ROBERTS
SUNDAY, APRIL 11
LOCATION: TEMPLE THEATER, 2PM (DOORS OPEN AT 1PM)
Jamal Roberts is an award winning millennial gospel artist who, at such a young age, has appeared on many radio channels and gospel stages alongside gospel's elite, including Grammy Award-winning Kirk Franklin.
Roberts is best known for representing Meridian, Mississippi, as a Season 10 Finalist on BET's Sunday Best. He brings soul, energy, and heart to the historic Temple Theatre stage as the closing act of the 68th Annual Jimmie Rodgers Music Festival.
RISING COUNTRY STAR
CHRIS
JANSON
FRIDAY, APRIL 16
LOCATION: MSU RILEY CENTER FOR EDUCATION & PERFORMING ARTS, 7:30PM
Chris Janson has charted multiple #1 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, including "Good Vibes" and "Done."
"He is explosive on stage and completely unpredictable. I compare his live set to a wild horse, it's not meant to be tamed. He brings a blue-collar, redneck edge to every show that seems to be lacking in country music these days. Chris Janson is the future of country music..." — Nashville Gab