Quoting a Bruce Springsteen song, Levon Helm often sang, “Everything dies baby that’s a fact, but maybe everything that dies someday comes back.”
The King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena-West Helena stands as one more example of just such.
After the threat of this year’s 38th annual King Biscuit Festival being canceled due to funding issues, an anonymous donor from Maine stepped up to donate $1,000 for every one of the 30 years he has been coming or he’d give a gift of $35,000 if the King Biscuit could match it.
“Financially and attendance wise, we had a down year in 2024 and since then we lost a lot of grants that help fund us,” said Sterling Billingsly, who books acts for the fest. “It had us down in the dumps and thought we were out of luck for 2025. But thanks to our generous fans, we are coming back.”
Paul Thorn, a longtime favorite of festivalgoers, is returning for a 70-minute show Oct. 10.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“When I heard the festival was in decline, I figured it all went back to money,” he said. “Generations come and go and sadly a lot of the die-hard fans are no longer with us. There is a new generation of folks coming along now.”
Thorn applauded the efforts and explained how he missed one of the long-time participants.
“What a magical festival it has been all these years, but when one of the original founders, Bubba Sullivan, passed, it felt like a lot of the wind went out of the sails. Without him, it’s not the same for me. He always set on the stage and we’d smile at each other during my shows. When he was gone, part of the fest went with him,” Thorn said.
Asked how long he has been a part of the annual event, Thorn said, “I’m going to say more than 10 years. The first time I played I went on just before B.B. King. I’m so happy that sponsors have stepped up and helped keep the spirit alive.”
Former festival director Munnie Jordan commented on the event as well.
“What got us back on track was when a 30-year sponsor called and offered to donate a $1,000 for every one of the 30 years he’d been coming or he’d give $35,000 if we could match it,” Jordan said.
“With our late start, we didn’t host a festival poster competition this year. John Goodwin, who has won with his poster entry twice before, called and said he had the perfect painting for us. He donated it free of charge for the 2025 King Biscuit Festival poster,” Jordan said.
Goodwin said he’d been a supporter of King Biscuit since the first year.
“I’m not about to stop now in their time of need,” Goodwin said. “The annual poster has been a collectable item associated with the fest since the beginning. A limited edition, 150 signed and numbered copies are sold each year. There are people who have every one of them with the same sequence number. In 2021 when the festival was canceled due to covid, we offered that year’s poster at Bubba Sullivan’s birthday party. I remember both Bobby Rush and I sat on the couch and signed all 150 numbered copies together.”
Goodwin, a native of Little Rock, studied art at Louisiana Tech University.
“I consider my art ‘fun art’ rather than ‘fine art,” he said.
An exhibit of his work will be on display at the Delta Cultural Center during the festival. The exhibit opens Sept. 13 and runs into Dec. at 141 Cherry St. in Helena-West Helena.
The release of the lineup and unveiling of this year’s poster were announced Tuesday.
Tickets for main stage events are $20 per day of $35 for both days.
In addition to the main stage, the unofficial Quicksand busker stage sponsored by Crossroads Music Project, Windy City Blues Society and Long Island Blues Society will be up and going Oct. 9-11 on the north end of Cherry Street in the Thad Kelley Courtyard. They will have a full schedule of 30-plus bands performing for tips all three days.
A few changes are in the works for 2025, with just one stage for two days, Oct. 10-11.
Live music launches Oct. 10 with these performers:
1 p.m. Heather Cross
2 p.m. Sterling Billingsly Band
3 p.m. Wampas Cats
4 p.m. Reba Russell
5 p.m. Greg Montez
6 p.m. Paul Thorn
7:30 p.m. Mr. Sipp.
On Oct. 11, activities start again with these artists:
1 p.m. Eden Brent
2 p.m. Ghost Town Blues Band
3 p.m. Chris O’Leary
4 p.m. Anson Funderburgh
5 p.m. 2 Blues for You
6 p.m. Port City Blues Players
7:30 John Nemeth
8:30 p.m. B.B. King Centennial Blues Band.
The main stage will also host the children’s Bit-O Blues performances the morning of Oct. 10. This program is designed to educate and introduce new generations to the blues and will host students from various schools around Phillips County.
Events include:
9 a.m. Keirsi Joli
9:45 a.m. The Spa City Youngbloods
10:30 a.m. Delta Blues Museum Band
11 a.m. Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport with Miles Hoyt
Noon Pinetop Perkins Boogie Woogie Workshop Showcase.
Following the performances, students will be treated to lunch.
