Delta Deep Roots

2023 Deep Roots Winter Series - Alanna Mosley @ Papa Roc's
2023-03-17 18:30 - 20:30, 2023-04-07 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Papa Roc’s, 3442 Hwy. 8 West, Cleveland, MS, 38732, United States
Alanna Mosley is a singer-songwriter from Carrollton, Mississippi. Her music—best described as Americana or roots—blurs genre lines, and her cover tune catalog spans decades. With guitar in hand, Mosley is an unstoppable jukebox of great music that invites the listener to keep humming along.
At an early age, Mosley was soaking in her music education: 90s guitar queens Patty Griffin and Shawn Colvin, country rockers like Dwight Yoakam and Steve Earle, and the gauntlet of great singer-songwriters from Carole King to Brandi Carlile. She began playing guitar at the age of 12 and hasn’t quit since. Over the years, Mosley has built an impressive repertoire of cover songs while also honing her own songwriting skills. She released an EP of original music in 2014, and in 2016 she was the winner of the prestigious Jimmie Rodgers Songwriting Competition. After living and gigging in Charlotte, North Carolina for several years, she returned to the Mississippi Delta in full force, constantly filling her calendar with festival, radio, restaurant, and private gigs.
It seems that, all over the southeast, Mosley is doing a great job of connecting with people through music. Her artistry can be summed up in the words of her friend and fellow creative, Geoff Latham: “Alanna Mosley’s appeal is her warmth and clearly genuine enjoyment of sharing her musical gifts with her audience. When Alanna performs, she isn’t playing music for you, she’s inviting you to sing along and enjoy the song with her… Though her music roots are sunk deep in the loamy soil of Delta Blues, her branches cast a wide shadow over country, rock, pop, and bluegrass, and it’s a shade that begs the listener to kick off their shoes, have a seat, and stay a while.” If you’re a lover of great music in need of some shade, find out where Alanna Mosley might be playing near you at www.alannamosley.com.

2023 Deep Roots Winter Series - Variety @ 8 West Grille
2023-03-18 19:00 - 21:00, 2023-04-08 19:00 - 21:00 | 8 West Grille, 1300 Hwy. 8 West, Cleveland, MS, 38732, United States
Variety is the popular ‘old school’ R&B/soul duo of siblings Eric Edwards and Shara White from Cleveland, Mississippi. They have been performing together across the country for more than 25 years. Their upbeat repertoire is the kind of music that, according to Eric, makes audiences want to ‘eat barbecue and drink cold beer.’

Eric and Shara, born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, grew up in a musical home where they both started playing and singing at the early ages of 5 and 6 years old, respectively. While citing their father, Eddie Lee Edwards, as their primary musical influence, they also list Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Prince, and Quincy Jones as musicians whom they admire and respect. Both Eric and Shara are quick to acknowledge the contributions of their former band director, Mr. James Stamps, and musical friends Dr. Alphonso Sanders and Joe Johnson in encouraging and shaping the duo’s musical development and direction.

Eric’s voice has been compared to the Isley Brothers, and Shara’s voice draws comparisons to Whitney Houston, but they both feel that God has given them each a unique voice. Although known for their R&B style, the duo is also deeply rooted in gospel music. The duo has released an album together titled There Is No One Else, and in addition to writing original music for God’s Anointed Voices, Eric has released an R&B project titled Those Vinyl Days!

2023 Deep Roots Winter Series - Mary Claire @ Bar Fontaine
2023-03-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Bar Fontaine, 215 Cotton Row, Cleveland, MS, 38732, United States
Vocalist/pianist Mary Claire Rackley from Gulfport, Mississippi, is a recent graduate of the DMI Entertainment Industry Studies program at Delta State University. She performed with the DMI All-Stars in Los Angeles as part of the GRAMMY Museum’s ‘Mississippi Night’ in 2019. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree at Delta State while performing around town and working as an administrative assistant for the Delta Music Institute.

2023 Deep Roots Winter Series - Alanna Mosley @ Backdraft
2023-03-21 18:30 - 20:30 | Backdraft, 337 Cotton Row, Cleveland, MS, 38732, United States

2023 Deep Roots Winter Series - Delta Sun & Brisket @ Darry's Food and Drink
2023-03-23 18:30 - 20:30 | Darry’s Food & Drink, 122 East TM Jones Hwy., Boyle, MS, 38730, United States
Mike “Delta Sun” Slaton and Chris “Brisket” Livingston are singer/songwriters from the birthplace of American Music, the great state of Mississippi. They have been performing for audiences around the Southeastern United States for over 25 years. Their original and cover songs are inspired by legendary artists such as John Prine, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Grateful Dead, and Widespread Panic. Delta Sun & Brisket are currently performing acoustic shows at local venues around the Mississippi Delta and sometimes perform with the band Pharmtruck out of Oxford, MS.

2023 Deep Roots Winter Series - Billy Maines @ Papa Roc's
2023-03-24 18:30 - 20:30 | Papa Roc’s, 3442 Hwy. 8 West, Cleveland, MS, 38732, United States
American singer/songwriter Billy Maines grew up in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains in a village on the Hudson River near Woodstock, New York. He started taking guitar lessons at an early age and played in various rock bands during high school. While attending college at Cortland College in New York, Billy began honing his writing skills for a performing duo.
After graduation, Maines relocated to Boulder, Colorado, where the wide open music scene inspired his writing and encouraged his performing with different bands up and down the ‘front range’ of the Rockies. He plays guitar, harmonica, mandolin, and fiddle across genres of Americana, Alternative Rock and the Blues. He credits his main musical influences as The Band, Neil Young, Muddy Waters, and Bob Dylan.
After moving to the Mississippi Delta in 2004, he learned to appreciate the rich heritage of the music of Mississippi and formed an original rock band called The Rind. After the band dissolved, Billy began to perform as a solo artist and continues to do so today.
https://www.facebook.com/billymainesmusicman

2023 Deep Roots Winter Series - Mississippi Marshall Deluxe @ 8 West Grille
2023-03-25 19:00 - 21:00 | 8 West Grille, 1300 Hwy. 8 West, Cleveland, MS, 38732, United States
Mississippi Marshall is a singer/songwriter/guitarist raised right in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Marshall’s original guitar stylings range from old style Delta Blues to in-your-face blues boogie. His original music reflects his life experiences and for over 30 years, he has toured the country, headlining Blues clubs and festivals, including the Juke Joint Festival, Unity Festival, World Catfish Festival, Que on the Yazoo, and the Sam Chatmon Festival, both as a solo artist and with his band, The Juke Daddys.

Mississippi Marshall is a two-time International Blues Challenge Semi-Finalist and a Mississippi Music Foundation award winner for Best Instrumental. He is currently working on his fourth album.

2023 Deep Roots Winter Series - Alanna Mosley @ Bar Fontaine
2023-03-27 18:30 - 20:30 | Bar Fontaine, 215 Cotton Row, Cleveland, MS, 38732, United States

2023 Deep Roots Winter Series - Charles Sullivan @ Backdraft
2023-03-28 18:30 - 20:30 | Backdraft, 337 Cotton Row, Cleveland, MS, 38732, United States
Singer/songwriter Charles Sullivan is a member of the Delta String Band, an Americana band based out of Greenville, Mississippi. Similar to what the band presents, Sullivan sings a variety of styles, from folk and bluegrass to straight-up country. With influences like bluegrass great Ralph Stanley, folk master John Prine, pure country kings Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, and even genre-fusing groups like the Grateful Dead, Sullivan brings his own flavor to the music he plays, and that “old school way” means playing music in its truest, purest, stripped-down form.

2023 Deep Roots Winter Series - Mississippi Marshall Deluxe @ Darry's Food & Drink
2023-03-30 18:30 - 20:30 | Darry’s Food & Drink, 122 East TM Jones Hwy., Boyle, MS, 38730, United States

2023 Deep Roots Winter Series - Brittany McGee @ Papa Roc's
2023-03-31 18:30 - 20:30 | Papa Roc’s, 3442 Hwy. 8 West, Cleveland, MS, 38732, United States
Brittany McGee is a singer/songwriter from Pontotoc, MS. A graduate of the DMI Entertainment Industry Studies program at Delta State University, Brittany’s passion for music has grown through the years. Her influences include Americana and roots performers Chris Stapleton, Ashley McBryde, Kelly Clarkson, and Bonnie Raitt. Wherever she performs, Brittany’s desire is to connect with people in a way that makes a positive impact on their life. She currently performs on a regular circuit in east and northeast Mississippi.

2023 Deep Roots Winter Series - Danny Abraham and Tricia Walker @ 8 West Grille
2023-04-01 19:00 - 21:00 | 8 West Grille, 1300 Hwy. 8 West, Cleveland, MS, 38732, United States
Tricia Walker is a singer and songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Faith Hill, Patty Loveless and Alison Krauss, whose performance of Tricia’s Looking in the Eyes of Love earned a GRAMMY® award. A recording artist herself, Tricia has released eight studio recordings in multiple styles.
Tricia moved to Nashville where she worked as a songwriter for three different publishing companies, as a backing musician for Opry star Connie Smith, Shania Twain and Paul Overstreet, and founded the Original Women in the Round, one of the most celebrated foursomes at Nashville’s prestigious Bluebird Café, with Pam Tillis, Karen Staley and Ashley Cleveland.
Tricia returned to her native Mississippi in 2006 to become director of the Delta Music Institute, an entertainment industry studies program at her alma mater, Delta State University. She retired from DSU in 2019 as Director Emerita, DMI, and Professor of the Practice Emerita in Entertainment Industry Studies. She is now serving as the music ambassador for the City of Cleveland, MS where she is leading the Deep Roots music initiative.
Danny Abraham, well-known Cleveland men’s clothier, started playing piano when he was six years old and played in bands and as a solo artist throughout his youth. “I played when I was at Ole Miss with a group that went all over recruiting students and was able to share the stage with celebrities like Bob Hope and others,” says Abraham. When I returned to Cleveland, to attend Delta State, I joined the campus music group Renaissance, and we literally toured all over the world. Even after I opened my store, Abraham’s, I continued to play with people whenever and wherever I could.”
Danny’s first CD, Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me, was a labor of love and faith. The gospel collection of all original compositions was produced by the legendary Gordon Mote and recorded in Nashville. Abraham said he was blessed to be surrounded by a number of talented and well-known musicians on his CD. From Cleveland/Delta business legend to gospel performer, Danny Abraham’s life is proof that with faith and hard work, anything and everything is possible.

2023 Deep Roots Winter Series - Billy Maines @ Bar Fontaine
2023-04-03 18:30 - 20:30 | Bar Fontaine, 215 Cotton Row, Cleveland, MS, 38732, United States

2023 Deep Roots Winter Series - Mary Claire @ Backdraft
2023-04-04 18:30 - 20:30 | Backdraft, 337 Cotton Row, Cleveland, MS, 38732, United States

2023 Deep Roots Winter Series - Neshun @ Darry's Food & Drink
2023-04-06 18:30 - 20:30 | Darry’s Food & Drink, 122 East TM Jones Hwy., Boyle, MS, 38730, United States
Vocalist Neshun Holmes from McComb, Mississippi, is a graduate of the DMI Entertainment Industry Studies program at Delta State University. She performed with the DMI All-Stars in Los Angeles as part of the GRAMMY Museum’s ‘Mississippi Night’ in 2019. She recently earned a graduate degree from Delta State while performing around town and working as a local barista. Her back up musician is Clayton Moulder, guitarist and current entertainment industry studies major at Delta State.
