By Josh Troy
Clarksdale Advocate
Delta String Band members had been coming to Clarksdale for years but never to perform as a group. That all changed on Friday night. The Delta String Band, out of Greenville, performed at the Delta Blues Museum Stage in Clarksdale on Friday night. It was part of the Crossroads Economic Partnership’s Fridays at the Stage event, where a band performs at the Delta Blues Museum Stage every Friday during the month of May.
Double bass player Cody Ruth said that while the Delta String Band was sound checking on Friday, people from France were coming up and taking pictures. “You never know who’s going to see you or hear you, and it’s kind of a surprise,” Ruth said.
Charles Sullivan played the guitar, Will Coppage played the banjo, David Morgan played the mandolin, and Michael Slalton played the guitar. Ruth said he had played individually in Clarksdale prior to Friday night. “I’ve personally played in Clarksdale,” he said. “I’ve played at Red’s (Blues Club). I’ve played at Levon’s.”
Other band members have been to Clarksdale frequently. “We come to the festivals a lot,” Ruth said. “All of us are from Greenville, so we were growing up, driving in, and coming to the festivals.”
Delta String Band members hope to play in Clarksdale many more times and enjoyed being part of Fridays at the Stage. “I always like playing outdoors better,” Ruth said. “I don’t know what it is. It feels a little more freeing, I guess, being outside and playing.”
The Delta String Band will be playing in Cleveland on June 30 and in Hattiesburg in August. More information on the Delta String Band can be found at https://www.williamluskcoppage.com/deltastringband?fbclid=IwAR2S0bBajskZdD5SzIY3Feb4BTNetPnXzV5ahkz4MRxAY5r6tisgIAQ0abQ and https://www.facebook.com/deltastringband/.
The Rustenhaven Band will be playing at the Delta Blues Museum Stage this coming Friday. David Dunavent will be playing on May 26. Both performances will be from 7 to 10 p.m.
