Ponderosa Stomp No 5 Memphis 9 & 10 May 2006

The Ponderosa Stomp has been on my musical calendar for the last 2 years and tickets for this year's Stomp have just gone on sale and can be obtained from the Mystic Knights Of Mau Mau.

This is the 5th Stomp and it is a fabulous annual event which is usually held every year in New Orleans over 2 nights featuring Rock-a-Billy, Blues, Soul, Swamp Blues, Swamp Pop and New Orleans R&B. In the past, the Stomp has been held in April between the Jazz Fest weekends at the New Orleans' Rock'N'Bowl Mid-City Lanes.

This year the Stomp will be a benefit for New Orleans musicians taking place at the Gibson Factory in Memphis on 9th and 10th May because of the damage caused by hurricane Katrina. The proceeds of the Stomp will be split between the New Orleans Musicians Clinic and a special fund administered by the Mystic Knights of the Mau Mau.

The Ponderosa Stomp is programmed in the tradition of old rock ‘n’ roll and soul revues. Stellar artists, backed by crack bands - usually made up of musical peers or original sidemen - get right down to the key material that made them so legendary in the first place. The sets are short and to the point- there are no warm up tunes or lame covers. The timing is fast paced – artists may play a 30 or 45 minute set and after a 5 minute break the next act is on stage tearing it up.

The following performers are slated to play: Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Joe Clay, Jay Chevalier, Rebirth Brass Band, Willie Tee, Eddie Bo, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, Rockie Charles, Tammy Lynn, Alvis Wayne, Warren Storm, Lazy Lester, The Bad Roads, Barbara Lynn, Roy Head, Lil Buck Sinegal, Archie Bell, Scotty Moore, DJ Fontana, Sonny Burgess, Hayden Thompson, Ace Cannon, Hi Rhythm Section, Travis Wammack, Willie Cobbs, Kenny Brown, The Bo Keys, The Nightcaps, Kenny & the Kasuals, ? & the Mysterians, Lady Bo, Billy Boy Arnold, Jody Williams, Deke Dickerson & the Eccofonics, Johnny Jones, Chick Willis, Little Freddie King, Clifton James, James Blood Ulmer, Betty Harris, Dale Hawkins, Dennis Coffey, Wiliiam Bell, Fillmore Slim, The Tennessee Three featuting W.S. Holland and Bob Wootten, Wiley and the Checkmates, Syl Johnson, Herb Remington, The Fabulous Wailers, Bobby Patterson, The Climates, Carl Mann, Rayburn Anthony, Big George Brock, and Henry Gray.

This year should be special because of the meeting of New Orleans and Memphis musicians set against the tragedy of Katrina and the continued hardship faced by musicians who have lost their homes.