Chicken Raid 2008
Northside Tavern 1058 Howell Mill Rd. Atlanta GA 404-874-8745
Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23, 2008
3 PM – 2 AM both days
$15 each day
The Chicken Raid is an annual benefit honoring the late Atlanta country blues legend Mr. Frank Edwards (1909-2002).
This all-day music festival features a range of local and regional talents; headliners for this year's festival are "Gypsy of the Blues" Eddie Kirkland, Macon GA R&B performer Robert Lee Coleman, blues and soul musician Roy Lee Johnson, and gospel singer Essie Mae Brooks.
Proceeds from this event will be shared between the Edwards' estate and Atlanta trombonist and B.B. King alumnus Lil Joe Burton to offset recent medical expenses. Additional performers inlcude Chicago Joe Jones, Fat City Wildcats, Tony Bryant, Heaven Davis, Lola, Ross Pead, Sammy Blue, Bill Sheffield, Julea Thomerson, Blonju, Chickens and Pigs, Joe McGuiness, John Paskoff, Jon Liebman, Sean Costello, Little Brother, Skye Paige, Smokestack and the Foothill Fury, The Radio Ramblers, Johnny McGowan, Swami Gone Bananas, Atomic Boogie, Nate Nelson, Ocha La Rocha and Mudcat.
A community website has been designed for this event, featuring footage of Mr. Edwards' performing his classic tune 'Chicken Raid.' Please visit
Barbecue will be available for purchase.
Frank Edwards left home at 14 and played guitar and harmonica alongside Tampa Red. As World War II approached, Edwards joined seminal Mississippi bluesman Tommy McClennan and headed North, recording eight sides for OKeh in 1941 with Washboard Sam. After being discharged from the Army he cut two songs for Regal in 1949. He continued playing on street corners, juke joints and restaurants before hitting the festival circuit during the folk revival. Thanks to Pete Lowry, Edwards released his first full album "Done Some Travelin'" in 1972 through Trix. When not onstage, the iconic "Mr. Frank" was a familiar face at the clubs, supporting other blues musicians in Atlanta. He quietly passed away on his return home from a recording session in North Carolina for the Music Maker label.
Eddie Kirkland
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