Bluegrass Kicks Off Mark Twain’s “Music Under The Stars”

Hannibal, MO — Fourteen weeks of “Music Under the Stars”   begins  at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 7, with the bluegrass music of Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle and Jerry Salley.
The free outdoor concerts sponsored by the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum will continue at 7 p.m. every Thursday until Sept. 6 in front of the author’s boyhood home.

This year’s concerts will feature three artists from the “Mark Twain: Words & Music” CD, which was released in 2011 and benefits the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum.  Carl Jackson is the executive producer of the CD, which tells Twain’s life through spoken word and song. Jackson also sings “Safe Water” on the CD.  Rhonda Vincent and The Rage perform July 5. Vincent sings the popular “Run Mississippi” on the CD. The Church Sisters perform June 21, who sing “I Wandered by a Brookside” on the CD.

“We’re thrilled to have three acts from “Mark Twain: Words & Music” this year,” said Museum Executive Director Cindy Lovell. “Rhonda’s song, ‘Run Mississippi,’ has reached number two on the bluegrass charts, and I can’t wait to hear her sing it with the river in the background.”    Lovell added that, “it’s a big year for us - the 100th anniversary of the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum - and we wanted to be sure we have a lot of memorable events.”

This is the concert schedule, including the food vendors.
• June 7 - Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle and Jerry Salley, bluegrass/country - Java Jive.
• June 14 - James Armstrong, country/pop, Ole Planters.
• June 21 - The Church Sisters, bluegrass/gospel, Juneteenth Freedom Celebration.
• June 28 - Glendale Riders, rockin’ country, Shine a Light on Autism
• July 5 - Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, bluegrass, Chocolaterie Stam.
• July 12 - KC Streetband, R&B/soul, Shine a Light on Autism.
• July 19 - Frank Trompeter Quintet, jazz, Kerley’s.
• July 26 - Lucky Old Sons, Americana/rockabilly, Dubach Inn.
• Aug. 2 - Steppin’ Back, rock’n roll, Java Jive.
• Aug. 9 - Gizzae, reggae, Kerley’s.
• Aug. 16 - Fanfare, Americana, Trinity Episcopal Church.
• Aug. 23 - Currey Korn, bluegrass, Badger Cheese Haus.
• Aug. 30 - CeeCee James, blues/rock, Ole Planters.
• Sept. 6 - King Omowale and the Majestic Lions, reggae, Clover Road Christian Church.

Drinks are provided each week by the Main Street Wine Stoppe.  Lovell also invited local residents to join Hannibal’s visitors in touring the seven museum properties, noting that “since 2009, Hannibal residents may visit all the museum properties free.   We love to see the kids come through. We want them to come in and have some civic pride in their community.” 
For more details about the concerts and additional museum events, click here.