Symphonic Meets Delta Soul: A Genre-Blending Concert Comes to Belhaven
A unique musical collaboration comes to the Belhaven University Center for the Arts on February 28 at 3:00 p.m., Blending the grandeur of a symphonic band with the gritty, authentic storytelling of the Mississippi Delta. The concert features the Mississippi Community Symphonic Band (MCSB), Mississippi Swing!, and a headlining performance by acclaimed singer-songwriter and “Southern Stalwart,” John Mohead.
This genre-crossing event offers a journey through America’s musical landscape. The evening opens with the Mississippi Community Symphonic Band, delivering a diverse program that ranges from the elegant charm of Leroy Anderson’s Belle of the Ball to the pop nostalgia of ABBA on Broadway. The symphonic portion highlights the band’s versatility with pieces like the lyrical Romanesque and Aaron Copland’s Down a Country Lane, alongside patriotic favorites like The Star-Spangled Banner and Stars and Stripes Forever.
Following the symphonic set, the energy shifts as the MCSB’s jazz ensemble, Mississippi Swing!, takes the stage for a set of high-energy standards including The Twist, Bésame Mucho, Watermelon Man, Londonderry Air (Danny Boy), and Second Line, setting the stage for the night’s headliner.
Closing the concert is John Mohead, a musician described by the Memphis Commercial Appeal as “the best, most soulful songwriter you never heard of.” Raised in a cotton field near Moon Lake in Clarksdale, Mohead is a true product of the Delta. His career has taken him from playing fish fries for Conway Twitty’s mother to sharing stages with legends like Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, and B.B. King.
Mohead’s set promises a “rich gumbo” of sound, drawing on his experiences jamming with blues greats like Frank Frost and rockabilly icons like C.W. Gatlin. Attendees can expect an authentic interpretation of the South, delivered by an artist whose music has been featured on The Young and the Restless and recognized with a Mississippi Blues Trail Marker.
“This concert is a celebration of Southern music in all its forms,” says MCSB Music Director and Conductor Dr. Paxton Girtmon. Swing! Director David Schommer agrees. “To go from the precision of a concert band to the improvisation of swing, and finally to the soulful roots of John Mohead, makes for an incredibly dynamic show.”
Event Details:
- What: Concert featuring Mississippi Community Symphonic Band. Mississippi Swing! and John Mohead
- When: February 28 at 3PM (Doors open 2:30 PM)
- Where: Belhaven University Center for the Arts, 835 Riverside Drive, Jackson, MS
- Tickets: FREE CONCERT (donations appreciated)
