HELENA-WEST HELENA — A rowdy crowd congregated at the corner of Main and Elm streets Saturday afternoon, away from the main stages, to hear a deep-throated blues song.
The music wasn't emanating from a headliner of the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival. It was 16-year-old Marquise Knox of St. Louis, sitting in with The Hiser Brothers, teens from Missouri.
"We're like a casino," Knox said of the spontaneous set as people deposited tips in a plastic trash can. "The more you pay, the more we play."
The blues filled every side street in Helena's old downtown Saturday as musicians entertained thousands at the 22nd annual festival.
For more information see today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Subscribers can read the story here on ArkansasOnline.