Legends to play at Depot Days

By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

LITTLE ROCK — The 11th annual Depot Days Festival in Newport this weekend will feature homegrown rockabilly legends Billy Lee Riley and Sonny Burgess, along with children's activities and vendors.

Admission is free and lawn chairs are recommended. Call (870) 523-7428.

The festival will be on Front Street in downtown Newport on Saturday and the lineup of music will be:

2-2:45 p.m. The Dunham Family (country gospel)

3-3:45 p.m. J.R. Rogers and the All Stars (country rock)

4-5:15 p.m. Blues Deville ("gut bucket" electric blues)

5:30-6:30 p.m. Billy Lee Riley and band featuring J.M. Van Eaton on drums (rock 'n' roll)

6:45-7:45 p.m. Ace Cannon (saxophone virtuoso and Sun Records session player)

8-8:30 p.m. Sonny Burgess and The Pacers (rock 'n' roll)

8:30-9:30 p.m. Charlie Rich Jr. with Sonny Burgess and The Pacers

9:30 p.m. Fireworks

This year's festival is dedicated to the late Bob King, who owned The King of Clubs, the oldest roadhouse in Jackson County and a place where Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Rich and Burgess and his band played in the 1950s and '60s.

Weekend, Pages 64 on 09/26/2008