The Mississippi Delta, a wedge-shaped region in northern Mississippi between the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, is generally believed to be where the blues originated. The area has spawned an enormous number of musicians, many of whom now have international reputations. The conditions that gave birth to the blues poverty, racism, and inhumane working situations led many musicians to leave the state as soon as they could. Most traveled North, heading first to Memphis, and then to urban centers, such as Chicago, St. Louis and Detroit. Nonetheless, the blues did not vanish from the Mississippi countryside, and even today the music can still be heard in juke joints in a number of towns.
Music is played on three festival stages, including gospel and jukehouse stages.
Among these have been W.C. Handy, Elmore James, Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, Howlin' Wolf, Son House, Otis Spann, and John Hurt. Performing artists have included B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, Bobby Rush, Albert King, John Lee Hooker, Sam Myers, Johnny Winter, the Stable Singers, the Nighthawks, Muddy Waters, Sam Chatmon, Furry Lewis and Big Joe Williams.