The Oxford Square Alliance and Visit Oxford have joined together to produce another opportunity to hear great Mississippi music at Music on the Courthouse Lawn today.
“We’re backing the event because we love the atmosphere of a football Friday,” said Mark Huelse, co-owner of Something Southern and president of the Oxford Square Alliance. “The Oxford Square Alliance and Visit Oxford are jointly sponsoring this event to enhance that feeling of a football weekend on the Square.”
This weekend Ole Miss fans will flood Oxford to support the Rebels against the Presbyterian Blue Hose at 11 a.m. After the game, the Square is usually stomping ground for post-game fans.
The last concert in this year’s series of Music on the Courthouse Lawn will showcase the Jazz Tones, featuring well-known blues artist Effie Burt.
Effie Burt is no stranger to Oxford; Burt performed at the first Annual Oxford Blues Festival in 2010 and has returned to perform at the festival over the years.
Burt has also performed at familiar Oxford venues such as The Blind Pig Pub, City Grocery and Rooster’s Blues House – all located on the Square.
An Oxford native, Burt was discovered through a chance night of karaoke, according to her website, the domain of which is a nod to Burt’s telling nickname, Jazzy Diva.
Burt grew up performing with her 13 siblings before becoming an artist of international renown. The Mississippian has now performed with the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony orchestra and headlined at the International Jazz Festival in Jamaica.
Burt has also performed at events for several political events and big names, including former President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama.
A musical jack-of-all-trades, Burt has been performing and composing for decades. Her band, Effie and Friends, can often be found playing local venues throughout Mississippi and Tennessee, though Burt has performed across the United States.
“It’s wonderful to come and hear live music from the courthouse lawn; a unique experience, especially for people who haven’t come out before,” said Will Hunt, lead marketing for the Oxford Square Alliance. “For the last two years, the Oxford Square Alliance has been trying to promote live music through events like this.”
The Oxford Square Alliance works to provide fun and meaningful experiences on the Square. Upcoming events include a Holiday Open House.
“Our Holiday Open House is going to be Friday after Thanksgiving and before the Egg Bowl,” said Hunt. “There are going to be a lot of wonderful things to do around the Square. Make sure and mark it on your calendar for Christmas tree lighting, movie on the courthouse lawn and kids activities.”
The Oxford Square Alliance and Visit Oxford hope to use Music on the Courthouse Lawn to fire up the Ole Miss family through the much-loved pastime of listening to good music on the Square.
“We did it last year as well for Fridays before home football games to provide an even greater environment around the Square, while a lot of visitors and locals were out and about, to add on to our unique environment,” Hunt said.
Music on the Courthouse Lawn will take place this from 5-7 tonight on the Lafayette County Courthouse grounds. It is free and open to the public.
