Kenny Brown performs the country-style blues song “Shake ‘Em On Down” at the 2011 North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, an annual music festival which he and his wife Sara organize on behalf of a non-profit organization established to promote the unique music of the north Mississippi hill country.
The hill country was home to the late fife and drum master Otha Turner as well as late blues legends Mississippi Fred McDowell, Rev. Roy Wilkins, Joe Callicott, Ranie Burnette, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Junior Kimbrough, and R. L. Burnside. Their music is particularly known for its repetitive, hypnotic character.
Brown has been an integral part of the hill country blues scene for all of his life having learned to play guitar as a child from Joe Callicott and playing guitar alongside Junior Kimbrough and R. L. Burnside on their recordings for the Fat Possum record label and live performances around the world.
This song was recorded several times by Mississippi Fred McDowell and was the inspiration for “Hats Off to Roy Harper” recorded by Led Zeppelin on their album Led Zeppelin III. It was a staple of R. L. Burnside’s shows with Brown playing guitar accompaniment but here Brown presents his own unique spin on the song.
The North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic is a two-day outdoor festival which takes place each year on the last weekend of June.
For more info:
http://nmshillcountrypicnic.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Brown_%28guitarist%29
Shaky camera by Max Shores (http://maxshores.com) and sound recording by vanark.