It’s 2025, and the echoes of the 12th annual “A Night On The River” still resonate. Held at the GRAMMY Museum® in Los Angeles, this event celebrated Mississippi’s vast influence on music. from the Mississippi Delta, Memphis, and Louisiana were showcased, reflecting the diversity of music found in these regions. This event aimed to highlight the cultural richness of Mississippi’s musical heritage, with this year’s focus extending to neighboring states. Let’s take a closer look at how “A Night On The River” unfolded, as we relive the magic of the event and the outstanding performances that marked the evening.
Celebrating A Decade of Mississippi’s Musical Influence
The state has mounted a program that highlights the diversity and depth of its music, showcasing at the GRAMMY Museum® in Los Angeles. This year, in recognition of the event’s 12-year milestone, GRAMMY Museum Mississippi (located in the Mississippi Delta city of Cleveland) is presenting an event at its sister institution in Los Angeles titled “A Night On The River.” The evening’s designation is a reflection of the fact that, for the first time, from Memphis and Louisiana are part of the festivities.
A Night on the River: A Musical Extravaganza
“A Night On The River,” sponsored by a partnership of the Mississippi Development Authority (Birthplace of America’s Music), Memphis Tourism (Home of Blues, Soul &; Rock ‘n’ Roll), and the Louisiana Office of Tourism (Feed Your Soul) is set to roll the evening of Thursday, Feb. 7, starting at 5:30 p.m. Musical performances by Randy Houser, Sean Ardoin, Cedric Burnside, Cha Wa, DOE, Hi Rhythm Section, PJ Morton and The Delta Music Institute All Stars assure a rousing and inspiring evening of entertainment. The evening is hosted by Ward Emling who served as director of the Mississippi Film Office, where he guided in-state productions for more than 200 television, feature, and documentary productions before his recent retirement. Other speakers will include Louisiana Assistant Secretary of Tourism Doug Bourgeois and Kevin Kane, who serves as president and CEO of Memphis Tourism.
Honoring the Legacy of Dr. William Ferris
In advance of these musical performances, Dr. William Ferris, the former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, audio recordist, filmmaker, folklorist and teacher, will be honored for his life’s work and the 2018 GRAMMY®-nominated (Best Historical ) Voices Of Mississippi: Artists And Musicians Documented By William Ferris. The multimedia set is a scholarly assembly of southern folklore and music released in 2024 by the archive label Dust to Digital.
