Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and multiple Grammy winner James Burton will make a special appearance at the Natchitoches Jazz/R&B Festival this weekend to present free guitars to the Natchitoches chapter of the Boys & Girls Club of El Camino Real. He’ll also perform.
Burton learned to play the guitar and to love music at age 13, and got his start as a teenager playing on the Louisiana Hayride. Throughout his career he was worked with legends such John Denver, Frank Sinatra, Keith Richards, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Elvis Costello, and Brad Paisley, to name but a few, but he is most known for his role as lead guitarist for Elvis Presley.
Burton will perform live Saturday as part of the Natchitoches Jazz/R&B Festival line-up with long-time friends Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs.
The two-day Festival begins on Friday evening with entertainment by “The World’s Greatest 80’s Glam Rock Tribute Band,” Butt Roxx. Friday admission is free.
Other performers for Saturday will include Josh Hyde, The Matthew Davidson Band, Hardrick Rivers & Rivers Revue, Doc Couty, Becky Birdwell, Dey & Nite and much more. Admission is $10 at the gate, and advance discounts are available.
In conjunction with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band, there will be a grand fireworks show over Cane River Lake on Saturday.
For more information about the Jazz/R&B Festival, call the Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 259-1714 or the office of C. Rodney Harrington at (318) 352-5900, or visit the Festival website at www.natchjazzfest.com.