It’s a big weekend coming up in Marshall, Texas, also known as the birthplace of “Boogie-woogie.” It’s a musical genre popularized in the late 1920s Jazz scene, as an upbeat form of the blues, perfect as dance music with its frenetic and driving rhythm, most commonly associated with the piano. Its roots can be traced back to the Marshall area in the late 19th century. Historians have described Boogie-woogie [originally known as ‘Fast Western’ or ‘Fast Texas’] as “a musical style popular amongst the African-American communities and associated with house parties and drinking establishments.”
The 2nd annual Boogie Woogie Music Festival kicks off Friday, September 27, for three days of music. It’s a genre that would influence so many other forms of music to come, including rock and roll, rockabilly and rhythm and blues. “We try to take that music history and show with very lively performances how Boogie-woogie influenced so much of the music today,” said Alan Loudermilk, a Marshall businessman and owner of the historic Ginocchio restaurant.
Loudermilk is the founder of Boogie Woogie Marshall, an organization launched officially as Boogie Woogie Corp. as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, which also includes a museum. Loudermilk says last year’s inaugural Boogie Woogie outdoor music festival attracted about 1,300 people. And with the same attendance expected this year, Loudermilk says it will be a great way to support Boogie Woogie Marshall with revenue generated from ticket sales.
The gates open at 5:00 p.m. on Friday at the historic Coca Cola bottling factory at 511 north Washington avenue in the heart of Marshall, Texas. Parking is at 303 W. Grand Blvd., Craig Furniture Store.
