Here's a roundup of what's going on this weekend at the Big Muddy Blues Festival, the Japanese Festival, the Greek Festival and more.

BIG MUDDY BLUES FESTIVAL

By Kevin C. Johnson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Booker T. explores his solo side

Booker T. & the MGs' place in music history was solidified decades ago as the house band at the legendary Stax Records, home to Otis Redding, Bill Withers, Sam & Dave, Albert King and Johnnie Taylor, not to mention its own recorded hits such as "Green Onions."

But Booker T. Jones, who will headline the Big Muddy Blues Festival on Saturday night, has continued to push forward with his musicianship.

"I'm not just an R&B musician," he says.

Now, after years of patience, he has finally released a labor of love that has been in his head forever: "Potato Hole." The new album is a rare solo outing for Jones, who first released a solo album in the early '70s.

Record companies, he says, "always wanted Booker T. and the MGs rather than Booker T."

This album, released on Anti- Records, is an exploration of some of Jones' other influences, including rock 'n' roll.

"It's a rock album full of varied rock instrumentals I wrote on guitar, where I'm addressing some light subjects," says Jones, who is known for his organ and piano mastery with the MGs.

"But as a guitar player, I never get to play my rock ideas. But that's life. You have to roll with the punches and believe in yourself and do your thing."

The title track doesn't exactly demonstrate easy topics, however. Jones asy that the term "potato hole" comes from slavery days, when laborers used to hide their food in holes they had dug under their beds or elsewhere.

"Native New Yorker," another track on the album, is Jones' idea an average New York attitude.

"It's a hard-rock song about a different type of city," he says. "You have to be on cue, you have to have your instincts working. I spent a lot of time there."

"Potato Hole" features collaborations with Neil Young and Drive-By Truckers.

Young, who plays guitar throughout the album, participated with Booker T. and the MGs on a tribute to Bob Dylan in 1992, the same year Jones' group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"Since then, his sound has influenced me," Jones says of Young. "He's one of the pioneers of developing the heavy rock-guitar sound, and he was the soloist of choice for the album."

With Drive-By Truckers, the influence worked the other way around, with the young musicians growing up listening to Booker T. & the M.G.'s and Young.

"(Drive-By Truckers') Patterson Hood knew everything about me, and they're a band that archives rock history," Jones says. "They changed their style a little for me, and it was perfect for doing ‘Potato Hole.' They allowed me to tell them what to play, allowed me to run the whole show, which was generous. A lot of people can't do that."

Jones' freedom with Anti- Records is leading him to follow up "Potato Hole" with a collaboration with the Roots, a hip-hop band that he says he always wanted to work with. They've already recorded the CD, and he says the experience felt as natural as working on "Potato Hole."

Jones says he's happy to be able to express "other sides" of his music now that he's focusing on his solo work, even if he's not sure where that will take him.

"Being a creative person, ideas come into my mind, and it's unpredictable," Jones says. "I'm not able to sit down and make up a master plan. I follow that muse, and I can't tell where it will lead me."

Schedule

ANHEUSER-BUSCH MAIN STAGE

Saturday

1 p.m. • United States Navy Band

3 p.m. • Moreland and Arbuckle

5 p.m. • Nick Curran and the Low Lifes

7 p.m. • Eric "Guitar" Davis & the Troublemakers

9 p.m. • Booker T.

Sunday

1 p.m. • Paul DeMarinis Sextet

3 p.m. • Roland Johnson and the Voodoo Blues Band

5 p.m. • Kim Massie and the Solid Senders, featuring the music of Etta James and Aretha Franklin

7 p.m. • Willie "Big Eyes" Smith

9 p.m. • Magic Slim and the Teardrops

SECOND AND MORGAN STREETS

Saturday

1 p.m. • The Red-Headed Strangers

3 p.m. • Blue City All Stars

5 p.m. • Marcel Strong and the Apostles

7 p.m. • Scott Kay and the Continentals

9 p.m. • Marquise Knox

Sunday

1 p.m. • Alvin Jett and the Phat Noiz Blues Band

3 p.m. • Ground Floor Band

5 p.m. • Miss Jubilee and the Humdingers

7 p.m. • Billy Peek

9 p.m. • Soulard Blues Band

SECOND AND LUCAS STREETS

Saturday

1:30 p.m. • Bottoms Up Blues Gang

3:30 p.m. • Melissa Neels Band

5:30 p.m. • The Lucky Old Sons

7:30 p.m. • Hard Tale Blues Band

9:30 p.m. • Arthur Williams

Sunday

1:30 p.m. • Inner City Blues Band

3:30 p.m. • Soul Reunion

5:30 p.m. • Rough Grooves

7:30 p.m. • David Dee and the Hot Tracks

9:30 p.m. • Marsha Evans & the Coalition

THE BLUESWEEK AWARDS

By Kevin C. Johnson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

St. Louis' blues legends are about to get their due in their hometown.

Ten local legends will receive lifetime achievement awards at the first Blues Awards on Sunday, the final event of the new St. Louis Bluesweek that began Aug. 26 and included music, workshops and more.

"It's one of the most important components of Bluesweek," says festival organizer Mike Kociela, adding that many of those who will receive awards have never been formally honored. "This is all about our history and our heritage and how we've never really celebrated those who have influenced `music as we know it today. They deserve recognition."

Names of the recipients won't be revealed until the ceremony at the Old Rock House on Sunday. But they're certain to be recognizable local legends. Kociela revealed some details: Seven awards will be given out posthumously; a blues advocate award will go to a living person; and one of the recipients is a woman.

The St. Louis Blues Society decided on the initial 10 recipients, a group Kociela says includes "some of the very forefathers of blues in St. Louis."

The physical award, a trophy designed by Dave Weitz, is a "stunning, custom-made piece that's amazingly beautiful," Kociela says.

After this year's awards are given out, Kociela's work will continue on a recently announced St. Louis Blues Hall of Fame downtown, in the old Dillard's building. There's no target date yet on the venue's opening.

"We're going to make it easy for people to come into St. Louis and immerse themselves in our culture if they can walk out of the convention center and into the blues museum," he says. "It will be a hall of fame with sort of a museum, but I hate to say museum. That just sounds crusty. It will be more of an experience."

8:30 p.m. Sunday • Old Rock House, 1200 South Seventh Street • $5 • stlbluesweek.com

Soulard Blues Cruise

9 p.m. Friday-Saturday • Locations and lineups below • $5 per bar or $10 per night • stlbluesweek.com

• BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups, 700 South Broadway

Friday: Larry Brown, Dave Herrero Blues Band

Saturday: Marquise Knox, Arthur Williams Blues Band

• Beale on Broadway, 701 South Broadway

Friday: Ground Floor Band

Saturday: Eric "Guitar" Davis Blues Band

• Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 South Broadway

Friday: Rum Drum Ramblers

Saturday: Soulard Blues Band

• The Great Grizzly Bear, 1027 Geyer Avenue

Friday: Alvin Jett & Phat Noiz

Saturday: Rough Grooves Blues Band

• Hammerstone's, 2028 South Ninth Street

Friday: Uncle Albert

Saturday: Jeremiah Johnson Band

• The Shanti, 825 Allen Avenue

Friday: Naked Groove

Saturday: Bottoms Up Blues Gang

• Joanie's Pizzeria, 2101 Menard Street

Friday: Tom Hall

Saturday: Johnny Fox

• Johnny's, 1017 Russell Boulevard

Friday: "Bumblebee" Bob Kamoske

Saturday: James Matthews

• 1860's Saloon, 1860 South Ninth Street

Friday: The Bluestones

Saturday: Steve Pecaro Band

• Llywelyn's Pub, 1732 South Ninth Street

Friday: Big Mike Aguirre & the Blu-City All Stars

Saturday: Brown Bottle Fever

 

JAPANESE FESTIVAL

By Sarah Bryan Miller/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden is an annual highlight of the Labor Day weekend, with something for everyone:food, an elegant tea ceremony, sumo wrestlers, a kimono fashion show, puppets, bonsai, taiko drummers and more.

 

Last year, it rained all weekend. This year, the forecast is for sunny weather. Put it all together and “you really can’t go wrong,” garden spokeswoman Karen Hill says.

 

Start with Saturday morning’s opening ceremony, with its procession, performance by the popular St. Louis Osuwa Taiko drummers, dancers, ritual breaking open of the sake barrel and the first public appearance by the garden’s new president, Peter Wyse Jackson, who just started Wednesday.

Sumo wrestlers Koryu, Sunahama and Kamikiiwa, Hawaii natives with a combined 1,100 pounds of imposing human flesh, will face off twice a day at the Cohen Amphitheater. For the truly daring, a few volunteers will be able to face them in a practice bout. (Better hit the food court first.)

At 1 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Shoenberg Theater, the graceful art of traditional kimono dressing will be celebrated. It’s the personal 25th anniversary for Hatsuko Eilers, a kimono maker who has been sewing since the age of 13 and learned much of her art from her mother.

 

The Bunraku Bay Puppet Troupe returns for all three days, and it’s hard to miss the drummers. On the other hand, only a lucky few will gain a place at the 18 iterations of the tea ceremony, which takes place in the usually inaccessible island tea house. Tickets are an extra $25, sold on a strictly first-come first-served basis and sold no more than two to a customer.

“We have tens of thousands at the festival, but because of the nature of the tea house, the ceremony can only accommodate about a dozen” each time, Hill says.

The house is authentic (“It’s about the size of a backyard shed”), brought over from Japan and assembled, and then blessed by a Shinto priest. The ritual of tea, or chado, is presided over by Kimiko Gunji of the University of Illinois.

There’s a tremendous amount of family friendly activities, too, from Japanese stilt-walking to displays of martial arts. For pure all-ages popularity, there’s Masaji Terasawa, the Candyman.

The Candyman offers magic and street theater with amazing creations of spun sugar. He roams the grounds with his cart, but he’s not hard to find, Hill says.

“There’s always a crowd around him,” she says.

WHEN 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday • WHERE Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard • H0W MUCH $15 adults, $10 seniors, $5 children (ages 3 to 12), $5 members, free for members' children (ages 12 and under) • MORE INFO mobot.org or 314-577-5100

 

MORE EVENTS

The Gateway Cup

WHEN & WHERE 4 p.m. Friday at Lafayette Square, 11 a.m. Saturday at Francis Park, 12:15 p.m. Sunday on the Hill and 10 a.m. Monday in Benton Park • HOW MUCH Free • MORE INFO gatewaycup.com

We hardly knew you, Tour of Missouri, but at least cycling enthusiasts still have the Gateway Cup, four days of thrilling races featuring the region's top riders. This year marks the introduction of the Benton Park Classic Criterium and the 25th anniversary of the Hill's Giro Della Montagna, perhaps the series' most treacherous race. Each events boasts plenty of food and kids' races. BY DIANE TOROIAN KEAGGY

Greater St. Louis Art Association Art Fair

WHEN 6-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday • WHERE Queeny Park, 550 Weidman Road • HOW MUCH Free • MORE INFO gslaa.org

More than 110 local artists will showcase their paintings, jewelry and clothing at one of the region’s biggest art fairs. There will be wine tastings from 6 to 9 p.m. today and 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, as well as children’s art activities. BY DIANE TOROIAN KEAGGY

‘Sam and Laura'

WHEN 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday • WHERE Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle Avenue • HOW MUCH $25-$75 • MORE INFO 314-458-2978 or stlas.org

Mark Twain’s early romance with a girl named Laura Wright affected the great author for the rest of his life. He had recurring dreams about her, and Twain, whose real name was Samuel Clemens, believed that dreams were real. Many scholars believe she was the inspiration for Becky Thatcher and other characters in his work. The story inspired Pulitzer Prize-winner Ron Powers, the author of “Mark Twain: A Life”, to write his first play, “Sam and Laura.” The St. Louis Actors’ Studio kicks off its season with a staged reading of the play, just in time to mark the 175th anniversary of Twain’s birth, the 125th anniversary of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and the centennial of the author’s death. Powers, a former Post-Dispatch reporter, will be guest of honor at a post-show reception. BY JUDITH NEWMARK

‘A Comic Strip'

WHEN 10 p.m. Friday; doors open at 9:30 p.m. • WHERE Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Avenue • HOW MUCH $10 • MORE INFO offbroadwaystl.com

If you couldn't make it to Comic-Con, catch the next best thing featuring tights, capes and pasties. The Randy Dandies are swooping into Off Broadway with an encore of their "A Comic Strip" burlesque show. But it's not all stripteases and naughtiness: The Randy Dandies put on a true variety show that includes sketch comedy, juggling, fire, prize giveaways and more. (Their other secret weapon, boylesque, is exactly how it sounds.) BY GABE HARTWIG

All Schools Class Reunion Party

WHEN 7 p.m. Friday • WHERE The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Road • HOW MUCH $20 • MORE INFO MetroTix.com

We all know about St. Louisans' obsession with what high school people attended. Playing off that is the Second Annual All Schools Class Reunion Party at the Ambassador Friday. The roll call is at 8 p.m., so be there by then to represent for your alma mater. Performing will be old-school hip-hop/R&B acts Kool Moe Dee, Yo-Yo and Michel'le. BJ the DJ hosts, with DJ Marc Edwards aka Mr. Do-Right spinning. BY KEVIN C. JOHNSONWe all know about St. Louisans’ obsession with what high school people attended. Playing off that is the second annual All Schools Class Reunion Party at the Ambassador tonight. The roll call is at 8 p.m., so be on time to represent for your alma mater. Performing will be old-school hip-hop/R&B acts Kool Moe Dee, Yo-Yo and Michel’le. BJ the DJ hosts, with DJ Marc Edwards (aka Mr. Do-Right) spinning. BY KEVIN C. JOHNSON

Saturday

09.04

St. Nicholas Greek Festival

WHEN 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday • WHERE St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 4967 Forest Park Parkway • HOW MUCH Free • MORE INFO sngoc.org

Who can pronounce tiropites and pastitsio? Not us, but that won't stop us from overindulging at St. Nicholas' annual orgy of phyllo, lamb and feta. By Diane Toroian Keaggy

Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart

WHEN 7 p.m. Saturday • WHERE Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Avenue • HOW MUCH $12-$18 • MORE INFO 314-773-3363

Though reports circulated earlier this year that Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart would be dissolving their touring musical partnership, here they are, back together where they’ve been for years. Earle, the younger sister of country rocker Steve Earle, has been married to Stuart for 18 years and has been making music with him most of that time. Their songs sound a little more contemporary than those of her brother but otherwise share his commitment to intelligent lyrics and delightful melodies. BY STEVE PICK

Concertino Stuttgart

WHEN 3 p.m. Saturday • WHERE • Florissant Civic Center Theatre, James J. Eagan Center, Parker Road and Waterford Drive, Florissant • HOW MUCH Free, but tickets are required • MORE INFO 314-921-5678

One of the advantages of having sister cities is the cultural embassies that come through town from time to time. This weekend, that means the return of the German chamber ensemble Concertino Stuttgart (last here in 2007) in a free program of music of J.S. Bach, Handel - and arrangements of music by sometime St. Louisan Scott Joplin. The concert is sponsored by the University of Missouri-St. Louis' German Culture Center, in cooperation with St. Louis/Stuttgart Sister Cities. BY SARAH BRYAN MILLER

Sunday

09.05

Labor of Love Music Festival

WHEN 5 p.m. Sunday • WHERE Alton Amphitheater, Riverfront Drive, Alton • HOW MUCH $10 or a donation of new school supplies for KidSmart • MORE INFO riverfrontamphitheater.com

The second annual Labor of Love Music Festival unfolds this holiday weekend at Alton Amphitheater with the Original Cornell Gunther's Coasters, along with special guests Hudson & the Hoodoo Cats, Darryl Dardin and the Ralph Butler Band. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets; no large coolers or outside alcohol allowed. BY KEVIN C. JOHNSON

Monday

09.06

Labor Day Parade

WHEN 9 a.m. Monday • WHERE Tucker Boulevard between Olive and Market streets • HOW MUCH Free • MORE INFO stlouislabor.org

In this tough labor market, let's celebrate the hard work of the firefighters, electricians, truck drivers and other workers who keep America moving. By Diane Toroian Keaggy