12th Annual Southern Soul Showdown to be presented Saturday

Showdown at Sunset may have completed its summer run last week, but another showdown will take place in El Dorado for Labor Day weekend.

The 12th annual Southern Soul Showdown is set for Saturday at the Union County Fairgrounds.

Gates open at 6 p.m. The show starts at 7 p.m.

Presented by Mr. Mike’s Productions, the Showdown will feature some of the biggest names in contemporary blues and southern soul music.

Headliners are LJ Echols, TK Soul and Avail Hollywood.

Featured performers include Summer Wolfe, Da Unit Band and Kiko.

Blues Boy Bo will host the show, and DJ Big Daddy will man the turntables for the night.

At the center of Showdown is a good-natured competition between the headliners, with the audience selecting the winner at the end of the night.

TK Soul was tapped as the audience favorite in 2016. He will return this year to defend his crown against LJ Echols and Avail Hollywood, the 2014 Showdown champ.

All three artists are familiar faces in El Dorado and local audience favorites, having headlined either Showdown and Soul Fest — both annual outdoor concerts that are hosted by Mr. Mike’s Productions — at various points over the years.

Soul Fest, which was launched in 2002, is typically held in late spring or early summer. The 2017 event was held in June at the fairgrounds.

Both events consistently draw crowds of 1,500 to 2,000, many of whom come from out town.

The shows offer a laid-back, down-home atmosphere in which attendees bring their lawn chairs and coolers to listen to a mix of blues, southern soul and R&B and to patronize a variety of onsite food, photo and merchandise vendors.

The Showdown comes in late summer or early fall each year.

Promoter Michael Jackson, or Mr. Mike, said advance ticket sales for Saturday’s show “have been rolling” swiftly.

While ticket-buyers are looking to have a good time, Jackson said events in southeast Texas are hanging heavily on the minds of some.

With severe flooding and thousands of people displaced from their homes, the effects of Hurricane Harvey have reached far beyond Texas borders.

Nearly one-fourth of the nation’s oil refining capacity has been forced to shutter, causing gasoline prices to rise around the country.

Jackson said some Showdown ticket-buyers from Texarkana have also expressed concern about a gasoline supply crunch.

“They still plan on coming, but they don’t know if they’ll be able to get gas to get out or get gas to get back,” he said.

“Everybody’s praying for the people in Houston, and we all want to do what we can to help,” Jackson added.

Tickets for the Showdown are $25 in advance and $30 at the gate. Pre-sales will still be available prior to the show on Saturday.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at Mr. Mike’s Music and Artwork in El Dorado; Special Touch in Camden; JBS in Crossett; C&F Liquor in Bearden; Golden Girls in Warren; Record Rack in Pine Bluff; and Ugly Mike’s in Little Rock.

In Louisiana, tickets are available at Martha’s Boutique in Ruston; Kwick Kar Wash in Minden; and King of Wings in Monroe.

Brothers Making Changes Proceeds from Showdown will go toward Brothers Making Changes, a nonprofit organization that was established by Jackson to mentor local boys and young men.

Beginning Sept. 11, meetings for Brothers Making Changes will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. every other Monday in the conference area of the Brick House, 1814 Junction City Road.

“This for anyone who feels lost and needs some direction. If they’re looking for guidance, if they’re looking for jobs, I’ll be there and we’ll have other people to assist them, help them out and get them in the right direction,” Jackson said.

On Sept. 10, Brothers Making Changes will also team up with Stop the Violence/Celebration of Lost Loved Ones to host a rally at Mattocks Park.

The event will begin at 3:30 p.m.

The public is encouraged to attend and wear T-shirts displaying images of lost loved ones.

“We’ll have a balloon release for them, whether they’ve lost anyone to violence, illness or other causes,” Jackson said. “We’ll also have a few guest speakers.”

The event will include free food, bounce houses and a DJ.

For more information on Showdown or Brothers Making Changes, call (870) 866-7441 or 870-864-0350.