Soul Fest coming ‘full circle’ for 20th anniversary

Eleven artists to be featured at annual concert

The 20th anniversary of Soul Fest is set for May 1 at the Union County Fairgrounds and fans have until Monday to purchase early-bird tickets for $25.

Michael Jackson, of Mr. Mike’s Productions, who is presenting Soul Fest, previously said that he wanted to plan something special to celebrate two decades of bringing the biggest artists in blues, southern soul and R&B music to stages in El Dorado and creating one of the most highly anticipated annual events in the region.

Planning began last year for Soul Fest 2021 and what has resulted is a star-studded lineup filled with names that are familiar to die-hard fans of the genres, including one name that helped to launch Soul Fest as the event’s first headliner in 2002.

Sir Charles Jones leads a roster of featured performers that is jam-packed with other blues, southern and R&B heavyweights, including Jeter Jones, Fat Daddy, King South, Rhomey, Ghetto Cowboy, LJ Echols, Luster Baker, Crystal Thomas, Summer Wolfe and El Dorado’s own Benito Glosson, who is known as the Teddy Bear of Southern Soul.

The show will be hosted by P2K and DJ Banks. DJs Big Daddy and Godfather will also be on hand to entertain the crowd.

In booking the musical lineup, Jackson said he immediately reached out to Sir Charles Jones, whose appearance at the 20th anniversary of the Soul Fest will represent a full-circle moment.

The legendary blues and R&B singer performed at the first Soul Fest two years after the release of his self-titled debut album.

His second album, “Love Machine”, peaked at the No. 28 spot on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts in June 2002, the same month the first Soul Fest was held.

Sir Charles Jones is perhaps known for the classic, forlorn ballad, “Is There Anybody Lonely?”, which is still a staple on many “urban” radio stations.

The talent lineup for Soul Fest is the largest that Jackson has ever put together for any of Mr. Mike’s Productions, which includes the annual Southern Soul Showdown, which is

held each fall, and other, intermittent outdoor and indoor shows that are scheduled throughout the year.

And with a bigger lineup comes an earlier showtime.

Gates will open at 3 p.m. for Soul Fest 2021. The show will start at 5 p.m. and roll through midnight, Jackson said.

Soul Fest is typically held between late May and mid-June, but this year, Jackson scheduled the show earlier in the spring.

“I moved it back to May to accommodate all the people who want to come out earlier so it’ll be a little cooler and it won’t be as hot. And it’s a bigger event so I wanted people to have more time and enjoy themselves,” he explained.

Promotions for the milestone anniversary also began earlier. Jackson said he anticipates a larger crowd for Soul Fest, which averages about 2,000 people each year.

Tickets went on sale last month and so far, Jackson said he has fielded inquiries and ticket sales from Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Missouri and Nevada.

“It’s been rolling. Ticket sales have been rolling.

People are already booking (hotel) rooms and everything. People have been calling from everywhere — Las Vegas, St. Louis and there have been been a lot of people out of Texas, Dallas and Houston,” he said.

Food and photography vendors will also be on-site. Jackson said vendors from as far away as New Orleans have reached out to him about setting up shop for the day.

Early-bird tickets are $25 until Monday and they will go up to $30 on Tuesday.

The price for advance tickets will then increase to $35 in the days leading up to the show. Tickets will be $40 at the gate.

A limited amount of VIP tickets are available for $75. People are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and coolers. A $5 fee will be charged for each lawn chair and cooler that is admitted into the fairgrounds.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call Jackson at 870-866-7441.

Tickets are also available at Mr. Mike’s Music and Artwork in El Dorado; Special Touch in Camden; JB’s in Crossett; Golden Girls in Warren; Record Rack in Pine Bluff; Golden Lady in Texarkana; LBK’s in Farmerville, Louisiana; and King of Wings in Grambling, Louisiana.