The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast will host the Southern Miss Jazz and Blues Festival Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on the front lawn of the university’s Gulf Park campus in Long Beach. The musical acts to perform at the festival are the Sauce Boss, the Steve Warren Band and the Jerry Ball Jazz and Blues Quintet.

The festival is sponsored by the Southern Miss Gulf Coast Student Government Association and will be free and open to the public. The majority of contributions received will be donated to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Youth Development Coalition. The remaining proceeds will used to further develop the Gulf Coast Student Government Association.

The Sauce Boss is popular with blues audiences for performing with a unique Floridian style. While Bill Wharton and the Ingredients are busy making music, Wharton is cooking his famous gumbo on stage. Typically following his performances, the Sauce Boss shares his gumbo with his audience. The Sauce Boss received his name for his great music and spicy cooking.

The Steve Warren Band regularly performs anywhere from New Orleans to Florida. The band performs a funky blues-rock style of music. Lead performer Warren has been playing the guitar since he was nine years old. With his band, Warren “has clearly developed his own blend of down home music and an exciting style of the blues.”

For those who appreciate jazz and blues improvisation, the Jerry Ball Jazz and Blues Quintet captures this unique musical expression. Ball, a professional musician for over 35 years, plays the saxophone while leading the band. The soulful sounds produced by these musicians will get any festival audience in the mood for jazz and blues.

The Shed BBQ and Port City Café are among a variety of food and drink vendors to take part at the festival. Arts and crafts vendors, along with an assortment of entertainment and prize-winning games for children, will be set up throughout the festival grounds.

The Southern Miss Jazz and Blues Festival, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on the Southern Miss Gulf Park campus at 730 East Beach Boulevard in Long Beach. For more information on the festival, please visit www.usm.edu/gc/jazz-n-blues/.

About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to transform lives and communities. In a tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world. Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further information is found at www.usm.edu/gulfcoast .