The lineup of this weekend’s Pardon Johnny Cash Flower Pickin’ Festival offers everything from local bands to big-name national entertainment. The music will officially kick off Friday night at the Pi Kappa Alpha house along with the community-wide social and auction that will be taking place. The first of the bands will take the stage to kick off the main day of music for the Flower Pickin’ Festival Saturday at 11 a.m. Starting the festival will be Golden Gates followed by Starkville band Superstar Donkey Donkey and its hard-driving mix of country, rock, blues and whatever else Ming and Eugene Donkey feel like throwing into the musical mix.
At 1 p.m., Southern Illinois country singer Jordan Carter and his band The Real Deal will take the stage. Carter recently won Top Male Entertainer of the Year for 2007 at the North American Country Music Association International convention. Following Carter at 2 p.m., local band Nash Street will take the stage. Nash Street has shared the stage with Tim McGraw, Jeff Bates and Little Big Town. Nash Street blends traditional country and bluegrass with a more contemporary sound, which has carried the group to the national competition of the Colgate Country Showdown and to the stage of the infamous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville.
After Nash Street, more locals will take the stage. The Larry Wallace Band, an award-winning bluegrass band fronted by Starkville resident and banjo virtuoso Larry Wallace will play from 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. The Larry Wallace band has been featured on Mississippi Public Radio’s “Thacker Mountain Radio” and has played at bluegrass legend Bill Monroe’s Homeplace in Rosine, Ky. The Larry Wallace Band is traditional bluegrass at its best. His harmonies and masterful playing showcases one of the South’s top bluegrass bands. Following the Larry Wallace Band will be newcomers Sweetwater Jade and KingBilly.
KingBilly is a hand-selected group of musicians and vocalists picked to bring together a country music tour de force. Likened to modern country act Rascal Flatts, KingBilly is making waves in Nashville with its tight sound and powerful vocals. Hailing from Nashville, one band member and Grenada native, Charlie Worsham, is looking forward to performing at the festival.
“KingBilly feels a special connection to this festival,” Worsham said. “Our dobro player, Josh, is from Johnny Cash’s home state of Arkansas, and we are all inspired by Marty Stuart and his work with Cash. We recently visited Marty’s Sparkle and Twang exhibit and were floored by his respect for Cash and the other giants of country music,” Worsham said.
Coming up after KingBilly will be Ring Of Fire, a Johnny Cash tribute band.
At first glance, these “suburban hillbillies” seem to have more in common with Tony Soprano or Don Corleone rather than Cash. Hailing from New Jersey, Michael Patrick and Ring Of Fire are going to offer a chance for those who never had the opportunity to see the real Man in Black to get a small taste of what Cash’s music sounded like live.
“A lot of times when we play – people can’t believe we’re from New Jersey,” lead singer Michael Patrick said.
Heading to Mississippi is a new venture for Ring Of Fire, and the group is using the opportunity to be tourists on the trip down.
“We’re making a road trip of it. We’re going to stay in Nashville and Memphis. The band wants to see Sun Studios in Memphis,” Patrick said.
The band is not a cover band or Cash imitator, but rather pays tribute to the late Cash through recreating his music for new audiences.
“We aren’t trying to be Johnny Cash. We want to be representative of his sound, but we still put our own spin on things,” Patrick said.
Jimmy Tittle will follow Ring Of Fire. Tittle, who is married to one of Cash’s daughters, has performed as a bassist for country icon Merle Haggard for years in addition to his solo career. Tittle is also a songwriter for a Nashville publishing house and has a large following in Europe.
To close out the night, Philadelphia, Miss., native Marty Stuart will be the featured entertainer Saturday night. Stuart, along with his band The Fabulous Superlatives, will take the stage at 8:30 p.m.
Stuart got his start in the music business at the age of 13 playing mandolin alongside bluegrass legend Lester Flatt.
Stuart is known by many in the country music business as “Mr. Nashville” and has played with many acclaimed performers in the country and bluegrass world. Stuart is also a regular host of “The Grand Ole Opry” in addition to his touring duties.
Stuart also has another connection to the Man in Black that isn’t musical. He was once Cash’s son-in-law while married to Cash’s daughter Cindy. Stuart maintained a strong friendship with Cash until his death. Stuart now performs in the trademark black suits of Johnny Cash as an homage to his late friend.
“We’re gonna come down there and put the Johnny Cash on em’,” Stuart said.

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Philadelphia, Miss. native Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives will headline the Johnny Cash Flower Pickin' Festival.