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International blues musicians play Royal Square for free

International blues musicians have travelled from Memphis to Jersey for a free festival.

The Jersey International Music Festival in the Royal Square is inviting optional donations to Jersey Action Against Rape.

As well as blues music, there will be food and drink concession stands. 

Giles Robson is an organiser and musician himself:

"I was playing with a lot of these guys last week in Memphis, Mississippi. 

"We have Johnny Rawls, for example, and I was jamming with him in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on Saturday night, Vanessa Davis, who I'll be playing with at Ronnie Scott's in London next week. 

"These artists have won blues music awards, the highest honour in the blues. 

"It's great to see these guys here. 

"Clarksdale was the main town among the cotton plantations, and the blues began on the plantations; they call Clarksdale the ground zero of the blues.

"Mississippi is the heart of it, and we have Johnny Rawls, who is Mississippi-born and bred. 

"I once did a show, and the youngest person was 19, and the oldest was 84

"It's magical music. Everyone understands it - it's very inclusive, not snobby, not elitist. It's music for the people, and that's why we've done this format. 

The Jersey International Blues Festival is on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 May, 6 pm - 11 pm. 

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