It's time for another Mississippi Meanderings, the annual celebration of paddling and big rivers sponsored by the Mississippi River Water Trail Association. This year's event is all about music and the Mississippi River.
MRWTA Board member Dean Klinkenberg will kick off the event with an overview of the history of music in the Mississippi Valley. Next, Kevin Belford, author of Devil at the Confluence, will describe the vibrant pre-war blues scene in St. Louis, music that wasn't transplanted here from somewhere else but developed from the ground up. Trapper Haskins--talented writer, musician, and carpenter--will then tell the story of his source-to- sea trip in a homemade rowboat, one that took 16 years to finish. Haskins will wrap up Meanderings with a set of songs, mostly original, including a couple inspired by his time on the Mississippi.
So shake off those winter doldrums and join paddlers and other river people at the National Great Rivers Museum near Alton, Illinois on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Check-in starts at noon. Reserve your tickets early, though, as auditorium seating is limited to 90.
2025 SCHEDULE
12:00-1:00 Come early to meet and greet. Enjoy some coffee and snacks. 1:00-1:15 Awards and announcements 1:15-1:30 Dean Klinkenberg presents "The Music of the Mississippi Valley: A Brief History" 1:30-2:30 Kevin Belford presents "Devil at the Confluence: The Pre-War Blues of St. Louis" 2:30-2:45 Break 2:45-3:45 Trapper Haskins presents "Crooked Old River: Rowing Toward Redemption on the Mississippi" 3:45-4:00 Break 4:00-4:30 Trapper Haskins will play a set of acoustic music 5:30 Optional dinner at Old Bakery Brewery
Location
National Great Rivers Museum (View)
1 Locks and Dam Way
Alton, IL 62002
United States