The Bessie Smith Strut, which has been a part of the Riverbend Festival since the beginning, will take place as usual on June 8 along Martin Luther King Boulevard as it has in the past. It will remain a gated, ticketed event and will again be produced by the staff at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, as it has for the last three years with help from Friends of the Festival, which produces Riverbend.
At a news conference today at The Bessie, it was announced that the performers will be Deacon Bluz, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, Davina & The Vagabonds, Jarekus Singleton, DieDra and as-yet determined sixth artist.
Admission will be $10 for all patrons. Last year, festival attendees with a wristband got a 50 percent discount.
The Bessie Smith Cultural Center underwent some personnel changes following last year’s strut after more than $42,500 was stolen from a desk drawer after the event.
Torrey Hines, a former worker at the facility, admitted taking the money and eventually returned $39,921. Employees at center had originally reported that almost $89,000 had been taken.
Director Rose Martin left the center in October and has been replaced by Dionne Jennings in January.