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The countdown is on to the 39th Annual SWEPCO Mudbug Madness Festival Memorial Day weekend in downtown Shreveport, LA and this year they're taking us back in time!

Do you remember a few months ago when one of the buildings in downtown Shreveport at the foot of the Texas Street bridge just down from The Blind Tiger caught on fire? The building that burned used to be a club in the '80s called Humphrey's in the Square and ever since, a lot of people who spent time there have been getting nostalgic. One of the best things about Humphrey's was the live music from area bands like The Boomers and The Crawdads! It's been years, but both of those bands still have a following and that's why, on Thursday, May 25, 2023, Mudbug Madness is kicking off its festival with a special throwback night from 5 - 10 pm featuring BOTH!!! And, to top it all off, Mudbug Madness Rewind will feature Shantytown Underground. Conceived and assembled by Papa Mali, the band boasts members of some of New Orlean’s best-loved bands, including the Iguanas, 007, The Roadmasters, Klezmer Allstars, and the Special Men. Shantytown Underground is known for playing New Orleans Soul and R&B from the fifties and sixties and Jamaican ska, rocksteady, and reggae, from the early sixties and seventies.

They're calling this new feature 'Mudbug Madness - Rewind' and organizer Terri Matthews says, "We are beyond excited to present Mudbug Madness Rewind this year. It is something we have discussed before, but since the demolition of Humphrey’s in the old Shreve Square, we have had a lot of people ask for reunions of some of the old favorites who played during that time. The groups we reached out to are eager and excited to be a part of this special night. Some band members are coming from as far away as California and New York to be a part of the reunions."

I don't know about you, but I'm excited. Thursday admission to Mudbug Madness will be $10 and well worth the cost. Of course, you'll get to enjoy all of the great food, fun, and libations you've come to expect from Mudbug as well. This year's festival will run from Thursday, May 25 through Sunday, May 28. While the festival will be open 5 - 10 pm on Thursday, it'll be open from 11 am - 11 pm Friday through Sunday. Admission is free on Friday until 5 pm, then $10 for the remainder of the event. Get a four day pass for just $15. Children under five years of age and military with ID are free.

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