"Juke Joint Men" Book Signing
Join J.K. Lawson and Kathe Hambrick from 4 pm to 7 pm for a brief presentation moderated by Angelique Bergeron followed by a book signing of their publication Juke Joint Men.
Juke joints have a history that is deeply rooted in small towns throughout the south. West Baton Rouge was famous for the juke joints that provided relief to the workers coming in from the sugarcane fields and long hard days of work on the Mississippi River. Port Allen and the surrounding communities of Chamberlin, Sunrise, Erwinville, Lobdell, and Brusly were regular stops for weekend travelers looking for a good time and place to dance. The nighttime establishments in West Baton Rouge Parish had no curfew and you could hear live music playing all night through the open windows across the canebrake.
Fourteen blues musicians are featured in the new book called Juke Joint Men which was published by the West Baton Rouge Museum. The coffee-table style book includes historical biographies written by Kathe Hambrick the Director of Interpretation at the museum with colorful collages and poetry by the British artist J.K. Lawson.