Down on Main

The Celebrate Tupelo 2025 Down on Main Concert is set for Friday, September 26, marking the anniversary of Elvis' 1956 homecoming concert in Tupelo. Held in Downtown Tupelo’s Fairpark, this free outdoor concert includes an incredible lineup of Mississippi musicians, with John Clayton White kicking things off at 7:00 p.m., Cedric Burnside taking the stage at 8:15 p.m., and the legendary Paul Thorn closing out the night at 9:15 p.m. Enjoy mouthwatering food trucks and cold drinks from the beer tents while relaxing on your blankets and lawn chairs—just remember, no coolers allowed. It’s a night of music, community, and celebration you won’t want to miss. Catch the Spirit!

John Clayton White may be just 14 years old, but this blues guitar prodigy is already making a name for himself across the Deep South. From his early start with the Mississippi School of Music in Tremont to forming John Clayton White & The 662 Band, he’s shared stages with legends including Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and members of the B.B. King Band. In 2024, he and his band won the Mississippi Delta Blues Society’s regional International Blues Challenge and went on to perform at the world stage in Memphis. He’s also played aboard the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise and opened for blues icon John Primer at Ground Zero’s anniversary celebration—earning praise from co-owner Morgan Freeman himself. With talent far beyond his years, John Clayton White is carrying Mississippi blues into the future.

Cedric Burnside is a Grammy-winning bluesman carrying forward the powerful legacy of his grandfather, R.L. Burnside, and the North Mississippi Hill Country Blues tradition. Growing up in Holly Springs, he hit the road at just 13 and has since become one of the genre’s most influential voices, blending raw blues with touches of rock, R&B, and hip-hop. His 2021 album I Be Trying earned him a Grammy, and his latest release, Hill Country Love, recorded in Ripley, Mississippi, shows his honesty and soul at their finest. Honored with the National Heritage Fellowship and the Mississippi Governor’s Arts Award, Burnside has shared stages with legends from Jimmy Buffett to Widespread Panic. Whether he’s channeling the energy of a juke joint or the soul of the Delta, Cedric Burnside’s music is pure Mississippi spirit.

Paul Thorn is a singer-songwriter from Tupelo, Mississippi, whose music blends gospel, blues, country, and rock into stories that are equal parts heartfelt and humorous. A former professional boxer turned troubadour, Thorn has spent three decades captivating audiences with his soulful voice and sharp storytelling. His latest album, Life is Just a Vapor, carries on his tradition of delivering songs filled with wit, wisdom, and spirit—echoing the influence of his late friend and mentor, John Prine. With more than a dozen acclaimed albums and a reputation for unforgettable live shows, Paul Thorn has become one of Mississippi’s most beloved and distinctive musical voices.