Along with smoke, there's music in air

Ralph Stanley

Ralph Stanley

Ralph Stanley

Ralph Stanley

Bobby 'Blue' Bland

Bobby "Blue" Bland

Even if you're not tempted by the sweet, delicious aroma of slow-roasted pork, you could still head down to the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest this weekend to hear two of the leading lights of American music.

At 7:30 Friday night, bluegrass pioneer Ralph Stanley and his Clinch Mountain Boys take the Sharp Main Stage to deliver material from his 60-year career, including songs from the career-resurging "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack.

Closing out the night's entertainment at 9:15 is Simplified, a Charlotte, N.C.-based jam band whose sound incorporates elements of reggae and acoustic music.

Then at 8 p.m. Saturday, its Memphis' own Bobby "Blue" Bland. B.B. King's onetime chauffeur, Bland emerged from his friend's shadow in the late 1950s to become a star in his own right, his performances on songs like "Farther Up the Road" and "I Pity the Fool," earning him the title "the Sinatra of the Blues."

© 2009 Go Memphis. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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