Big Steam Blues & Roots Music Festival
Hill Wheatley Plaza, Hot Springs, Arkansas, September 26-27, 2025
Hot Springs hosted the 4th Annual Big Steam Blues & Roots Music Festival in downtown Hot Springs, Friday and Saturday, September 26-27, 2025. Held concurrently and in collaboration with the Spa City Food Truck Festival, Big Steam attracts blues and roots-based acts from around the country to celebrate our indigenous music. This year’s festival featured headliners Vasti Johnson and Paul Thorn, who took advantage of the only two days when Arkansas has bearable weather between June and October, played to remind us it is within community where we thrive and grow.
Of the many acts that appeared, two in particular best represented the positive manifestation of this community. Stan Street & The Hopeless Case Band comprises Clarksdale, Mississippi, blues royalty: Stan Street (owner and curator of Hambone Gallery): vocals, harmonica, tenor saxophone; Guitar Frenchie (Kevin Sciou - landlord of Guitar Frenchie’s Corner Air bnb): guitar, vocals; the mysterious BE: drums, vocals; and, the more mysterious Cricket: keyboards, vocals. All haunt the hallowed streets of Clarksdale, always meeting at Hambone Gallery, 111 E 2nd St, Clarksdale, MS.
The group played a mix of blues standards, with a high point achieved with BE singing Canned Heat’s “Goin’ Up The Country” (or Henry Thomas’ “Bull Doze Blues”). The weedy aroma of Woodstock abounded among the predominantly Baby Boom crowd surrounding the bandstand on a rare cool evening in early Arkansas fall. This is music at its most honest and genuine. There is nothing like seeing these guys on their home turf. Do yourself a favor and “…go where the water tastes like wine…” Clarksdale.
Hands down, the best performances of the festival were from the homegrown duo, guitarist and vocalist Trey (Johnson) and harmonica player Jason (Wilmon). Sons of Arkansas, Johnson emerged from Nevada County’s Prescott and Wilmon from Saline County’s Bauxite. The duo made the finals of the International Blues Competition in 2016. The two released Trey & Jason in 2019 and have toured the region together and apart.
The two play a tasty mix of originals and Americana standards with a joy and verve that is inspirational. Playing seated, Johnson pounds his left leg on the stage in frenetic time with the songs. He is an exceptional guitarist and vocalist with an electric stage presence and an easy way this the audience. Equally exceptional on his instrument, Wilmon blows an expert mouth harp. The pair’s interplay is infectious, and their collaboration is spot on. The high-point of this show what the pair’s unique presentation of Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” sung slowly and including a merry crowd of Baby Boomers. Do not miss this act.