MA Fest Honors Rainey, All Mamas Who Create

The Columbus Music & Entertainment Council will host MA Fest: Black Bottom Experience Saturday, May 10 to Sunday- May 11, 2025.

The event is not simply a tribute to “Mother of the Blues” Ma Rainey whose career spanned from 1899 to 1939, it is a celebration of the rhythm and blues genre that she introduced to Columbus, and to all “Mama's, Women in Music, Mama's Who Create, Women in the Arts and Women Creatives” according to its website, www.mafest.net.

“MA stands for music and arts,” said Music & Entertainment Council member and festival organizer Z. Lawrence, who said this was a perfect opportunity to use the play on words to promote the music festival while also honoring Ma Rainey.

Lawrence, who co-founded the festival with Leon Timbo and Tacara Hemingway, said this event is the culmination of years of conversations and hard work which began 20 years ago with Madilyn Davis, who originally tried to bring the festival to Uptown Columbus.

“We have been talking about this for four years and began planning for this event a year ago,” Lawrence said. “This is an opportunity to define Columbus as a music venue.”

The festival is billed as “the dawn of a new arts and cultural institution in Columbus.”

“Z has been wanting to do this for a couple of years now,” said Music & Entertainment Council Member Oz Roberts. “She is the perfect person to take the lead on this. She is a member of the Recording Academy and has a broad reach in the music world.”

This shows by the diverse line-up which includes local, regional and national recording artists, such as: Avery Sunshine, Jessica Betts, Gene Noble’s, Gene Moore, Leon Timbo, Anne Cline, Lou Ridley, Dallas Dimsdale, Lloyd Buchanan, Skylar Saufley, Dianne Durrette, Neil Lucas, Diamond Pynk, Peggy Jenkins, LadyCoKo706, Loverboy Lew, and Gumptown Brass.

Additionally, the event is part of the centennial celebration of the Historic Liberty Theatre and will take place on its grounds, located at 813 Eighth Avel, Columbus, Ga., 31901.

“We partnered with the Liberty and the City of Columbus as part of the 100 Year Anniversary,” said Lawrence, who also is a board member of the Historic Liberty Theatre. “We wanted the festival to bring more light to the Liberty Theater and that area. That’s where Ma Rainey preformed, and we wanted to bring music back to that area.”

The festival features all types of artists and a wide range of genres: rhythm and blues, country, rock, and folk.

“MA Fest is a cultural festival, a celebration of all things art, music and culture. The event aims to bring together people from all walks of life to celebrate and appreciate the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our community. From traditional dance performances to contemporary art installations, from mouth-watering food stalls to live music, MA FEST has something for everyone,” according to the website.

The event takes place 1 – 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 and 1-8 p.m. Sunday, May 11. Tickets are $59 per day for regular admission and $149 for a VIP Day pass. Weekend passes are also available at $89 for a regular weekend pass, or $199 for a VIP weekend pass.

For more information call (706) 262-7800 or email mafest@meccolumbus.com.