By Christian Coffman

NATCHEZ — The musical lineup for the 2017 Great Mississippi River Balloon Race will represent the best in American roots music.

Deputy Director Trevor Brown of the Historic Natchez Foundation said this year’s line-up will feature everything from New Orleans funk and jazz, to new versions of the blues and Americana music.

“We’re representing a broad stretch of genres,” Brown said.

Friday night’s headliner will be the New Orleans funk rock band Flow Tribe.

“They’re a really fun up-beat band out of New Orleans that are another great mix of music…They’re a great party band,” Brown said.

Flow Tribe has played the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival five years in a row, and are known for their high energy during live shows.

Playing on Saturday is Marc Broussard, a soul singer and guitarist who has sold more than 500,000 albums.

Broussard is a recipient of the Hard Rock’s Love All Serve All Award for his many charitable acts, including donating proceeds from his live album to victims of Katrina and building homes for Habitat for Humanity.

“Marc Broussard just has an incredible voice, the emotion that comes through his music…makes him a regional favorite,” Brown said. “He has this soulful voice that I think people are going to go crazy for.”

Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Railroad Earth will be on hand to entertain on Saturday as well.

Also from New Orleans, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, established in 1977, boasts a discography of 14 albums.

Railroad Earth is a band that throws caution to the wind when it comes to writing music.

The band’s music is an eclectic mix of Americana and progressive bluegrass, with influence from rock and roll and Celtic music.

“They’re sort of hard to fit in any genre,” Brown said. “Like some bands back in the 70s, they floated between country and rock and roll. That’s kind of how Railroad Earth is.”

Brown said one band that would be of great local interest will be Brint Anderson and The Bluff City Revue.

“This will be a ‘super group’ of sorts made up of several of the best known local talent,” Brown said.

Appearing on Sunday, the band promises to showcase Anderson’s iconic blues sound that has been present since he played with the band Blue John in Natchez.

Darcy Malone and the Tangle and Zydeco Radio will play on Saturday, while Damon J. Batiste’s Cuban Jazz Tribute and Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone will perform on Sunday.

Adult tickets are $10 on Friday and Sunday and $25 on Saturday.

A weekend pass, which includes all three days, is $35.

Children tickets are $5 every day or $10 for the weekend pass.

Children under six are free.

Advance tickets on the Natchez Great Mississippi River Balloon Race website offer 15-percent off all the prices at natchezballoonrace.com.

This year’s schedule is:

Friday, Oct. 20

• 8 p.m. — Flowtribe

Saturday, Oct. 21

• Noon — Zydeco Radio
• 1:45 p.m. — Darcy Malone
• 3:30 p.m. — Marc Broussard
• 5:30 p.m. — Dirty Dozen Brass Band
• 7:30 p.m. — Railroad Earth

Sunday, Oct. 22

• 1 p.m. — Damon J. Batiste
• 2:45 p.m. — Brint Anderson and the Bluff City Revue
• 4:30 p.m.  — Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone