BATON ROUGE, La. - TelAve -- The 9th Annual Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival announces talent lineup, contests and sponsors. The event is May 23 and 24 at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library – Main Library, 7711 Goodwood Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, from 11:00am to 8:00pm daily and is free to the public. It features blues, soul, R&B, jazz, gospel and Christian music, a Vendor's Village, judged Soul Food Cooking Contest and Mustard Greens and Cornbread Eating Contest.

The stage lineup includes Henry Turner Jr. & Flavor and the Listening Room All-stars including Ervin "Maestro" Foster and the My Better Half Band, King Solomon, Kelton 'Nspire Harper and Pastor Leon Hitchens.

Saturday's talent opens with bluesman Adam Gabriel, Susie Shepherd, the Phoenix Rouge Dance Troupe and Christian rapper Stephen King. New to the festival is the Blue-eyed soul Shadow Road Band and Christian singer Karly Monday. Carlo Ditta joins with New Orleans R&B, followed by jazz instrumentalist Rodney Gipson. Closing Saturdays' schedule is old school R&B band LA Grove.

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Sunday's lineup is southern soul singers Ms. Pressure and Mister Cotton, who is new to the festival this year. Christian singer Xavie Shorts is followed by the House of God Praise Team and Lisa Harris returns to the festival with her Tina Turner Tribute. Soul singer Uncle Chess ts followed by Poet Sir AP and Christian singer Princess Teha. Closing the festival is Eilene Rockette with the House of God Church Healing and Deliverance Youth Dance Praise Team. Hosts are Free Spirit, Kerwin Fealing and Princess Teha with DJ Olu.

The Soul Food Cooking Competition is open until May 15. Categories are Meats, Vegetable and Side Dishes with judging on Saturday; and Breads and Desserts, Appetizers and Soups, Beverage judged on Sunday. Criteria includes Presentation, Taste, and the Story or History behind each dish. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded. The Mustard Greens and Cornbread Eating Contest is Saturday. Downloadable forms are available on the website. For more information on the contest, VIP packages and talent lineup call 225-802-9681 or visit https://www.brsoulfoodfest.com.

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Festival discounts include two dollar bowls of Pork and Beans with wieners both days and two dollar shots of Boone's Farms Strawberry Hill Wine on Saturday.

Sponsors for the festival are Visit Baton Rouge, WBRZ Television, Ch. 2, and their affiliate stations,  East Baton Rouge Parish Libraries, Blue Runner, Thomas Law Firm, Joyful Jumps, Cutting Edge CE Conference and Henry Turner Jr.'s Listening Room Museum Foundation.

The Pre-Party is Thursday, May 21 at Henry Turner Jr.'s Listening Room located at 2733 North Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, from 7:00pm midnight. Donation is $30.00 and includes a Soul Food buffet and no-host bar.