Radiators at Wanee Festival

This is the last year to see the legendary New Orleans band The Radiators in its current form. After 33 years, they are calling it quits in mid-June 2011 (although some members want to keep going, so we'll see some great music in any case.)

The good news is we'll get to see the Rads at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl on Wednesday, April 13 -- the day before the Allman Brothers' annual Wanee Festival.

Also on the bill this year, the Steve Miller Band, who wrote one of festgrrl's fave songs of all time, The Window.

Looks like we're gonna keep on rockin' in 2011

All I Want For Christmas...

Happy Holidays, Faithful Readers! Thanks for all your support and here's a toast for all of us seeing some killer 2011 shows!

A Nice Florida Winter Fest Next Month

We don't stop festing down here just cause it's winter every place else! Check out the Aura Music and Arts Festival, down near Orlando, that takes place Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend (Jan. 14-16)at Crescent J Ranch in St. Cloud, Florida. Tickets are $60 advance, $65 at the gate (cash only at the gate) An RV or trailer pass is $25. Kids under 9 are free, over 9 are $15.

Here is the skinny on this event from their website:

"AURA will present 34 bands on two juxtaposed stages with zero overlap and 20 DJs in the Rage Tent, offering 18 hours of musical bliss each day. Bringing together some of the best touring bands in the underground jamtronica scene and jam community including Papadosio, The Heavy Pets, The Malah and Zoogma, festivalgoers will be treated to a variety of musical styles from rock, funk and jazz to roots reggae, jamtronica and deep house.

In addition to three days of epic musical performances, AURA presents numerous interactive attractions and activities including song writing, drum and yoga workshops; art installations produced LIVE to the beats and rhythms of your favorite bands; hooping and fire poi; food and vending areas; and onsite camping with a peaceful, intimate vibe.

AURA’s new site, Forever Florida, is a 4,700 acre wildlife conservation area with an average January daily temperature of 70 degrees. This pristine site boasts nine distinct Florida ecosystems and an endless array of flora and fauna including alligators, black bears and 200 species of birds. You can fly through the treetops on the Zipline Safari, enjoy a Wilderness Horseback Ride or just kick back and relax on a guided Coach Safari. Festival attendees can visit Florida Eco-Safaris for more information and mention promo code “AURA” to receive discounts."

The Punch Brothers coming to Fla This Spring

One of the most kick-ass, innovative bluegrass acts in the country right now, The Punch Brothers, are heading to Florida in the spring. They will be doing three Florida shows -- March 31 at Orlando's Plaza Theater, April 1 at Jacksonville's Florida Theater, and April 3 at Pensacola's Vinyl Music Hall. A ticket to any of these shows would make a lovely gift this holiday season! Their 2010 release, Antifogmatic would also be a nice present. These guys are ridiculously talented!!!

Springfest Tickets Make Great Gifts!

Oh Yeah, this one's gonna be good. Suwannee Springfest March 24-27 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. Check out this fantastic lineup:

The Avett Brothers, David Grisman Sextet, Jesse McReynolds, Donna The Buffalo, Emmitt-Nershi Band, Travelin' McCourys with The Lee Boys, Jim Lauderdale, Mosier Brothers, Acoustic Syndicate, Danny Barnes, Scythian, Trampled By Turtles, Steep Canyon Rangers, Joe Craven, Pangea with Michael Kang, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Surprise Me Mr. Davis, The Motet, Dread Clampitt, Rowan Cunningham, Tornado Rider, Ralph Roddenbery, Greensky Bluegrass, Galen Kipar Project, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Larkin Poe, Two Foot Level, Sloppy Joe, New 76ers, Saltwater Grass, Amy Hendrickson & the Prime Directive, Grandpa's Cough Medicine, The Whetherman.

 A recent study found that people are happier when they spend money on EXPERIENCES rather than THINGS. So go ahead and get happy!

Early bird tickets are $125 through Jan. 31. Give one to yourself or to someone you love.

30A Songwriters Festival Coming Up

The gorgeous beaches along Walton County's 30A Highway (between Fort Walton Beach and Panama City, FL) will be home to the second annual 30A Songwriters Festival on Martin Luther King Day weekend. (Jan 14-16) festgrrl attended last year and you can see my posts here and here and here and here.

These are intimate, heartfelt shows and I came home excited by lots of new musical discoveries. I love Dar Williams, who is playing this year, and I really dug The Smoking Flowers last year.

This is not a camping festival, and you have to drive between all these different venues spread out along 30A. Tickets that get you in to all the shows -- over 100 artists over three days, plus a kickoff party on Friday night -- are $85.

You can camp ($24-$30 per night with water and electric) or rent luxuriously roomy modern cabins ($110 per night) at nearby Grayton Beach State Park or (a little further but also beautiful) Topsail Hill State Park ($100 a night for cabins, camping $24-$42 a night.) There are also fantastic but pricey houses to rent all over Seaside and surrounding resorts. 

Those in-the-know know that Walton County is home to festgrrl fave Dread Clampitt. Sadly, Dread Clampitt isn't playing this year at this festival. Boo hoo.

The organizers tell me they plan to  have a text messaging service set up to let folks know when a venue gets filled up. Last year, you had the unfortunate occurrence of driving somewhere and not being able to get in. But I saw some great shows that I wouldn't have seen when I went down the road to find a show that wasn't as filled up.

I'd reccommend this interesting festival if you can line up somewhere to stay. It sold out in a heartbeat last year, but they are offering more tickets and more venues this year.

Catch This Radio Interview With Peter Rowan

Bluegrass great Peter Rowan has just done an interview with National Public Radio's Fresh Air show, so you might want to check it out at the link I just included.

We get the pleasure of hearing Rowan's soulful voice every Magnolia Fest and Springfest at Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. -- I especially loved his sit-in this year with Keller & The Keels

Some good Bear Creek videos

Recordings and videos of last weekend's phenomenal Bear Creek Music and Art Festival are popping up on the web. Thanks to our friends at jambands.com for a nice little selection of live performance videos

You can check out this site for some soundboard recordings.Enjoy!

Full Moon Fest Returns!

The Farm To Family Full Moon Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday outside Gainesville near Ginnie Springs. This little low-cost fest is sweet and filled with wonderful folks and great roots music.

This festival has been on a long hiatus due to complaints from neighbors of too many cars and commotion on their dirt road. So they moved it to 120 acres in Gilchrist County. Camping is primitive, no hook ups, but plenty of room for cars, vans, tents, and the RV's . . . there are three camping areas. Back Stage Camping, Remote Camping, and Drum Circle Camping.

In past shows, the promoter has set up couches under and open-sided tent so it's like a living room. This fest is family friendly and there's usually a big bonfire and drum circle. And, of course, it's under the full moon!


The excellent, steppy Gainesville world music band 3rd Stone headlines Saturday night. Tickets are a mere $23 for the weekend, $12 for a day pass. Gates open at 11 a.m. and show starts at 2 p.m. Saturday and goes through Sunday at 6 p.m. A nice, chill way to spend a gorgeous fall weekend.

Fantastic Honey Island Swamp Band in Tally tonight

The Honey Island Swamp Band hits The Engine Room in Tallahassee tonight. festgrrl previewed this band last week, and saw them at Bear Creek Music and Art Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. last week for the first time. She is hooked! Infectious, rootsy grooves for a dance party! Check out their great song "Party 'Til The Money's Gone" on their myspace music player.

Doors open at 9 pm, $10 cover. Gonna be a funky good time.

Bear Creek Brings The Funk

A big thank you to Paul Levine and Lyle Williams, creators of Bear Creek!! (Photo by the wonderful Jeffrey Dupuis.)

The gathering if the funkateers at Bear Creek Music and Art Festival was everything it was cracked up to be -- a glorious assemblage of the finest funk and jam players on the planet. "This," declared trombonist Fred Wesley (an alumni of James Brown's band and George Clinton's Parliament Funkadelic) "is where the funk lives."

And it is -- horns blaring through live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, booties shakin' through the starry night, newcomer funk bands popping up in the campgrounds and drawing an impromptu raging crowd. All of it is rare and special. To have the funk greats come play at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park and to get a chance to really pay them their due is a beautiful thing indeed. People like Wesley, James Brown saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis, Maceo Parker, George Porter of the Funky Meters, the Rebirth Brass Band, and Ivan Neville. Seeing a show by any one of these folks is a treat. Six stages for five days is epic!

Mix in the second-generation funk players -- bands like Orgone, the New Mastersounds, Matt Grondin Band, Snarky Puppy, Soulive, and The Amazing JC's, and you've got the tasty musical stew that Levine and Williams are getting known for. Besides the funk, jam band fans had their fill with acts like moe., Umphreys Magee, Toubab Krewe, Cope, The Everyone Orchestra, the Heavy Pets, and Garage Mahal. Again, all these players brought ridiculous talent and energy to the nonstop party. Add to that an audience that manages to rage and be kind at the same time and its a euphoric mix.

Bear Creek festival gets better every year, as the word spreads among musicians that they'll get treated right and fans learn that seeing this explosion of talent in a gorgeous, friendly setting is an experience not to be missed.

Promoters Williams and Levine put so much love into creating the musical mix of this very special festival, and their taste is impeccable. Make your plans to get to Bear Creek for next year, people -- this is one you definitely don't want to miss!

The Everyone Orchestra

Today I’m going to highlight the Everyone Orchestra, a unique act that will play Bear Creek Music and Art Festival’s Purple Hat tent Saturday night at 8:45 pm .

Matt Butler of the excellent Hot Buttered Rum band puts together this ad-hoc group of musicians, and it’s a different mix every time. At Bear Creek, the Everyone Orchestra will include Kai Eckhardt and Fareed Haque from Garaj Mahal, Joel Cummins from Umphrey's McGee, Jeff Mosier of Blueground Undergrass, Jen Hartswick from T.A.B. , Jan's Ingber of the Motet plus Justin Perkins, Luke Quaranta and Teal Brown from Toubab Krewe. During the show they will be taking donations to support the festival’s recycling and new composting program.

THE EVERYONE ORCHESTRA, according to their web site, “is a celebratory, interactive, improvisational experiment orchestrated by a mad scientist conductor!

The list of Everyone Orchestra participants is an increasingly wide and intercontinental group including members of The Grateful Dead, Phish, moe., String Cheese Incident, The Flecktones, Club d'Elf, ALO, Tea Leaf Green and Adrian Belew, Taj Mahal, Maria Muldaur, Tuvan throat singers, live painters, dancers, chanters, choirs, hula hoopers, firespinners, jugglers, stiltwalkers, storytellers, a presidential candidate and hundreds of others among a growing legion of other performers.

Butler’s version of breaking down the barriers between musician and audience derives in part from desert art festival Burning Man’s ‘no spectators, only participants’ ethic and is undoubtedly influenced by his old friend and mentor Ken Kesey, the king of the Merry Pranksters.”

The Everyone Orchestra is dedicated to working for good and has performed numerous concerts for non-profit organizations, coordinated donation drives for the needy, and has brought their brand of participatory performance to student groups, schools, hospitals, an orphanage and more.

In an excellent interview with Jambase, Butler explained his approach to EO:.

"I don’t think about how I want it to sound. I think about who I have as players and that ultimately dictates what happens. I try to be in touch with all the players, just be in communication with them and make sure that everyone’s comfortable on stage, that they can hear well and that they’re fed and happy, so that they’re going to have a clear path to musical discovery.

And then I have this thing of getting everybody to agree to be on the same page of not knowing what’s going to happen and just going for it. And that’s part of my job, different people need different counseling before we get on stage to get into that state of mind in a comfortable way.

…I feel really blessed that for the most part I think the musicians have a fun and interesting time in EO and sometimes they’re very surprised: “That was insane, I loved that.” Sometimes we’ll have that perfect mix of craziness, a perfect moment of almost pop song beauty that we came up with on the spot and some high energy dance music and it’s all just perfect.

...it’s a departure of having expectations either within the band or as an audience member, in that literally anything can happen in EO for better and worse. That’s one thing that Ken Kesey taught me and the Grateful Dead taught me, that the mystery of the unknown is what’s interesting and in those moment of searching musically you won’t always land on the golden nugget but when you do it really really shines.

Like at one point in a song if the chorus is repeating I’ll hold up a sign that says repeat the chorus and I’ll have them keep on repeating it and have the audience singing it. Then I might take the band out so that just the audience is singing and then take it a little bit higher and then throw it back into the song. I’ll do little tiny moves like that and then sit down for 10 minutes. It’s an interesting application of the conductor role. I’m working on a couple pitches for other bands to do this in a larger setting because those are some of the most fun shows I’ve done."

Bear Creek Begins!!

The village is starting to form here at Bear Creek Music and Art Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Tents and tapestries are going up, old friends are reconnecting and everybody’s getting ready to rage.

Early birds get a treat: funky New Orleans string band The Honey Island Swamp Band, which plays at 9pm. South Florida's Aquaphonics opens at 7:30, and The Heavy Pets close the night out from midnight to 2 am.

Honey Island Swamp Band is great (check out their streaming music player) and they have a cool back story on their web site:


"The band came together after Aaron Wilkinson (acoustic guitar, mandolin, vocals) and Chris Mulé (electric guitar, vocals) were marooned in San Francisco after the levee breaches following Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, and had a chance encounter with fellow New Orleans evacuees Sam Price (bass, vocals) and Garland Paul (drums, vocals). They'd all worked together in New Orleans bands for years, but with no prospects of getting home any time soon, they figured they’d better cook up something new, and quick!

A few days later they had put together a song list, landed a recurring gig at San Francisco’s Boom Boom Room, and settled in to share a little taste of Southern culture with their new West coast neighbors. Their 7-song eponymous EP was recorded in 2006 at famed studio The Plant in Sausalito, CA, and was received so well that they all decided to continue the band upon moving back to New Orleans in early 2007.

Honey Island Swamp Band's sound has been described as "Americana on the Bayou", with timeless songs from Wilkinson & Mulé, highlighted by Mulé's searing guitar, Wilkinson's sure-handed mandolin, and 4-part vocal harmonies, all anchored by the powerful groove of Price & Paul's Louisiana stomp rhythm section.

In April 2009, the band released its first full-length album, Wishing Well, produced by Tom Drummond of Better Than Ezra. Throughout the rest of 2009, the band toured relentlessly in support of Wishing Well, on the strength of such songs as "Natural Born Fool", "Till the Money's Gone", and the album's title track. In January 2010, Wishing Well was named 2009's “Best Blues Album” at OffBeat Magazine's BEST OF THE BEAT Awards, where the band was also honored as “Best Emerging Artist”.

The newest offering from HISB, Good To You, was released in April 2010, and has quickly become a staple of most DJs on the Crescent City's legendary radio station WWOZ, as well as on Sirius/XM satellite radio’s Bluesville and traditional stations from coast-to-coast. Featuring the southern strut of songs such as “Rod n Reel” and the album’s first single “Chocolate Cake”, Good To You illuminates the mix of country-inflected rock and New Orleans funky blues that makes Honey Island Swamp Band's music so familiar and unique at the same time."

Kicking it off here at Suwannee!!

Don't Miss Cool, Quirky Rubblebucket At Bear Creek Saturday

This is a video from Rubblebucket, a band I was just introduced to and will now most definitely go check out live at Bear Creek Music and Art Festival this weekend at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. They play at noon on Saturday at the ampitheatre, so get your butts up and check 'em out!

They're a Brooklyn-based 8-piece (sometimes more) led by Kalmia Traver (lead vocals, sax) and Alex Toth (trumpet, vocals, hyper-kinetics). The band released their new Triangular Daisies EP on Oct. 19th. The band won last year's Boston Music Award for Live Act of the Year.

Our friends at Jambase write: “Their sound sits along the same horizon line as Yeasayer and Akron/Family… one feels as if they're body surfing the edge of what's possible in melodic yet actively experimental rock.”

Check out Rubblebucket's unusual cover of The Beatles' "Michelle."

This is what I love about Bear Creek promoters Paul Levine and Lyle Williams, they are always finding tasty musical surprises for us!

Tornado River Tomorrow at The Engine Room in Tally!

festgrrl unfortunately had the flu last week, and was delusional with fever. She listed the wrong Tuesday for this post about Tornado Rider at the Engine Room! It's tomorrow. Get yer dancin' pants on and bring your protective headgear, 'cause this show's gonna rage. Tally bluegrass band Two Foot Level opens, doors open at 9, and it's $10 cover.

If You Aren't Getting Ready for Bear Creek, You Should Be!

Bear Creek Music Festival Highlights from Jeremy Sewell on Vimeo.

Enjoy this awesome video teaser for what's going to be an absolutely killer fest starting this Wednesday!!!

Check out THIS amazing hoopin' festgrrl!!

Tornado Rider Tonight!!!

Punkgrass pioneers Tornado Rider hit the Engine Room tonight in Tallahassee.

You never know quite what will happen at a Tornado Rider show (high-voltage acrobatics, hilarious theatrics) but you can be sure that you've never seen anything like it.

Local bluegrass band Two Foot Level opens. Doors open at 9 and it's a bargain at $10. I can say with complete confidence that this show's gonna rage.

Thank You Beth and Randy Judy

Beth and Randy Judy with Vassar Clements and his daughter, Midge

Thank you for 14 wonderful years of great music at Suwannee Springfest and Magnolia Fest. All of us fans are very grateful for your hard work !

J Grey and Mofro Hit Tallahassee's Engine Room Tonight

JJ Grey and Mofro bring their soulful bad selves to The Engine Room tonight in Tallahassee. He and his band Mofro are touring for their great new release, Georgia Warhorse. This record explores a little more of JJ's soul crooning than the gritty swamp funk of past records, and it is beautifully put together. Put this disc on your Christmas list.

Tickets for tonight's show are $25 at the door. Northern Lights and Joathan Tyler join JJ and Mofro.

Magnolia Fest Was Sublime

Sunny days, cool nights, a full moon, and a ridiculous amount of talent conspired to make the 14th Magnolia Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL. a lovely event. The park was full of happy campers, but as is usually the case, it never felt too crowded.

Suffice it to say -- whether on stage or in the campground in the wee hours, these folks were here to PLAY. Standouts were the super-fast picking of Keller & The Keels, Cornmeal, the transcendent Dread Clampitt-Tornado Rider late-night jam on Saturday night, the slow and easy Seven Walkers set, Wet Willie's rocking vocals and cool sax, the super loose Donna The Buffalo family show Sunday night, and Joe Craven, a unique performer with a big heart.

There was a lot of talk about this being the last Magnolia Fest, and a lot of folks have been asking me about what's next. That remians to be seen. Founders Beth and Randy Judy are transitioning out of their role as main producers. We're all so grateful for the fatastic events they've put on all these years, starting back with Big Cosmo's Sunshine Daydream.

Paul Levine anad Lyle Williams (of Bear Creek Music & Art Festival) are taking over for the March 2011 Suwannee Springfest, and they have already announced that The Avett Brothers will headline.YES!

Paul and Lyle have excellent taste and new energy, so I'm thinking it's all going to work out just fine.

I'll post some Magnolia Fest videos later, but in the meantime, here are some pics from the weekend!

Joe Craven plays the jawbone

Peter Rowan with Keller & The Keels

18 South Rocks It!

Scramble Campbell paints Joe Craven

Peter Rowan tells it like it is

Sam Bush plays with Dread Clampitt

Seven Walkers Playing Magfest, Releasing New Album

A lot of folks are psyched that Seven Walkers, the new collaboration from Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzman (that's him with the backwards baseball cap and black T-shirt,) will be playing at 10 pm on the ampitheatre stage at Magnolia Fest this weekend at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl.

Check Out Seven Walkers Video
Our friends at Jambase posted that video, and here's what they have to say about the new project:

"Famed drummer and Grateful Dead co-founder Bill Kreutzmann and voodoo guitar master Papa Mali come together as 7 Walkers for their self-titled debut release, due out November 2, 2010 on Response Records. With nearly all of its songs co-penned by Papa Mali and longtime Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, 7 Walkers is a hybrid of classic Bay Area rock and New Orleans funk.

Together with legendary New Orleans bass man George Porter Jr. (The Meters, Funky Meters) and multi- instrumentalist Matt Hubbard (Willie Nelson, Fastball), the highly anticipated release features a batch of brand-new originals, a guest performance by Willie Nelson on “King Cotton Blues,” and a few smokin’ instrumentals.

In this sneak peek video, Kreutzmann and the rest of 7 Walkers talk to Billboard about making the album and offer a preview of "King Cotton Blues" featuring Willie Nelson off the new album.'

I'm going to predict that Donna The Buffalo's Tara Nevins sits in. She popped up at Wanee Festival a few years ago with Kreutzman's BK3.

See you Saturday night, People!

MVY RADIO

A bunch of y'all have been asking me to recommend Internet radio stations. My very fave Americana station is WMVY (Marthas Vineyard.) They have a fantastic site, though it does require a bunch of poking around their site to find all the treasures.

They have TONS of archived concerts, including Merlefest, Newport Folk Festival, etc., as well as downloads, and great commercial-free streams customized for your mood. I love the archived  Shakedown Street, natch. Take the time to explore, it is worth it! I send them a donation ever so often in deepest gratitude. Lots of interviews as well. I listened to a Gourds concert, a Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks concert, a Campbell Brothers concert, a Betty LaVette concert, and a 1985 live performance/interview with The Duhks. A great Sunday sound track while packing for Magnolia Fest!

Zach Deputy atThe Engine Room Friday

Super-nice, super-cool and funky Zach Deputy plays the Engine Room in Tallahassee Friday night. Deputy has become a welcome regular at Bear Creek Music and Art Festival, and North Florida fans even chipped in a year or two ago for a special benefit after someone stole all his one-man-band looping equipment.

He's been touring nonstop and has watched his star rise accordingly. Zach's a looper, yes, but he's also a killer guitar player, a great singer, and a good songwriter. His shows are a lot of fun. Friday's show is with the band Wisebird. Tickets are $10 advance and $12 day of show

Here's an excerpt about Deputy from Relix:

“Imagine Ray Charles, James Brown and Michael Jackson all having an illegitimate child and it growing up in the Virgin Islands,” Zach Deputy says of his sound. And it’s precisely this sound of new-age soul that’s garnering national attention for the South Carolinian. His debut album, Out of the Water (2008), utilized the talents of bassist Sam Sims (Michael Jackson) and drummer Sonny Emory (Earth, Wind & Fire); and more recently, the calypso-kissed funk and beatboxing improv of 2009’s Sunshine won him the Home Grown Music Network’s Studio Album of the Year award. But its Deputy’s live performances that truly earn the 27-year-old his keep. Accompanied only by percussionist and life-long friend Paul Kearns, Deputy charms audiences with the soulful dexterity of an R&B crooner while live-looping his acrobatic rhythms and fiery guitar leads to deliver full, band-like sounds. Even with 300 yearly performances, the aspirations remain simple: “I just hope the music helps restore balance in people’s lives.” He quietly adds, “That’s why I do it, to hopefully change people’s lives for the better.”

New RR Earth Album Tomorrow

Railroad Earth drops a new album tomorrow, just in time to come down and play for us at Magnolia Fest at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park! Only nine days until we gather for an awesome time!

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Dumpstaphunk, Mofro Playing Monster Smash

It is going to be a killer show Oct. 30 at the Southern Monster Smash in Pompano Beach Oct. 30! Check the lineup and know that the show ends with a "Monster Jam" that will include members from all of the bands.

JJ Grey & Mofro
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Ivan Neville & Dumpstaphunk
The Lee Boys
Bobby Lee Rogers Trio
Hill Country Revue
The Heavy Pets
Crazy Fingers

The show is at the Pompano Beach Amphitheatre, and tickets are $60.85 including fees.

Free Shows in Pensacola Beach Oct. 17!

Willie Nelson and some fine New Orleans musicians will give a free day-long concert on Pensacola Beach Sunday, Oct. 17, thanks to money from Gulf despoiler BP.

The free shows happen on the final day of  DeLuna Fest October 15 and 16.  You can get two free tickets per person. Check the DeLuna site (linked above) for details on that.  Also on the Sunday lineup: Galactic, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Kermit Ruffin,and Honey Island Swamp Band. Nice!

Headliners for the two paid days of DeLuna Fest include Stone Temple Pilots, Daughtry, 311, Bush, Dierks Bentley, 30 Seconds to Mars and Michael Franti & Spearhead. In all, the two paid days encompass more than 20 acts on three stages.
Weekend passes, which include admission to all three days of the festival and guarantee admission to the free third day, are $90 advance, $99 at the gate. You can buy single-day passes for $47.50 per day advance, $55 at the gate. Purchase of single-day tickets doesn't guarantee admission for the free day. Complicated enough for ya?

No camping for this one, they want you to suppport hotels on Pensacaola Beach, which is probably a good thing considering the hellish summer the Gulf Coast has been forced to endure.

The Songwriting God himself hits the Tallahassee Civic Center on Monday, Oct. 11, and there are still tickets available -- $32.75 for college students with valid i.d. and $54.50 for everybody else. I am SO not a fan of the civic center's boomy, muddy acoustics, but you don't have any choice here if you want to see Dylan. 

Dread Clampitt Film Premieres in Panama City

(This video shows Dread Clampitt live at Magnolia Fest.)

Back From The Dread, a documentary about the fine band Dread Clampitt from Walton County, premiers at the Marina Civic Center in Panama City this  Saturday night (Oct. 1)

The film starts at 6:30 (Central time), lasts about an hour, and then the boys from Dread Clampitt will take the stage. It's a BYOB kind of party, and expect a big ole Dread family affair.

Filmmaker Kris Wheeler  followed the four-man band from 2005 to 2007 as they hit the road and played Gulf coast bars. The film - co-created by Wheeler and filmaker Wayne Franklin -- is illuminating and personal, with really strong performances by the band.

If you can't make it to the Panama City show, here's the link to buy the DVD. And while you're at it, pick up the band's fine CD, Learnin to Live, which features Newgrass Godfather Sam Bush shredding the fiddle in ridiculous proportions! You can catch Dread Clampitt playing at Magnolia Fest. The schedule isn't online yet, but Dread will be playing numerous times during the weekend, including the late night set Saturday in the Meadow after Tornado Rider.

Blues Festival This Weekend in Tallahassee

The little juke joint under the live oaks outside Tallahassee will be hopping all day and all night this weekend when the Pat Ramsey Memorial Benefit for Hospice happens at the Bradfordville Blues Club.

Ramsey was a great blues artist and truly a hell of a harmonica player who succumbed to cancer in 2008. He asked that his friends and fellow musicians help out Hospice, since they helped him in his final days.

Tickets for the event cost $20 per person or $30 per couple, and kids under 12 are free! There will be RV space available, silent auctions, raffles and plenty to eat and drink! The FSU football game will be broadcast. For tickets and additional information, please contact Steve Howell at 745-8340 or stevemissy711@comcast.net.

Here is the schedule:
MAIN STAGE

1pm Cheap & Easy

2pm Swingin' Harpoon

3pm Harvest Gypsies

4pm Road House

5pm Major Bacon ( Blues Disciples Guitar player Dave Renson & Bass player Eloise Davis with their new band, coming to town from New Orleans )

6pm Wiley Coyote Band

7pm Acme R&B

8pm JB Zydeco Zoo

9pm Lisa D and the Infidels (from Biloxi, Miss)

INSIDE THE CLUB

10pm Blues Disciples All Star Jam with special guests Duane Wader (drums) , Rick Perez (guitar) Choo Choo Charlie (slide guitar monster) Clyde Ramsey (Harp & Keys)

11:30p m Pepper Drive (with Steve Howell on drums

SOLO STAGE

2:45 pm Big Daddy

3:45 pm Drew Reid

4:45 pm Michael Brawer

5:4 5 pm Rick Perez

6:45 pm Steve Taff

7:45 pm Lori Kline


NO DOGS, PETS or COOLERS

subdudes in port st. joe??!!

Yes, it's true. Amazing New Orleans dance-o-matic band the Subdudes are playing a free concert in downtown Port St. Joe. Nothing ever happens in downtown Port St. Joe. We have BP reparations to thank for this cool occurrence in the middle of nowhere. No time's listed, but a friend says 5:30 to 7:30. There are other musicians as well, check out the link.

Neil Young: Just Wonderful

Photo of Neil Young by Starcasm

First, off, seeing Neil Young in a smallish theatre -- the Marina Civic Center in Panama City, was unbelievable. Second of all, walking up to the venue and seeing surpise New Orleans great Allen Toussaint on the marquee-- well, yipee!!!!!!

This was a very, very special show. Toussaint started things out with an intimate set on piano, running down his hit songs ("Yes We Can Can," "Workin in a Coal Mine.") He told an absolutely gorgeous story about growing up in the country with shotgun houses and moon glinting off the shiny oak leaves, which left everyone rapt and led to a rousing standing ovation.

There were numerous standing O's for Neil Young, who absolutely gave this crowd his stripped-down all, running through classics and newish songs. His voice sounds as clear and lonesome as it did 30 years ago. Young was solo with an organ, piano, and a suite of seriously bad-ass guitars that made him sound  alternately like an electric band shredding mercilessly and an old-school tender crooner in a piano bar.
The stage set was way-cool, with big ole fringy hippie lamps, a tie-dye painted piano, and a classic old pipe  organ on a platform (Hurricane -- natch!)

Festgrrl felt truly lucky to be there!!!

Young has a new solo record coming out, and you can stream it for free through Oct. 5 at the NPR music site

Here's the Panama city setlist, with thanks to Starcasm


1. My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue)

2. Tell Me Why

3. Helpless

4. You Never Call

5. Peaceful Valley

6. Love And War

7. Down By The River

8. Hitchhiker

9. Ohio

10. Sign Of Love

11. Leia

12. After The Gold Rush

13. I Believe In You

14. Rumblin’

15. Cortez The Killer

16. Cinnamon Girl

 

ENCORE:

17. Old Man

18. Walk With Me

Jambando This Weekend

Just a reminder, folks, about the bargain Jambando this weekend at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Just $30 at the gate, and that gets you 2 days of bands and 3 nights of primitive camping. Sweet!

Tornado Rider's New Video! Love it!

OK, I have to add this one, the time Rushad hung from the rafters at the tent at Magnolia Fest. I'm glad someone took video of it, because no one seems to believe me when I talk about it....it was a cliffhanger trying to figure out how he'd get .... DOWN FROM THERE, even knowing Rushad's fearless acrobatic nature.

Jambando coming right up!

Here's a bargain and a fun time for sure -- Jambando Sept. 17-19 at Spirit of the Suwnnee Music Park in Live Oak. This is a compilation on jambands and get this -- it's only $25 in advance, $30 at the gate, and that includes primitive camping!

Some great bands are playing and here is the lineup:

The Legendary JC's ( You can;t beat a band with a lead singer who can do the James Brown split multiple times in a row), Cope,Thomas & Olivia Wynn with Chris Bell, The Burnin' Smyrnans, Junkie Rush, funkUs, Middle Rhythm Session, The Funky Seeds, Rob Irie,Marley's Collie, Kaleigh Baker with Nathan Anderson,Green Sunshine, Jeff White with Fancy Pants,Acoustic Swamp Project, Legacy, All Capital KYLE

The shows will be in the ampitheatre, the music hall, and the porch stage -- no meadow for this one. Should be nice and intimate. Here is the schedule

If ya wanna get fancy, The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is offering a special cabin & golf cart deal to guests during Jambando In The Park. 4 people can enjoy a cabin and a golf cart Friday and Saturday night for only $400. The cabins have a queen sized bed, a pullout couch, a kitchen, bathroom, shower and air conditioning.

Bear Creek Extends Early Bird, Sets Daily Schedule

The magnificent cornucopia of funk and jam that is Bear Creek Music & Art Festival has extended early bird pricing  and released its daily schedule. Look at that sked and you'll agree that you better get the time off now and go Thursday to Sunday, y'all. No foolin.  This is gonna be a big time at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl.

Early-bird ticket prices will stay at $125 until 11:59PM on Tuesday, September 14. They go to $145 after that, and $175 at the gate.

IMPORTANT: There are pre-fest shows on Wednesday and Thursday nights, and these require additional tickets -- Wednesday is $20 (includes camping)  and Thursday (includes camping) is $40. This is on top of your regular ticket. Your regular ticket covers camping Thurs-Sun., but you can't see the Thursday show unless you buy the $40 ticket.

The "Back From The Dread" premier

A few lucky Dread Clampitt fans got to walk the Dread Carpet last night for the premier of a new documentary, "Back from the Dread." at Seaside Repertory Theatre in gorgeous Walton County, just west of Panama City.  Filmmaker Kris Wheeler (in video above -- not sure why it's black, ust hit play) followed the four-man band from 2005 to 2007 as they hit the road and played Gulf coast bars  -- and, as their reputation for fine musicianship and kick-ass shows increased. The film - co-created by Wheeler and filmaker Wayne Franklin -- is illuminating and personal, with really strong performances by the band. Can't wait to see the full production which will  showcase Oct. 1 at the Marina Civic Center in Panama City Beach.

Here's a description of the film from the Back from the Dread Facebook page:


" From 2005 to 2007, Kris Wheeler chronicled the band Dread Clampitt as part of his first feature-length documentary project, Bayou Country. To truly do justice to the stories of those connected to this film, Kris decided to divide Bayou Country into multiple companion projects. Back From The Dread is the first of those to be released, and is a joint production with friend and fellow filmmaker Wayne Franklin.

Back From The Dread brings into focus the challenges of pursuing success on your own terms, the difficulty of classifying the band’s sound, the wear and tear of the road and the ever-present battle to avoid the record store’s “speed bin.” These early years in Dread Clampitt’s journey are captured through a series of entertaining and behind-the-scenes interviews with band members, highlighted by live performances at the Acoustic Café Music Festival (Hayden, AL.), the Funky Blues Shack (Destin, FL), The Grey Eagle (Ashville, NC), Magnolia Music Festival (Live Oak, FL), WDVX Radio (Knoxville, TN.), and Workplay Theatre (Birmingham, AL). Back From The Dread also features a special quest appearance by the band’s friend and mentor, Duke Bardwell, a former bassist for Elvis Presley.

As with most bands, the lineup and musical style of Dread Clampitt continues to evolve. This film is intended to pay tribute to the band’s history, and is dedicated to all the loyal supporters and fans of Dread Clampitt — past, present and future."

The film was followed by a raging live performance by the boys. A great time with a great band!

festgrrl: Preview "The "Back From The Dread" priemier"

festgrrl: Preview "The "Back From The Dread" priemier"

festgrrl: The Dread Carpet Saturday

festgrrl: The Dread Carpet Saturday

festgrrl: Big & Hearty Festival this Weekend

festgrrl: Big & Hearty Festival this Weekend

Big & Hearty Festival this Weekend

Now that the University of Florida is back in fiull swing, it's time for Gainesville to get down -- at the Big & Hearty Festival this weekend on 100 acres outside the city near the airport.

A ton of electronica, dubstep, reggae  and jam acts are performing. Tickets are $50 at the gate -- and that includes camping. Music starts at 6pm tonight anf goes til 2 a.m. Monday.Click here for the lineup and have fun!

The Dread Carpet Saturday

The picket-fence environs of upscale Seaside, Florida will be invaded by music freaks carrying 40-ouncers covered with paper bags (redneck coozies) Saturday night for a very special event -- the premier of a documentary about Newgrass pickers Dread Clampitt. The sneak preview of the documentary, "Back From the Dread" will be followed by a live performance by Dread Clampitt. It's $20 and all takes place at the Seaside Repertory Theatre, which is a very small and intimate venue with great sound.

Oh, and I forgot to mention -- besides the 40-ouncers, they'll have boiled peanuts.

Dread Clampitt came out with their new CD this summer, Learnin' to Live, which has Sam Bush playing on it. There are some great gems on the CD, including "Lord let these chest pains be heartburn from Saurday night," the hippie anthem, "Sisters and Brothers," and a steppy dance number by former Elvis Presley band member Duke Bardwell called "Bayou Country." These are songs Dread Clampitt has been playing at their great live shows for some time, it is lovely to have them recorded. Here's where you can get Learnin' to Love.

Early Bird Deadlines for Magnolia Fest and Bear Creek Music & Art Festival

Today's the last day for Early Bird tickets for Magnolia Fest at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park October 21 to 24 -- That's $125 ($147 with fees included) -- through September 1. Here is my earlier post about the lineup. Since then, they've added the phenomenal Sam Bush Band.

And tickets for Bear Creek Music and Art Festival Nov. 12-14, also at Suwannee Music Park, They are $125 now -- they go up 10 $140 on  Sept. 8, y'all.

It's a good idea to buy early, and I'll let you know the dates so keep on checking festgrrl.

Bear Creek had a crazy low price of $99 for super early birds early in the year. Now that's a damn bargain, people! -- especially since James Brown's band is gonna rock it, and that's just the beginning! It's one epic lineup all around.

festgrrl: Preview "Early Bird Deadlines for Magnolia Fest and Bear Creek Music & Art Festival"

festgrrl: Preview "Early Bird Deadlines for Magnolia Fest and Bear Creek Music & Art Festival"

Report from Blackwater Music Festival

The first-ever Blackwater festival was an intimate treat for those of us who braved August weather to jam at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. And get this --- it wasn’t all that hot after all. Overcast skies and a light sprinkle off and on for most of the weekend kept things cool. The small crowd made getting around and getting close to the stage easy, and with the river and the pool close by, it was paradise.


Kudos to the schedulers for keeping music on the shady stage for most of the day and moving to the meadow at night. Electronica masters  STS9 headlined Thursday night with a booming bass and light show that rocked to the early morning.

Most people I talked to thought Michael Franti and Spearhead put on the standout show of the weekend, taking it from folk to funk to reggae to rock and back again. Franti always wows everyone by coming off the stage and performing in the middle of the crowd. He also won us all over when he asked little kids to join him on stage for “Hello Bonjour” and they all rocked out adorably.

Galactic with Cyrus Neville laid down some hard New Orleans funk Saturday night that simpluy can't be beat. Particle with Michael Kang had folks braving a steady downpour in the Meadow field. JJ Grey did an acoustic set in the ampitheatre and a second set in the Meadow with Mofro. Unfortunately, he did mostly the same songs, which was a disappointment, since the crowd is pretty much the same at each show.

The Disco Biscuits had a uber-sweaty danceathon set with a killer laser light show Saturday night in the ampitheatre stage – and all the oaks in there amplified it beautifully.

Here’s the Band to Watch: Snarky Puppy They had a daytime set on the too-sunny porch stage which hardly anyone showed up for -- and it was fantastic driving, jazzy, jammy magic. You'll be able to see them play again at Bear Creek Music and Art Festival Nov. 12-14, also held at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak., Fl.

Hopefully this fest will return next year. My advice is: Go!

Here is a slideshow posted by LiveMusicShots, thanks! Here's another one they posted of the STS9 show.

Blackwater Bound

Heading out today for the Blackwater Music Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee in Live Oak, Fl. One of the performers festgrrl is most happy to see is Florida's own JJ Grey and Mofro -- who dropped their fifth CD, Georgia Warhorse, on August 24.

Mofro has had their own Blackwatrer Sol Review the last two summers in St. Augustine. So pleased to have them at Suwannee, and for two sets -- one a JJ solo set Friday from 4:30 to 6 p.m and  one with the whole band 8-9:30 on Saturday.

Many of you have complained it's too hot to fest now in North Florida. Come on,y'all, there's a cold river, a cold pool, and a shaded stage at Spirit of the Suwannee. Bring your bathing suit, your fan,  and your cold beer and come on witchyo bad self! Support these fantasitc performers coming all the way here to rage with us! See you there.

Here is a very positive review of the new Mofro CD from Iowa of all places...

The Daily Iowan
CD Review: JJ Grey and Mofro




BY JASON M. LARSON
AUGUST 24, 2010 7:20 AM

There are few albums these days that just make me want to listen to it over and over again. The fifth release from JJ Grey and Mofro, Georgia Warhorse, does exactly that and more.



In addition to the quality of guests Toots Hibbert and Derek Trucks, the music and narrative lyrics have an incredibly powerful presence. The group's previous releases, which include Orange Blossoms, Country Ghetto, Loochloosa, and Blackwater, all had this same Southern-blues feel but not to this degree.



Some of the sound comes from where the album was recorded.



That place is Retrophonics Studio in St. Augustine, Fla. The equipment used is described as vintage, which fits the style of the music and of Grey himself. The studio is owned by Jim DeVito, a large man whose MySpace profile picture looks like that of a biker-gang lord.



The album, released on Chicago blues label Alligator Records, starts out with a funky tune called "Diyo Dayo." With a wailing harmonica and backup vocals, it gets the head bobbing and feet tapping.



Listeners get a sense of being in a smoky Florida bar with the music pumping loudly, drinks pouring, and gators outside trashing around in the water with prey in their mouths.



It moves on to a slower seven-minute long ballad called "King Hummingbird" that makes you want to grab your girl and slow dance. Its acoustic guitar displays real soul mirrored not only in the lyrics but also in Grey's singing.



The song "The Sweetest Thing" features the soulful voice of Hibbert, who was also on local reggae group Public Property's latest album, Work to Do. Hibbert is one of Grey's biggest heroes and influences.



As the album progresses, more of JJ Grey & Mofro's talent comes out. The lyrics themselves are written like narratives that display Grey's ability as a storyteller. The music flows in and out of upbeat and slower tunes that are fit for a swamp king. Guitarist Trucks helps close it with the song "Lullaby," a slow psychedelic-blues song that builds up and up until it comes to a slow and steady stop. Truck's signature slide guitar is so apparent that it creates an epic ending to a great album.

Iowa's jazz station, 88.3 FM KCCK, recently had the album as its Saturday night "Midnight CD," a program that showcases a new album in its entirety. The program aired directly after "Da-Blues with Bob DeForest," an Iowa Blues Hall of Famer.



JJ Grey & Mofro's great cult status is now in danger after the release of the group's latest album. Georgia Warhorse raises the bar so high, the rest of the world may just start to notice this slowly rising star. Over the past decade, the group has been increasing its fan base show by show.



Some locals may remember when the group played in Iowa City at the Yacht Club in July 2008. Owner Scott Kading does, and he has told The Daily Iowan the group is his favorite band. He discovered JJ Grey & Mofro while on the Internet and stayed online for hours listening to its music. Kading loved it so much he wanted the group the play at his club.



"It took over five years to book one of the coolest shows ever," he said. "Love the swamp funk."

Thanks, Magfest!

The fine folks who put on Magnolia Festival October 21-24 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park are giving students a giant break. The new special student ticket for four days of festing and camping is just $75 -- that's compared to $175 at the gate. It applies to students age 13 and up, and you have to have a valid student I.D. to get in. If you don't have the I.D., you will have to pay regular price at the gate.

They've also extended early bird price -- $125 ($147 with fees included) -- through September 1. The lineup this year is really excellent. Here is my earlier post about the lineup. Since then, they've added Newgrass pioneer Sam Bush and his band. Basically, some of the finest string musicians in the world will convene at Magnolia Fest for four days in the finest weather we get all year. Bring your Halloween costume and your pumpkin for carving and let's get witchy, y'all.

Yes! moe. added to Bear Creek lineup

As if the lineup for the Bear Creek Music & Art Festival November 12 - 14 at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL couldn't get any hotter, the promoters have added stellar jamband moe. to the bill. It's already gonna be a throwdown with Umphree's McGee, funk luminaries Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Lettuce, Dr. Klaw,  and more.

Bear Creek is a great festival -- the weather's fine, the park is gorgeous, the crowd isn't too huge, and the promoters know how to pick bands. There are always surprise sit-ins around very corner. In the four years I've attended, I've been turned onto somethng new and exciting every time. You can't ask for much more than that.

It's a good idea to snag those tickets now -- don't dally!! -- the Early Bird price of just $125 is in effect through Sept. 8. It goes up in increments from then on through November, with a $175 price at the gate. No matter what you pay, you'll get your money's worth - trust me on this.

Click here to see festgrrl's review of last year's Bear Creek Music & Art Festival.

festgrrl: Neil Young is touring Florida next month!

festgrrl: Neil Young is touring Florida next month!

Neil Young is touring Florida next month!

I SO JUMPED ON THE TICKETS when I found out that Neil Young will be playing the Florida Panhandle in September, the third leg of his Twisted Road solo tour. It is so improbable for him to tour here!

He'll be playiong Panama City Sept. 20, a Monday, and the Saturday of that week, September 25, Crosby Stills & Nash are playing Jacksonville. (Dream: They meet in Tallahassee for a CSNY reuinion.)

It's worth driving across the Panhandle in any case. Check out Neil Young's Twisted Road  tour reviews here. Here's where to get pre-sale tickets at $60.

Young will also play Pensacola on September 28.

Here are the Neil Young tour dates and venues:

2010-09-20, Marina Civic Center, Panama City, Florida


2010-09-22, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, Florida

2010-09-23, Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida

2010-09-25, IP Casino, Resort & Spa, Biloxi, Mississippi

2010-09-26, Saenger Theatre, Mobile, Alabama

2010-09-28, Saenger Theartre, Pensacola, Florida

After an anxious summer on the Gulf, this is some welcome Fall relief.

festgrrl: Blackwater Festival Coming Right Up

festgrrl: Blackwater Festival Coming Right Up

Blackwater Festival Coming Right Up

I am getting psyched for the Blackwater Festival Aug. 26-28 in Live Oak. Check out the schedule here and make your plans accordingly!

Mofro Mini Documentary!

So check it out, JJ Grey and Mofro, who will be playing the Blackwater Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park Aug. 26-28 have a new album in the works, Georgia Workhorse, and they produced a mini-documentary for it. (Click here for my previous post on Blackwater Music Festival)

This documentary is awesome. Here's how to see it: Go to the Mofro website, or to the  Mofro Myspace page . Well worth your while!

Mofro has Florida tour dates for the new record: Oct. 26 at the Engine Room in Tallahassee, Oct. 27 at Common Grounds in Gainesville, Oct. 28 at the House of Blues in Orlando, Oct. 29 at The Ritz Ybor, Oct. 30 at the Southern Monster Smash in Pompano Beach