Florida Folk Festival, Acoustic Cafe this weekend

The 58th Florida Folk Festival takes place in White Springs. This is a state-run festival, and you can only camp if you have signed up to be a volunteer. There is a campground pretty close by along the Suwannee River, however.

Headliners are Mel Tillis and Billy Dean, Michael Johnathon, and Ben Prestage. Tallly performers Doug Gauss, The Mayhaws, Frank Thomas, and dulcimer phenom Aaron O'Rourke will be there. Lots of cool folk demonstrations, foods, and a cool Seminle camp. Bring 'yo hand fan, your swimming suit and a bike... it's a warm one during the day.

The incomparable Acoustic Cafe outside Birmingham happens this weekend, with Sam Bush, Dread Clampitt and Tornado Rider headlining. This little festie is a real treat. Small crowd that really listens, stellar players, beautiful area in the mountains. They've moved to a new site this year. Seriously worth the drive. They only have one food vendor and no alcohol vendor, so bring what you need with you. You can car camp.

Magnolia Fest Early Bird Tickets Now

I know it seems like a long way off, but tickets for Magnolia Fest on October 21-24 are just $100 ($119 with taxes and handling fees) through May 31st. After they sell 1,500 at that price, early bird goes up to $125. So get your Mag on early and support this little gem of a fest at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (paradise!) in Live Oak, Fl.  It is always a stellar good time, outstanding music and a magical vibe that you've just got to experience. It's like coming home, y'all.

Orange Blossom Jamboree This Weekend!

The Orange Blossom Jamboree debuts this weekend at Sertoma Youth Ranch in Brooksville, you can see my previous post on this little fest, which takes place at a  fantastic small venue with a creek running through it, shade, and really nice bathrooms.  It's the same place they hold the excellent fest Riverhawk.

I love the Gainesville Funk-Afro-beat band 3rd Stone that will be playing there, also FunkUs out of Orlando is a lot of fun. It's only $30 for the weekend, which includes primitive camping! You can't beat that with a stick, y'all.

The Show Goes On, Despite the OIl Spill Looming Offshore

The Hangout Festival is anxious to let folks know that the show's on in Orange Beach, Alabama  this weekend May 14-16, and they are donating profits to Gulf Coast relief efforts.

They've got a seriously excellent lineup! (Even though one of my faves, The Flaming Lips, canceled due the the hospitalization of band member Steven Drozd, who is expected to recover in a few weeks. (And I was all set to go to the St. Augustine show - now rescheduled for October.)

Another festgrrl fave, ALO out of San Francisco, will be at the Hangout Festival in one of their rare sojourns to our part of the world.

One-day passes are $79 and three-day passes are $159.

 Here is the Hangout lowdown:

FRIDAY, MAY 14th: Zac Brown Band, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, The Black Crowes, North Mississippi Allstars Duo, Girl Talk, Pnuma Trio, Orianthi, Brett Dennen, Jeff Austin and Friends featuring Larry Keel, Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam, Rachel Goodrich, Kirsten Price, El Cantador, Ben Arthur, and Hightide Blues.



SATURDAY, MAY 15th: John Legend, Jakob Dylan and Three Legs featuring Neko Case and Kelly Hogan, Gov’t Mule, Funky Meters, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Jerry Jeff Walker, Ozomatli, The Whigs, Toubab Krewe, Moon Taxi, A.A. Bondy, Wild Sweet Orange, Jon Black, and Rustlanders.


SUNDAY, MAY 16th: Trey Anastasio and TAB, Ben Harper and Relentless7, Ray LaMontagne, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Guster, NeedToBreathe, Matisyahu, Keller Williams, OK Go, Blind Boys of Alabama, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, ALO, Matt Hires, Kristy Lee, Roman Street, Rollin’ in the Hay, and The Cary Laine Band.

And if you don't want to go to Alabama, you can go to Georgia for the Hoopee Jam in Norristown, GA, about halfway between Savannah, and Macon, GA, a few miles north of I-16, outside Swainsboro, Ga.


There's more info on that little festie on my Hoopie Jam earlier posting. And for overall planning, don't forget my  festgrrl spring lineup posting.

HILARIOUS FAKE FEST POSTER

Tornado Rider!

What a band Tornado Rider is... Punkgrass balladeers crossed with Cirque de Slolei gymnastics, humor, kick-ass musicianship, and then, there's THE ACROBATICS.(pictued here is Rushad Eggleston, cellist of Tornado Rider, sitting in with Tania Elizabeth from The Canadiam newgrass band, The Duhks)

You will see some acrobotics.
Love, love, love this band, and so do many of my readers, yay!

If you are not afraid of loud straightout,  kick-ass punk music, come on out. Even though it is monday.

Stinky's Fish Camp Monday, 9 pm.