How Cool Is This?

You can check out all the performers who are comg to Suwannee Springfest   at this new Springfest You Tube channel. Except for the hard-to-read yellow background and light type, it's a cool idea and a great way to get psyched for a great time March 24-27 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. Here's a great one from the site:

Suwanee Springfest Early Bird Deadline Coming Up

A  little reminder, festivarians, that Jan. 31 is the deadline for the early bird pricing on Suwannee Springfest at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. .

You definitely want to take advantage of the discount this year (and give yourself something wonderful to look forward to March 24-27.)

A four-day ticket costs $125 now, and it goes up precipitously after that -- $150 Feb. 1, then $165 on March 16, then $180 at the gate.

Students with a valid student i.d. get a special discount -- $110 advance  and $150 at the gate.

If you can't make it for the whole four days, you can get Saturday and Sunday only tickets this year -- which include a night of camping -- for $145 at the gate only.

Here's a little of the magic comin' our way at Springfest this year -- In this gem, David Grisman and his band  cover James Brown!


Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival 2008 - David Grisman Quintet "Acousticity" By WPPTV from WPPTV on Vimeo.

And even more videos from 30A Songwriters Festival!

Here are three more acts that shined at the 30A Songwriters Festival: Cool Canadian female duo Madison Violet, Daphne Willis, and a singer who really stood out: Angel Snow 

Angel has a smoky voice that cuts right to your heart. I immediately bought her CD (which has no tracks printed on it and just has a copy of her driver's license as "cover art") and listened to it repeatedly on the drive home. Snow -- who collaborates with Alison Krauss's brother Victor -- is one to watch.

Enjoy!

Video of Pat Hull at 30A Songwriters Festival

Pat Hull has cool, enigmatic lyrics and an absolutely beautiful high voice.This track is from his excellent 2010 CD, Fable Names. Cody Carpenter accompanies on vocals and keyboard.

Video -- Emily Saliers at 30A Songrwiters Festival

Here's Emily Saliers of The Indigo Girls doing "Closer I am To Fine" at the 30A Songwriters Festival -- with lots of audience participation. Next to her is Vicki Peterson of The Bangles.

More Videos from 30A Songwriters Festival!

Here are two wonderful up-and-coming singer-songwriters that I saw at the 30A Songwriters Festival. They are both out of Nashville.

When I went to the festival,one of the artists I was most excited to see was Madi Diaz and I was not disappointed! She's a young, indie gem with a gorgeous voice and interesting lyrics. The second video is of Jeremy Lister, who was voted as Nashville's Best Singer-Songwriter of 2008 in the Nashville Scene Awards. Enjoy!

Mary Gauthier at 30A Songwriters Festival

Here's another great performance from the 30A Songwriters Festival. Mary Gauthier performs her haunting song, "Mercy Now." Listen closely to these amazing lyrics.

This video has a funny intro -- Gauthier congratulates country star Chely Wright (just off camera to Gauthier's left)on coming out as a lesbian on the Oprah show, and shares some hilarious bits of her own background. Then the song's ON.... Tania Elizabeth ( formerly of the Canadian newgrass band The Duhks) sings ethereal backup and plays soulful fiddle.

Lots of Talent at 30A Songwriters Festival

The incomparable Dar Williams put on a couple of fine perfomances at the second-ever 30A Songwriters Festival over the weekend. The festival delivered intimate songs and settings with some of the finest talent around. OK, I cried. More than once. Some of these songs are just so beautiful and heartfelt. I came home with a stack of CDs, some new favorites, and a computer full of videotaped performances. For those of you who didn't make it, I'll be posting more videos here for your listening pleasure!

Here's Dar singing "February."

Talent's Coming Down for 30A Songwriter's Festival This Weekend

A massive migration of ridiculous talent heads to the Panhandle coast this weekend for the 30A Songwriters Festival . Last year's festival left me impressed by the heart-felt songcraft. I brought home a lot of new musical discoveries. Here are some of the offbeat acts that festgrrl is most intrigued to see this weekend: Lucy Wainwright Roche,  The Shadowboxers,  Madi Diaz,  Jessica Smucker , Angel Snow, Reed Waddle, The Smoking Flowers, Pat Hull, Chuck Cannon, Zach, Jen Foster, and Madison Violet.

Dumpstaphunk!

Dumpstaphunk is is one of the best funk bands playing today, no doubt. Fresh off the Jam Cruise, Ivan Neville (son of sweet-voiced Aaron) and his band come to Tallahassee Friday night, Jan. 14, at the Engine Room. Gonna be a paaaaaaarty, y'all. $12 advance, $15 at the door. Local wildman band (featuring the Sexual Manatee)Catfish Alliance open.

ATTENTION DEADHEADS!

Internet Pre-Sale tickets open this Friday, Jan. 7, at noon, for the three southeast shows on Furthur's spring tour. That's Sunday April 3, at Atlanta's Fox Theater, Tuesday, April 5 at the UCF Arena in Orlando, and Wednesday, April 6 at the Mizner Park Ampitheater in Boca Raton.

Regular sales, through Ticketmaster, open January 14 at 10 a.m. Write it down on your calendars, y'all, and see you at one of the shows!