Wanee Early Bird Deadline is Tomorrow

Don't forget to take advantage of early bird savings for Wanee festival April 14-16 at Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park  The deadline is Tuesday (March 1) The early bird price is 188.50 - and that doesn't include fees. So you're going to want to get the early bird. That gives you primitive camping from Wednesday through Saturday nights.

This year they are including music on Wednesday from 2 pm to 2 am.

Widespread Panic headlines on Thursday. Festival founders The Allman Brothers play Friday and Saturday nights.

And check out this amazing lineup for the festival: Robert Plant & The Band of Joy, Steve Miller Band., Warren Haynes Band, the Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band, Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band, Ween, Stephen Marley, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Mike Gordon, Hot Tuna, 7 Walkers featuring Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann, Galactic, Taj Mahal, North Mississippi Allstars, Keller Williams, John Popper & The Duskray Troubadours, The Radiators, Big Gigantic, Melvin Seals & JGB, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, The New Deal, Lotus, Dead Confederate, Tea Leaf Green, DJ Logic, Toubab Krewe, Devon Allman’s Honeytribe, Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Guitar Shorty, Dangermuffin, Honey Island Swamp Band, Kevin Hammond, Death On Two Wheels, Jacob Jeffries Band and Griffin Anthony.

festgrrl's word to the wise on Wanee - this fest is CROWDED. Bring your own potty situation if you got one, and a sun shower, too. The showers get nasty and the bath houses quit working generally on the first day. It's all port o lets.

Zach Deputy Hits Tally Tonight

The soulful one-man band Zach Deputy plays the Engine Room in Tallahassee tonight. Doors open at 9, cover is $14. Zach's a longtime favorite with the crowd at Bear Creek Music and Art Festival In fact, Bear Creekers held a benefit for Zach after all his equipment got stolen when he was out on the road. He's been known to spontaneously pop up and do a show somewhere in the campgrounds late-night. Zach is a groove machine who knows how to keep the dance floor hopping -- with everything from his reggae-tinged originals to Michael Jackson covers. He's got the real-deal soul going on and he is one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet.

The picture's not so great on this video, but the audio is great and it shows you how Zach builds a song from the ground up.

Newgrass-y Tallahassee

Lots of music for string lovers this weekend in Tallahassee!

The super fantastic Dread Clampitt plays Saturday night at the American Legion Hall at Lake Ella, Doors open at 7:30 and show starts at 8. Word is they will play two 90 minute sets. Tallahassee dulcimer phenom Aaron o'Rourke will sit in. Woo-hoo! Cover is $10.

On Friday night, string bands Two Foot Level, Me and The Devil, and Stranger Still play for free at the Krew De Gras on Monroe Street in midtown.

Now this isn't newgrass, but a shout out to Tallahassee singer/heckofasongwriter/wonderful person Grant Peeples, whose album Okra and Ecclestiastes, is climbing up the Americana charts. There's an interview with Grant in No Depression. Grant's CD release party happens Friday at the American Legion Hall. Cover is $10.

A little live Dread Clampitt from a few years back:

The Amazing March Fourth

A few years ago, festgrrl went to a festival up near Atlanta called the Echo Fest, and late one night met and socialized with some delightful camping neighbors. They said: "You have to come see our band tomorrow at noon!"

When we arrived in the blazing sun to see said band, well.... there were over 30 people, stilt walkers and burlesque ladies and acrobats, oh my! The band is March Fourth from Portland, Oregon, and they were filming a documentary about their travels. Check out the March Fourth trailer for the documentary, Running Amok, below. Absolutely amazing.

They will be playing the Festival Internationale in Lafayette, Louisiana April 30, and I plan to travel there to see them ( and also the other fantastic acts, including world-beat phenoms Balkan Beatbox). The festival is free.

Check out these kooky cats!



And here's what they can do on stilts!

The Awesome Punch Brothers!

festgrrl is all about the Punch Brothers, the amazing virtuoso string players assembled by mandolin phenom Chris Thile (fomerly of the bluegrass band Nickel Creek.) The Punch Brothers say they aren't a bluegrass band, and they aren't really. More like jazz grass, but that description  doesn't really cut it either. What they are is insanely talented. I highly recommend their 2010 release, Antifogmatic. I can't stop listening to it.

They hit Orlando's Plaza Theater March 31 and Jacksonville's  Florida Theater April 1.

They will also be playing New Orleans JazzFest on May 8.

Here is a Radiohead cover they performed in 2009, (Paste magazine called it one of the top 20 covers of 2010) and below that "This is the Song" from Antifogmatic. Enjoy!

Shake Your Rump To

Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band Thursday night at The Engine Room in Tallahassee. These guys from North Carolina know how to throw it DOWN. Tallahassee's Catfish Alliance opens, doors open at 9. Cover is $7.

This band was a visual extravaganza the last time I saw them (fur chaps)with some serious funk chops and kickass guitar and horns. It's always a real party when the Booty's in town. Check this clip out and I dare you not to shake your booty. I dare you!

Purple Hatter's Ball!

Every year, folks from the Tallahassee area celebrate the short life of a sweet fest sister, Rachel Morningstar Hoffman. Her life was cut too short by a senseless murder.

In honor of her favorite fest attire -a purple fuzzy hat, friends throw The Purple Hatters Ball. This year it is May 13-15  at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak. Tickets are $45 advance and $60 at the gate. That includes three days of primitive camping.  Check out the fine lineup.

Rachel lost her life due to the senseless drug war. She wasn't hurting anybody, and nobody should have hurt her.

DANCE  ON SISTER!

Farm To Family Full Moon Fest Next Month!

The Farm To Family full moon gatherings outside Gainesville are just wonderful. You'll see great regional musicians, and the price -- $20 -- can't be beat. That includes primitive camping all weeekend. The next Full Moon Festival is set for the weekend of March 18-20. Acts haven't yet been announced.

festgrrl has been to several of these festivals but has not visited the new venue yet, which is near Ginnie Springs in Gilchrist County. I can tell you that in the past, there were clean porta-lets, and  a covered area in front of the stage with couches. You should bring your own chairs, etc.

The folks who come to Farm To Family are some of the nicest you'll meet, it is a chill atmosphere with one stage, and it is a nice place to bring kids. There are a few vendors (the infamous Grilled Cheese Wagon, for one) for food, but bring your own alcohol/water/drinks for sure. There is usually a nice community bonfire at night. What a wonderful way to spend a spring weekend!!

Hangout Festival Announces Killer Lineup!

The Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama hits its stride this year (it's second -- with last year marred by the f****** BP oil spill) with a heavy-hitter lineup May 22-24; Widespread Panic, Paul Simon, The Flaming Lips, Primus, The Black Keys, My Morning Jacket, Michael Franti, Keller Williams, Medeski, Cee Lo Green, Ween, Martin and Wood, The Warren Haynes Band, The Foo Fighters, Umphrey's Magee, and more....This is not a camping festival, but takes place on the beach.

You can explore lodging options here.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for $159. They go up to $174 after that. Kids age 10 and under are free.