Great Shows This Week in Tally

What a treat this week!

The Tipsey Gypsies at The Mockingbird Cafe Wednesday night, no cover, but it's nice to tip the musicians. And the food there is heavenly.

Georgia looper Zach Deputy, who's got soul and knows how to put on a dance party,  plays with Orlando's fine band Cope at The Warehouse Friday, February 3. This should be a fantastic show -- these folks are all exuberant performers with mad chops. Zach lays down everything from reggae to gospel to Michael Jackson beats. Cope is a fine danceable rock/jazzy/jam band that can tear up the bluegrass as well. Show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 advanced and $17 day of show.

On Saturday, Feb. 4, the wonderful Tallahassee local Americana band, The New 76ers, play the American Legion Hall at Lake Ella. Don't miss this band's beautiful harmonies, interesting, tight arrangements and the angelic voice of Kelly Goddard. It'll stay with you long after you leave the show. The show is $10 and it happens early -- at 6:30 p.m. It's a brthday party  for Elizabeth George.

Also, the wondefrul Florida Americana singing duo Lis and Lon and Williamson play The Mockingbird Cafe 7-10 Saturday night.

Deadline for Orange Blossom Early Bird is Tomorrow

Only two more days to get your early bird tickets for the wonderful Orange Blossom Jamboree, which takes place at the Sertoma Youth Ranch outside Brooksville (not far from Tampa) May 17-20. As I've written before, this is an intimate, family-friendly venue with just a couple of stages, which makes it super relaxing and stress-free. The bands really play their hearts out.  Orlando uber-jammers Cope headline.

The early bird price (through Feb. 1) is  $45 for a 3-day pass to see 30 live bands. Kids 12 and under are free.

Primitive camping is free with your ticket; an electric-water campsite upgrade is $60.


Here's the lineup:

* Cope


* Beebs and her Money Makers

* Aquaphonics

* 3rd Stone

* Applebutter Express

* Free Range Roosters

* Legacy and The Heard

* Soulnar

* The Estimated Prophets

* Bride Of Chaotica

* Ramblegrass

* Reina Collins

* Shoeless Soul

* Skull and Bone Band

* The Cornerstoners

* Funky Nuggets

* The Funky Presidents

* Funky Seeds

* The Human Condition

* The Transfers

* Scholars Word

* Another Roadside Attraction

* Between Bluffs

* Sosos

* Honey Henny Lime

* BlessEd and the Divine Derelicts

* Juanjamon Band

* Bounce House

* Smilin' Bill

* Green Sunshine

Aura Fest Happening in Central Florida

The Aura Festival happens March 9-11 in St. Cloud, north of Orlando. This fest is a mix of live electronica, jam, funk, rock, reggae, and deep House.

Performers for this year -- the fest's third -- include Papadosio (x2) • Brothers Past (x2) • The Heavy Pets (x2) • Zoogma • The Malah • Kung Fu (x2)• DrFameus feat Allen Aucoin of The Disco Biscuits • Dopapod • The Werks • BioDiesel feat Johnny Rabb & Clay Parnell • COPE • Damn Right! • DJ Craig Heneveld •Aquaphonics • Brother Bean • UV Hippo • EP3 • ArtOfficial • Former Champions • BANG BANG feat Todd Stoops & Scotty Zwang • Sonic Spank • The Mantras •J2K • FLT RSK • Newton Crosby • Sounduo • The Fritz • The Resolvers • Third Nature • Elephantgun • Ketchy Shuby • Fusik • Saltwater Grass • Green Sunshine • Sosos • The Short Straw Pickers • Nick Noyes • Marc Paper Scissor & Friends • The Funky Nuggets • Psychedelphia • Ancient Intelligence


Aura is a camping festival at the 4,700-acre Forever Florida eco-ranch. When you go in to the festival, make sure you have everything you need, because you're there to stay. There's no re-entry.  And you camp where they tell you -- right outside your car. You can't pick your site and you can't save sites. So to make sure you can camp with your crew, best to all to meet outside and go in caravan-style. RVers have to buy a $50 parking pass to get in, but all sites are primitive -- there are no electric or water hookups.

No campfires or fireworks allowed. (There was an unfortunate fire last year which totalled a car.) You can bring a grill, but it has to be up off the ground.

A 3-day ticket is $90 through March 8. A 3-day ticket for kids age 5-12 is $50. Kids 5 and under are free. Aura sold out last year, so if you plan to go, I'd be smart and get your tickets now.

New Grassroots Festival in Virginia Key

Chaka Khan is one of the headliners

A new festival has arrived in Florida. New York state roots jam band Donna The Buffalo has been putting on roots/Americana festivals in New York state and in North Carolina (Shakori Hills). On February 9-12, they are rolling out the first-ever Virginia Key Grassroots Festival. This is a camping fest at  Miami’s Historic Virginia Key Beach Park.

The four-day event will have four stages with roots rock, reggae, hip-hop, Latin, funk, Cajun, bluegrass, African, Kompa, world beat and zydeco on the bill. Chaka Khan, The Del McCoury Band and Arrested Development will headline along with ska/reggae band, Fishbone, Donna the Buffalo, BeauSoleil avec Micheal Doucet and several South Florida local favorites Locos Por Juana, Suenalo and ArtOfficial. (Full lineup is pasted below.)

Organizers say they will have a Kids' Village with interactive programming and a Healing Arts Area with movement workshops and massage. Local and visiting artists will sell handcrafted wares.


4-Day Tickets are $100 for adults and $50 for teens (13-15). Individual day tickets are available for Thursday- $30, Friday and Saturday -$35 and Sunday -$30. Children 12 and under free. If you want to camp on site, you have to pay. You can tent camp for $50. If you want to camp with yout car, it's $100. And if you have an RV, it's $150.

Here is the full-on lineup:
 
* Arrested Development


* Artofficial

* BeauSoleil Avec Michael Doucet

* Big Brass Juke

* Big Cosmo

* Bill Kelly

* Chaka Khan

* Christabel and the Jons

* Cope

* Crazy Fingers

* The Del McCoury Band

* Donna The Buffalo

* Driftwood

* Elastic Bond

* Fishbone

* Giant Panda Geurilla Dub Squad

* Greg Humphreys

* The Habanero Honeys

* The Heavy Pets

* Hindu Cowboys

* Hobex

* Immortal Technique

* The Jacob Jeffries Band

* Jahfe

* Jah High Towa

* Jewels

* Jim Lauderdale

* Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band

* Keith Secola and his Wild Band of Indians

* The Lee Boys

* Locos Por Juana

* Mishka

* Mixed Culture

* Omniscient

* Preston Frank and his Zydeco Family Band

* Raffa and Rainer

* Revelation Mizik

* DJ Richard McVay

* The Rowan Cunningham Band

* Rubblebucket

* Sim Redmond Band

* Son Salvaje

* SUENALO

* The Sunsetters

* Thousands of One

* Toubab Krewe

* Willie Watson and the Evil City String Band

Wanee Tickets on Sale Friday!

Fire up your keyboards -- tickets for the Wanee Festival at Spirit  of the Suwannee go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. They are $189.50 at this point (plus fees.)

This year is going to be a Deadhead's dream, with Phil Lesh and Bob Weir's Furthur co-headlining with the Allman Brothers Band. With Dead drummer Mickey Hart's band on the bill, and also former Dead keyboardist Bruce Hornsby, just about everybody's accounted for save Dead percussionist Bill Kreutzman (and, of course, the late and beloved Jerry Garcia.)

You can check out Wanee's fantabulous lineup here

Day of Protest for Net Freedom

See Some Great Jam Cruise Performances Here

Were you amog the many of us music lovers who couldn't swing the Jam Cruise this year? Thanks to generous videographers, Cheesehead Productions, some of the great performances on the boat are now available for your enjoyment on You Tube. Check out this gem - Soulive with Karl Denson, Trombone Shorty and Robert Walter.

Wanee Festival Lineup Is Out!

Wanee announced today: Sharing the stage for two nights (April 20 & 21) with The Allman Brothers Band is Furthur featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. The rest of the line-up includes: Bruce Hornsby, Mickey Hart Band, Gov’t Mule, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jaimoe's Jasssz Band, Buddy Guy, Electric Hot Tuna , Ray Manzarek & Roy Rogers Band, Leftover Salmon, North Mississippi Allstars, Trigger Hippy (featuring: Joan Osborne, Jackie Greene, Steve Gorman, Audley Freed & Nick Govrik), Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Devon Allman's Honeytribe, Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio, Soja, Conspirator, Eoto, Particle, Zach Deputy, Matt Schofield , Big Sams Funky Nation, Charles Bradley, Bonerama, The Yeti Trio, Jacob Jeffries Band and Bonnie Blue.

THREE DAY GENERAL ADMISSION FESTIVAL TICKETS:

$189.50 (plus applicable fees) from January 20th– February 19th (After February 19th price will increase). Price includes (1) pass to the Festival (Thurs.,Fri. & Sat.) with music beginning at 2:30PM on Thursday and 3 nights of primitive camping (Thurs., Fri. & Sat.)

  

Crawlers Crawling Tonight

Love Tallahassee's  Crawlers. They'll tear it up at Bird's Aphrodisiac Oyster Shack in Tallahassee at 9 p.m. tonight. Special guests include Scott Campbell, Drew Matiluch, Deb Berlinger, and Chelsea Chason. They're calling it "the best neo-retro-acoustic-swamp-funk-grass in town."  Get you some oysters, a grouper sandwich, a cold beer, and settle in for a good show.

Tab Benoit brings smokin' NOLA blues to Tallahassee tonight

Tab Benoit plays The Moon tonight. He's a talented guitar player with that special New Orleans lagniappe. The show's at 7:30, cover is $15 for general admission and $25 for a reserved table. Students can get $10 advanced tckets at the Moon website. King Cotton opens.

Here's a taste of  Benoit's funky swamp blues for you:

Songsters Hit Panhandle's 30A Hwy This Week

The Bangles will be one of the many acts at Seaside this weekend for the 30A Songwriters Festival  (Jan. 13-16). It's $150 for a weekend ticket. This is not a camping festival -- it happens in bars and restaurants along scenic Highway 30A in beautiful Walton County.

Check out my detailed post about this great event here. If you can swing it, you'll be glad you made the trip.

Hot String Show Tonight In Tally

If you want to hear some seriously talented string players laying it down, head to the Mockingbird Cafe in Tallahassee tonight from  7 -10 p.m.

Calling themselves the 'Tipsy Gypsies" are some familiar stellar local musicians -- Mickey Abraham, Kevin Robertson, Drew Matulich, Mike Snelling, & Carrie Perkins. They'll be playing bluegrass, newgrass, swing, jazz, acoustic, folk, & dawg music.

There's no cover, and you can have a nice dinner if you reserve a table.

Jam Cruise Sets Sail January 9

Jamcruise 10 embarks from Fort Lauderdale January 9 and sails through the 14th to Jamaica and Haiti. It's sold out, but there is a waiting list and you never know, a miracle ticket might arrive for those with big wads of cash (or credit cards) at the ready.

The Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale is hosting pre-shows and post-shows. Umphrey's McGee plays with Toubab Krewe Jan. 7, and The New Mastersounds play with Umphrey's McGee on Jan. 8. Tickets are $25 (or $20 if you're booked on the cruise.) On January 14, Galactic, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, and Bobby Lee Rodgers play the post-cruise show. Tickets for the post-cruise show are $25 (or $20 if you're booked on the cruise.)

For those of us who can't make it to the cruise, there's a way to see the shows (from last year's cruise) vicariously.  Check out last year's performances at iClips.


And don't forget  this week's Toubab Krewe and Galactic show in Jacksonville. It's Thursday, Jan. 5.