Wanee Festival: 10 Things To Know Before You Go

The Allman Brothers and most of the alumni of The Grateful Dead (Furthur, and Mickey Hart Band and Bruce Hornsby) come to headline the 12th annual Wanee Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida this weekend.

This the Allman Brothers' festival, and it is a big, wild affair with top-notch talent -- Hot Tuna Electric, Government Mule,  Buddy Guy, Leftover Salmon, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Particle, EOTO, Big Sam's Funky Nation, North Mississippi All Stars, and this year's Grammy award- winning Tedeschi-Trucks Band. And that's not everybody who is playing. Check out the crazy-good schedule.

Tickets are $199, plus fees, and that includes primitive camping and music, which starts officially Thursday at noon.

There's also music Wednesday night in a Wanee pre-party that starts at 5. The music is free, but you do have to pay the park's extra night camping fee. Beebs and Her Money Makers, Juke, Cope, and Flannel Church -- which has the amazing drummer Duane Trucks -- will perform.

Here are 10 Things to Know Before You Go:

1. This year, for the first time, you will be able to buy a stiff drink at Wanee. Before, you could only get beer and wine at the Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park's on-site bar. The county law's been changed, so you can get your liquor on this year if that's how you roll.

2. There’s a good sit-down restaurant by the  camp store and bar. In the morning, it a good breakfast buffet and nice bathrooms. Also a really cool hand-painted mural of local wildlife.

3. There’s a swimming pool you can use next to the restaurant that also has a small, open-air outdoor shower.

4. People will be selling firewood on the road on the way into the park if you want to wait and buy it then instead of bringing it from home. They sell firewood inside the park, also, but it’s pricey.

5. The great Hot Tuna guitarist Jorma Kakounen is holding the "Fur Peace Ranch" music workshop for aspiring guitarists -- it has separate fees for entrance. Q&A groups will be held by Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Mickey Hart, Oteil Burbridge, Warren Haynes, and other performers.

6. There's a super-cool, giant bat house! It is just beyond lake camping in the field -- ask other campers where it is. At sunset, you can grab a beverage and go watch incredible numbers of bats fly out!

7. Bring your hammock. The park and the Mushroom Stage (a natural ampitheater)  are full of trees.

8. The Suwannee River beach is not to be missed. There's a rope swing, gorgeous limestone banks, and white sand as fine as powdered sugar. The river's a long walk from the fest site -- grab a ride, a golf cart, or your bike.

9. The Suwannee's water is dark (dyed by tree tannins), but it is spring-fed and the river bottom is clean and sandy.

10. There's a beautiful cypress lake which has swans that light up at night in the primitive camping section. The sites tend to be sloping, but it sure is pretty!