Bear Creek Music Festival Shines Again

As a live music freak, festgrrl goes to many, many shows, and has for many years (Not to get too numerically specific here, but let's just say she was riding the rail when Bob Weir rocked those Daisy Dukes for real.)

Some fests tend to roll together in the mind's eye as one hazy, twangly, amplified dream... and some, well, some, jump out and get down like a James Brown Dancing Machine.

Tony Hall lays it down with Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk

Enter Bear Creek Music and Art Festival, which triumphantly concluded its fifth year at Spirit  of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida November 8-11.

As always, this fest was notably well-run and well-curated.

Since it is, above all, a dance festival, the crowd is always exceptionally funky, fun, friendly, and, above all -  enthusiastic:

Promoters Paul Levine and Lyle Williams know music, and they are always on the hunt for new treats for Bear Creek. This year had returning Bear Creek crowd favorites Soulive, George Porter Jr. (of The Meters) and The Running Pardners, Perpetual Groove, Eric Krasno and Chapter 2, Zach Deputy, The New Mastersounds, Umphrey's Mcgee, and Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk.

New Orleans funk legend George Porter, Jr.

The lineup brought some older funk and soul stalwarts together with progressive rockers, jambands, jazz, late-night electronica acts and some of the brightest lights in the current power-funk scene. Plus Burlesque acrobatic Klesmer music!

As is Bear Creek tradition, sit-ins were legion. Artists-at-Large Pee Wee Ellis (James Brown Horns), Roosevelt Collier, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman, Will Bernard, Robert Walter, Alecia Chakour, Andrew Block,  the Atlanta Funk Society Horns, Billy Iuso, Freekbass, Jonathan Scales and Michelle Sarah went stage to stage, spreading pixie dust.

Bear Creek 2012 also  featured fabulous multi-artist showcases with two big players on the neo-funk/R&B scene: Daptone Records and Royal Family Records.

Some highlights of the packed musical weekend:

- March Fourth Marching Band. These Portland, Oregon performers work hard for the money. They take the marching band genre and twist it up into a funky Burlesque spectacle  with sexy outfits, killer dancing acrobats, stilt walkers, pole dancing, at least 14 people on stage, PLUS they are a kick-ass, power-horn, rock-and-roll, world-beat band. Their two shows -- especially the one in the Technaflora Music Hall stage on Thursday night, were tops for the weekend.

- Dr. Klaw. Hot, sticky funk from members of Lettuce and Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk. This year's super-late night show was an absolute THROWDOWN. One of the top shows of the weekend.

- Daptone Records soul revivalist Charles Bradley (originally from Gainesville, Fla.) electrified the crowd with dramatic dirty dance moves, rhinestone jumpsuits (he had a costume change in the middle of his set), and a solid Daptone backing band. Bradley is a former James Brown impersonator who went by the name "Black Velvet," and he signed with Daptone a few years ago.

Charles Bradley photo via http://www.jelmerdehaas.com/

-Kung Fu -- This Connecticut funk/fusion band simply KILLED it. They will be playing at Spirit of the Suwannee at the Aura Festival February 15-17, doing a Stevie Wonder Tribute with Nigel Hall.

- Sharon Jones and the Dap Tones brought the high-energy horns, and Ms. Jones' "History of Dance" performance interlude in her fringed dress was a show to remember, especially when she broke out the Boogaloo.

Photo from http://www.dailyrindblog.com

- The Royal Family Affair's stable of talent included sets by impeccable funksters Lettuce, Nigel Hall, Alecia Chakour,  Eric Krazno and Chapter 2, Soulive, and the Alan Evans Trio.

- Umphrey's McGee. these technically gifted prog-rockers didn't slouch once in their three-show run during the weekend. They packed the crowd in and delivered stunning arrangements with wildly fast changes and a super cool light show. Wow. Just wow.

- Naughty R&B singer Bobby Rush, who said he was celebrating his 84th birthday on Saturday, delivered solid stuff strutting in his white suit at the ampitheater stage with two booty-shaking side singers in tow. A hoot.

Bobby Rush, kdhx.org photo

- Grant Green Jr. & Friends -- Grant Green  Jr. laid down soulful funk on a sunny stage, and the vibe was just right.

Grant Green Jr.

- Savi Fernandez Band -- bouncy, happy and technically sound reggae/Latin funk out of Orlando. This is a band to watch.

Savi Fernandez

-Flannel Church -- this jazzy/funky New Orleans band is made up of folks who have played with longtime psychedelic blues rocker Col. Bruce Hampton, and the band is anchored by drummer Duane Trucks (brother of guitarist Derek.) They delivered two intriguing sets over the weekend. 

All weekend, I heard nothing but raves from everyone I talked to. We created a beautiful, peaceful musical city in the woods for five days, and for that, I am grateful. The "Orchestra At Large" on Sunday, with a stage packed with various performers, was especially groovy.

Horns from the collaborative Orchestra At Large

Bear Creek has been building audience and reputation every year now. I agree with what the blogger over at Headstash Magazine had to say:

"For those in the New Orleans-based funk/jazz/rock scene, Bear Creek Music and Arts Festival has become one of the “holy triumvirate” of festivals, along with JamCruise and Jazzfest. In its fifth year, the fest has gained a reputation as a funk-fueled family affair – a well-deserved descriptor that has attendees returning each year raving about the music, venue, setup and fellow fans."

Here here!

Out Sick!

Gone Festing!!

Follow festgrrl's posts from Bear Creek Music and Art Festival here

Bear Creek Festival: 10 Things To Know Before You Go

1. There’s a silent disco for late nights – everyone wears headphones at this all-night dance space, near Rees Lake in the campground, so as not to disturb sleeping campers or the park’s neighbors. It kicks off Friday night, when you’ll be dancing to the sounds of Skerik and Freekbass starting at 2 am.

2. Bear Creek has a special attribute that most other fests at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park lack: a stage in the campground on cypress-lined Rees Lake. This is great for a number of reasons, the first of which is that you can bring your own beverage to this stage. To get to all the other stages in the park, You have to go through a checkpoint and you are not allowed to bring in your own beverages, other than water. 

The campground stage

3. The white sand Suwannee River beach is not to be missed. Be aware that the river is a long walk from the fest site -- grab a bike, a ride, or a golf cart. Sooooooo worth it. 

Beach on the Suwannee River

4. Sunday night is awesome for those lucky enough to stay around for it. The musicians are loose and happy, the fest workers are loose and happy, there’s only two alternate stages running during the day (no decisions to make), then Dumpstaphunk and Lettuce (yes!!) close out the weekend in a funk frenzy. Plus, if your feet are all played out, you can chill in a hammock. The informal rule is you can use anybody's hammock until they get back. 

Hammocks in the Ampitheater

5. There's a giant bat house! It is just beyond lake camping in the field. At sunset, you can grab a beverage and go watch incredible numbers of bats fly out! Be aware, the people sitting closest to the bat house get sprayed with bat piss, so back off a bit. “Sprayed with bat piss” is a sentence I never expected to write. I also never expected to be sprayed with bat piss in my life, which is why I am warning you now. Back off a bit and enjoy the amazing bat show. 

The bat house

6. The on-site Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park restaurant has a good breakfast buffet. They have nice bathrooms. Also a really cool hand-painted mural of local wildlife. You can also get liquor drinks and good food from the restaurant while watching shows in the Technaflora Music Hall Stage.

7. This year, there are free, handy Bear Creek phone apps with schedules, maps, and other info.

8. The bathhouse on the road that says “Special Persons Camping,” just past the Purple Hat Meadow Stage, usually has the most hot water in its showers.

9. It can get chilly at night in North Florida, so don’t skimp on sweaters and blankets. We have been known to call this festival Brrrrrrr Creek. Fleece and ample firewood are your best friends. Bring your funky warmies -- the costume theme for Saturday night is “Warm and Fuzzy.”

10. There's an emu living at the park, back behind the horse camp. He's a freaky bird!

New Bear Creek Phone App - Handy dandy

Wonderful Wild Rumpus replica painted by Beth Hutchinson.
Get the Bear Creek App and Let the Wild Rumpus Begin!!

I don't know about you, but I have a great capacity for losing my printed fest program about six seconds after I arrive at my camp site. I usually find the program when I am packing up to leave -- then take it home in pristine condition for my vast collection of fest memorabilia.

So I am thankful to the folks putting on Bear Creek Music and Art Festival this week at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fla. Because now the schedule and other info will be on my phone, which I do a better job keeping track of, since I use it as a camera and to blog (if I remember to) during the weekend.

So here is where you can get this wonderful app:

Apple users can download the app here 

Android users can download the app here

And here's a video to get us all psyched up for this weekend!

Riverhawk Festival near Tampa

Such a sweet stage and venue!

Bluegrass, folk. and roots music rein at the Riverhawk Festival, which happens at the lovely Sertoma Youth Ranch in Brooksville, Fla., outside Tampa Nov. 8-11 (Unfortunately for many music fans, it's the same weekend as Bear Creek at Spirit of the Suwanee Music park in Live Oak, Fl, but hey, the more the merrier when it comes to fests.)

The lineup looks great:

FRED EAGLESMITH TRAVELING SHOW

THE WAYBACKS

THE WIYO'S 

THE STEEL WHEELS 

RAY BONNEVILLE
TONY FURTADO BAND

THE RAGBIRDS
HARPER & THE MIDWEST KIND
PAUL CEBAR AND TOMORROWS SOUND
EASTMAN STRING BAND 

BEARFOOT
FRANK SOLIVAN & DIRTY KITCHEN
CABINET

CLUMSY LOVERS 

JOHNSON & LESTER
THE WHOLETONES 

APPLE BUTTER EXPRESS 

PASSERINE 

Sertoma Youth Ranch is a super-chill venue that is very family-friendly. There's a neat stream running through the rolling property, nice bathhouses, and everything is close together. There are scheduled activities for kids. And you can bring dogs!

Sertoma Youth Ranch entrance

A 3-day ticket, which includes primitive camping, is $110 at the gate. Click here for more ticketing options, including extra days, etc. Water and electric sites are sold out at this point, and if you want to bring in an RV and camp in a primitive site, its an extra $60.  

If you can't make Riverhawk, consider String Break at this venue April 11-14.