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!