First Fests for 2014 - Florida's The Place

Husband and wife Grammy winners Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks' band headlines
the Sunshine Music and Blues Festival 

In Florida, we don't wait for no stinkin' spring to start our festing engines. We clean up the New Year's refuse and get back in the jamming saddle.

This month's best bets are the Sunshine Music and Blues Festival  -- a day-long event that happens twice -- January 18 in Boca Raton and  January 19 in  St Petersburg.

This is the second year for this fest, which is headlined by the excellent Grammy-award winning Tedeschi Trucks Band  Also on the bill for this year:  JJ GREY: GALACTIC; LEON RUSSELL; ACOUSTIC HOT TUNA, STANLEY CLARKE; THE RINGERS FEATURING JIMMY HERRING; TAB BENOIT( Boca Raton show only); BOBBY LEE ROGERS;and OLI BROWN.

In the Panhandle, singer songwriters are getting ready to converge at the 30A Songwriter's Festival Jan. 17-19, during which 150 songwriters hold more than 200 performances in 25 different bars and restaurant venues along Scenic Highway 30A in gorgeous Walton County (the little towns of Seaside, Rosemary Beach, etc. between Fort Walton Beach and Panama City.) The level of talent at this fest is top-notch, with truckloads of Nashville professional songwriters heading South to Florida to showcase tunes. It's $180 for a ticket that will get you in to all the performances.

Headliners include Richard Thompson, Ani Defranco, Kristian Bush (Sugarland,) Loudon Wainwright III, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Shawn Mullins, Tinsley Ellis, and more.

Richard Thompson

Be aware this fest is pricey; It's pricey to stay anywhere around there (except camping at Grayton Beach State Park,) and you have to buy food and drinks at swanky venues. The good news is the food is very, very good in this part of the world, and the scenery is divine. I have seen some jaw-dropping performances at the 30A Songwriters Festival, and I am not ashamed to say I cried a couple times at the poignancy of homemade, heartfelt songs! 

In February, head down to Miami to dance your ass off and camp by the sea for the Virginia Key Grassroots Festival, which has a killer lineup of roots and world beat bands, and a decent ticket price as well. Check the link above for my previous post with info about that little gem, now in its second year.  

Ahhhhh....Virginia Key

Holiday Festing in Florida Just Around the Corner

The excellent band, Cope, will headline

Just a reminder that you don't have to spend the holidays without your fest family... You can head to the Home Town New Year's Rally  December 26-29 at Maddox Ranch outside Lakeland, Fla. You can get all the details in my previous post. This promises to be a great escape with good tunes and wonderful peeps!

Maddox Ranch

Next Month: The Sunshine Music and Blues Festival

Tedeschi Trucks Band Headlines

Tickets are still available for the The Sunshine Music and Blues Festival, a traveling  fest which happens in two cities next month  -- January 18 at Boca Raton, Florida's Mizner Park and and January 19th in St. Petersburg's Vinoy Park.  General admission tickets are $49.50 and special Reserved tickets are available for $99.50.

This is the second year for this fest, which is headlined by the excellent Grammy-award winning Tedeschi Trucks Band  Also on the bill for this year:  JJ GREY: GALACTIC; LEON RUSSELL; ACOUSTIC HOT TUNA, STANLEY CLARKE; THE RINGERS FEATURING JIMMY HERRING; TAB BENOIT( Boca Raton show only); BOBBY LEE ROGERS;and OLI BROWN.

Each fest starts at noon, and will have food and beer vendors for your enjoyment.

Now, wouldn't a ticket to this make an excellent holiday gift?

Virginia Key Grassroots Festival This Weekend in Miami

John Brown's Body will play

Tickets are still available for the Virginia Key Grassroots Festival in Miami this weekend -- Feb. 20-24 for just $100. (Camping is extra, check the website for more details.)

This little camping fest on a beachy park just outside Miami is hosted by jam-Cajun-roots rockers Donna The Buffalo.   There are day tickets available as well.

The lineup is eclectic and multicultural slate of  40 bands from South Florida, Africa, Colombia, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina, and California.

The promoters say:  'The festival will feature a mix of Roots Rock, Reggae, Latin, Zydeco, Bluegrass and Electronica... Plus: Yoga, Tai Chi, Zen Meditation, Tensegrity Practice, Tea Ceremonies and great wholesome foods. Also, there will be a volunteer project to build a community structure to enhance The Historic Virginia Key Beach Park."

Virginia Key Beach Park

Here's a look at some of the bands who will be playing this fest:

• * The Del McCoury Band
• * Donna The Buffalo
• * ChocQuibTown
• * Oliver Mtukudzi & The Black Spirits
• * Toubab Krewe
• * MC Yogi
• * Monsieur Periné
• * Spam Allstars
• * John Brown’s Body
• * Suénalo
• * Driftwood
• * Elastic Bond
• * Keith Frank & The Soileau Zydeco Band
• * Locos Por Juana
• * Uproot Hootenanny

And here's a swanky little preview video from the fest's promoters:

Alabama Shakes in St Augustine Saturday -- Tickets Available

Heads up: Tickets are still available for the Alabama Shakes show at St. Augustine Ampitheater on Saturday, Dec. 7. This band is truly worth seeing. Here's the link for tickets, which range from $26.50 to $36.50. The show is all ages and it starts early -- at 7:30 p.m.

Wanee Festival Early Bird Ticket Sale

So, who all is playing Wanee Festival April 10-12? We don't know yet. But early bird tickets go on sale for this Allman Brothers-hosted festival  this week, on Thursday, Dec. 5, just in time for holiday gift giving.

The early bird ticket sale lasts a week -- starting at 10 a.m. on the 5th and ending at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12. The Early Bird Weekend tickets, which include primitive camping at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fla., are $175 plus fees (not sure how much the fees are at this point.)

This is Wanee's 10th year, and with the wide variety of music in past years as a guide,  I can pretty much guarantee you'll like who is playing. Be aware, this is a big festival -- much bigger than, say Magnolia fest or Bear Creek, so plan accordingly.