A Sweet Little Fest, The Acoustic Cafe, Happens This Weekend.

There's a cool little festival this coming weekend (May 23 & 24) in the gentle mountains about a 90-minute drive from Birmingham, Alabama -- The Acoustic Cafe.   They call it the largest gathering of tie-dye hippie types  in Alabama, and it's a couple hundred people at most.

Where the magic happens: The Acoustic Cafe stage

I have met some of the nicest people at this Americana music gathering over the years, and have seen some remarkable shows. Don't worry if there's a band you don't recognize on the lineup, trust me, they will be fantastic. This fest is run by a string music nerd, and he brings in quality performers. Everyone from the late Vassar Clements to Sam Bush to Dread Clampitt to the Carolina Chocolate Drops have played here.

It's a camping festival (you can camp with your car) and it is a one-stage affair, so everybody gets to see the same show at the same time. That makes for a relaxing weekend, and the setting is really beautiful. There's only one food vendor and BYOB (no glass.) There are showers and port o jons.

This is a very family friendly venue, and the crowd is full of folks who are really listening to the shows. Expect some nice campground picking. Pets are not welcome. As far as camping, there's some shady spots and some out-in-the-sun spots, some level and some not. It's first come-first serve. No RV hookups, and campers are located in a designated area.

There are trees for your hammocks, hula hoop demonstrations, yoga, and free coffee all weekend.

Tickets are $60 at the gate, and there is a $10 parking fee. Here is a look at the lineup:

POKEY LAFARGE
RAY WYLIE HUBBARD
HOT BUTTERED RUM
REBECCA FRAZIER AND HIT & RUN
BLUE RIBBON HEALERS
ED PICKETT
THE HERB TROTMAN BAND
SWEETWATER ROAD