Suwannee Hulaween This Week!

Art by Bean at Spirit Lake (festgrrl photo)

“Music is everything. It's my passion, my feelings, my business, my escape, my expression, my social life, my frustrations, and my soundtrack. Do you happen to know where I can get a 'lil more?”

That quote is from Suwannee Hulaween promoter Michael Berg, in an interview on the Huffington Post

We are the lucky beneficiaries of Berg's musical passion this week, when Suwannee Hulaween  hits the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl., starting with a preparty Thursday and then the festival proper Friday through Sunday night.(Oct. 31-Nov. 2)

A ferris wheel at the main stage - yes! (festgrrl photo)

This is the second-ever Suwannee Hulaween to take place at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Hosted by the eclectic national touring band The String Cheese Incident (bluegrass meets jam, electronica, and funk) in Live Oak, FL October 31-November 2. 

String Cheese was mind-blowingly good last year, and this year they will play three nights (seven sets,) along with a surprise-filled three-set Halloween show themed ‘The Afterlife,’ asking fans: What do YOU want to be in the afterlife? The costume theme is interpreting life after death -- mythology, philosophy, religion and the supernatural.

The talented Michael Kang of String Cheese (festgrrl photo)

The fest has a packed roster of other performers as well, including Keller Williams Bluegrass Surprise, Big Gigantic, Thievery Corporation, Beats Antique, the New Deal, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Shpongle (DJ Set), Nahko and Medicine for the People, Greensky Bluegrass, EOTO, The Dean Ween Group, Conspirator, Emanicipator and many more.You can check out the schedule here.

Weekend tickets  (which include primitive camping) are $239 advanced this week, and $269 at the gate. Single day tickets (do not include camping) are $90. Tickets for the Thursday night pre-party featuring Particle, Electron, Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band, MZG, and Modern Measure are $40 advanced or $50 at the gate. Be advised: If you want to camp in the park Wednesday or Thursday night, you are required to have a ticket to the pre-party.

Hooper at Spirit Lake (festgrrl photo)

One of the coolest things about Suwannee Hulaween is the psychedelic "Spirit Lake" art installation. The park's cypress lake is expertly lighted, and acrobatics, jugglers, hoopers and fire dancers perform. There's a blacklight mural, huge amazing sculptures, swings, hammocks, a lighted mandala, and more. Trust me, the artists go all out making it. This is NOT TO MISS!!!!

Here is your lineup:

The String Cheese Incident (3 nights)

§  Keller Williams – Bluegrass Suprise

§  Thievery Corporation

§  Big Gigantic

§  Beats Antique

§  The New Deal

§  Shpongle (Simon Posford DJ set)

§  Joe Russo’s Almost Dead

§  Emancipator

§  Greensky Bluegrass

§  The Dean Ween Group

§  EOTO

§  Conspirator

§  Future Rock

§  Nahko & Medicine For The People

§  Rising Appalachia

§  Rob Garza (DJ Set)

§  Kung Fu

§  The Soul Rebels

§  Judah and the Lion

§  Van Ghost

§  The Heavy Pets

§  Ghost Owl

§  Greenhouse Lounge

§  Cope

§  Strung Like A Horse

§  Jonathan Scales Fourchestra

§  Shane Pruitt Band

§  Suenalo

§  Dustin Thomas

§  Beartoe

§  Post Pluto

See Shovels and Rope, Clarence Carter, John Anderson and More at Big Pine Music Festival This Weekend in Albany, Ga.

Shovels and Rope

The first-ever  Big Pine Music Festival  happens this weekend at the fairgrounds in Albany, Ga. It's a country-funk-Americana mish-mash with some excellent acts, including the haunting Americana duo, Shovels and Rope, singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton, Drake White and the Big Fire Band, the legendary R &B singer Clarence Carter ("Strokin'") and country artist John Anderson.

Chris Stapleton

festgrrl recommends one of the lesser-known acts, a young, new funk band out of Augusta, Ga.,  Funk You  (they play at midnight Saturday.) There's also a Jerry Garcia Band cover band for your dancing pleasure.


In all, more than 40 acts will perform on four stages Friday and Saturday. You can check out the schedule here. 

Weekend passes for Big Pine are $50. You can get a full-service RV hook-up for $100, Primitive camping passes are $10. Day passes are $30.

Dr. John, Lyle Lovett, Marcia Ball and more for Magnolia Fest is This Week

It's here! The 18th annual Magnolia Fest  happens this Thursday through Sunday  (Oct. 16-18) at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl.  

This year's lineup includes Dr. John and The Night Trippers, Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group, Jason Isbell, The Indigo Girls, , Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Marcia Ball & Terrance Simien “Boogie on the Bayou,” Keller Williams with More Than A Little, Donna the Buffalo, The Wailers, North Mississippi Allstars, The Duhks, Rodney Crowell, Anders Osborne, Jim Lauderdale, Tim Reynolds & TR3, Tornado Rider, New Orleans Suspects, Willie Sugarcapps, American Aquarium, The Lee Boys, and a festgrrl fave -- the A-Mazing acrobatic, stilt-walking, booty-shaking March Fourth Marching Band all the way from Portland, Oregon.

March Fourth Marching Band

Tickets (which include primitive camping) are $185 advanced, and they go up to $200 this Wednesday. 

There are many things to love about Magnolia Fest, which manages to be both laid-back and world-class at the same time. This fest is generally hassle-free and kid friendly. Campfire picking goes on all night and day.

You can easily camp by your car in shaded sites. RV hookups are available too, and golf carts and cabins (if they aren't sold out. Call Spirit of the Suwannee to check.)

And don't forget to go to the park's beautiful river beach  to say hi to the Suwannee, y'all:

Here's the complete Magnolia Fest lineup (The schedule is here:)


Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group

Jason Isbell

The Indigo Girls

Dr. John & The Night Trippers

Bela Fleck/ Abigail Washburn

Marcia Ball & Terrance Simien

Keller Williams w/ More Than a Little

Donna the Buffalo x2

The Wailers

North Mississippi Allstars

The Duhks

Rodney Crowell

Anders Osborne

Tornado Rider

New Orleans Suspects

Rushadicus The Cello Goblin

Jim Lauderdale

Nikki Talley Trio

Tim Reynolds & TR3

Willie Sugarcapps

American Aquarium

March Fourth Marching Band

The Lee Boys

Big Cosmo

Bloodkin

Honey Island Swamp Band

Sloppy Joe

Grandpa’s Cough Medicine x2

Quartermoon

Canary in the Coalmine

The Steppin Stones

Flagship Romance

Jacksonvegas

The Vegabonds

Parker Urban Band

Juke

Bryce Alastair Band

Chelsea Saddler

Heywire

Tyler Denning Band

Rusty Shine