Get Down! Bear Ceek Music And Art Festival This Week!

Photo Courtesy of Rock On Philly.com

Are we there yet? YES WE ARE! It's time for the booty-shaking party of the year, people,

We're talking Bear Creek Music & Art Festival, the dance throwdown in the woods at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fla. Nov. 13-16

This fest is known for its numerous musical sit-ins and surprises, and this year we'll be treated to a groovetastic, world-beat superjam from West African musicians. Nice!

As for the crowd, it’s all about dancing. Super-friendly vibe, outrageous costumes.

The Mandé Superjam, an all-star group of African and American musicians including members of Benyoro, Kreative Pandemonium and Toubab Krewe, and special guests Balla Kouyaté and Raja Kassis happens in the Music Hall on Saturday afternoon. 

Balla Kouyate

The promoters say: "The music of West Africa is the bedrock of many American styles of music, and listeners often hear echoes of blues, jazz, and Appalachian music in the circular melodies and dense rhythms of the region. This supergroup will perform updated interpretations of the centuries-old repertoire of West African jelis (traditional musicians) creating a tour-de-force of hypnotic grooves and majestic melodies."

Over the weekend, you'll see LOTS of horn sections. (The great Pee Wee Ellis, sax player for James Brown and one of the pioneers of funk, is one of the artists-at-large who sit in with various acts.)

Weekend tickets (which include primitive camping) are $195 advanced for a 3-day ticket and $205 for a 4-day ticket. Gate prices are $225 for a 3-day ticket, and $245 for a 4-day ticket. (Just sayin', it pays to plan people, the early bird 4-day ticket was $165, and there was an EZ payment plan to break it up!)

Dumpstaphunk!

The pre-party music starts Thursday, and acts play through until Sunday night, when powerhouse funk band Lettuce closes the fest.

In addition to the headliners, for some fine funk and soul, festgrrl highly recommends St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Turkuaz, Orgone, Earphunk, The Main Squeeze, Monophonics, and Locos por Juana. But hell, everybody you're going to see is going to be good, trust me. Here's a look at the complete lineup:

Umphrey's McGee x 2
Chris Robinson’s Soulive Revue
Lettuce x 2
Dumpstaphunk x 2
Soulive
New Mastersounds x 2
Budos Band x 2
Break Science
Talib Kweli
The Floozies
St. Paul & the Broken Bones
Zach Deputy x 2
Nicholas Payton Trio x 2
Orgone x 2
Oteil Burbridge and Roosevelt Collier Band
Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds
Turkuaz
The Nth Power x 2
Mandé Superjam
The Main Squeeze x 2
Monophonics
Alan Evans’ Playonbrother
Mingo Fishtrap
See I x 2
Earphunk
Kreative Pandemonium
Benyoro
Locos Por Juana
Aleica Chakour Band x 2
The Heard
The Fritz
Curtis Harding
Tauk
The Broadcast
Yojimbo
Funky Knuckles
Come Back Alice
Catfish Alliance
Freddy's Finest
Copious Jones
S.P.O.R.E.
Captain Green
Green Sunshine
Dirk Quinn Band
Herd Of Watts

Artists at Large:
Bernard Purdie
Pee Wee Ellis
George Porter Jr.
Oteil Burbridge
Skerik
Nicholas Payton
Jennifer Hartswick
Grant Green Jr.
Roosevelt Collier
Khris Royal
Carly Meyers
Farnell Newton
Eric Vogel
Brandon Niederauer

Silent Disco:
Sir Charles
Juan Basshead
Vlad the Inhaler
Elliot Mess
Charlie Hustle
Michael of Earphunk
Bobby Newport
Schizo the DJ
Dialectable Beats
LZRKMMNDR
Ardency
NickFRESH
 

Know your costume themes: Friday, as always, is Warm & Fuzzy. ('Cause we don't call this chilly fest Brrr Creek for nothing)  Saturday is Superheroes and Cops ‘n Robbers, and Sunday is Purple Day, in honor of Spirit of the Suwannee's dear friend Rachel Morningstar Hoffman.

There will be 10 yoga and workshops throughout the weekend, including Gentle & Ayurveda Yoga, Restorative Yoga, AcroPlay,Yin Yoga to live Music, West African Drumming Workshop, Basics of Poi, and more.

On Saturday, fans can join Zach Deputy as he hosts a charity disc golf tournament on the fantastic 18-hole Magnolia Disc Golf Course benefiting The Spirit of the Suwannee Kids Music Camp.
 
Let the games begin!