Festgrrl Saying Bye

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Well, kind friends, this is the end of the festgrrl music news blog.

When I started festgrrl eight years ago, I began this wonderful adventure  because I couldn't get all the information I needed about the music festivals I wanted to go to, so I decided to start reporting on them and gathering info for myself and my fellow festers. Back then, most festival websites were generally terrible and hard to navigate.

I started out sending group emails and then evolved into the festgrrl blog when that easy platform became available.

Today, it's a far different landscape.There is TONS of information out there now about bands and fests, and lots of people reviewing and photographing. Check out  the venerable and valuable JamBase. Also Live for Live Music, Music fest news, Relix, Funk It, and The Untz,  just to name a few.

No one should have any trouble finding what they need to know with all that's available. So I'm gonna retire from this festgrrl venture and pursue some other stuff.  I have had some amazing experiences and met some delightful folk. Thank you musicians, thank you promoters, thank you tapers, thank you festivarians!

I'm still gonna be out there with my crazy old van and my dancing shoes, that's for sure. It's a long strange trip and I'm still traveling along with the rest of you music fans.You people are the best!

Love, love, love to all, near and far. See you on the dance floor.

Time for The Purple Hatter's Ball!

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It's time for the intimate, heart-felt love fest that is the Purple Hatter's Ball, with a full roster of bands including dance-tastic Papadosio, Earphunk, the Floozies, The Polish Ambassador, Melvin Seals & JGB and more.  It happens June 17-19. which we know is hot as hell, but wait! There's a cool river at  Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, and a stage will be running with riverside music all weekend.

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Sooooo... let's go! Bring your floaties and your coolers and your camping fans, rent your Suwannee golf carts and let's rage in paradise to honor the late Rachel Morningstar Hoffman, the purple-hatted fester who was taken from this world too soon. You can learn more about Rachel's story here.

Rachel Morningstar Hoffman

I can't recommend this sweet little festival enough. If you are in need of good vibes, this is the place. Gathering on the banks of the precious Suwannee, we spend a few blissful days treasuring our friends and celebrating our musical community.

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An advanced weekend ticket, which includes primitive camping Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, is $150.  The Thursday night pre-party is $37. VIP options are available also. A meaningful part of the festival is an annual ceremony on Sunday honoring Rachel where her family releases butterflies to fly free.

Rachel's mom, "Mama Margie," in the purple hat

You can also get involved in Action Days with socially conscious performer, The Polish Ambassador, on the Thursday before the fest (gardening projects, progressive techniques for handling refuse, permaculture, soil testing, and more.)  Action Days participants get into the Thursday night preparty for free.

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Check out the daily schedule here and I've listed the full lineup for you:

Papadosio
The Floozies
The Polish Ambassador
Melvin Seals and JGB
Earphunk
DubConscious
The Mantras
Roosevelt Collier Band
The Malah
The Hip Abduction
Sophistafunk
Voodoo Visionary
Catfish Alliance
Trial By Stone
Scott Campbell band with Avis Berry
Funk You
MZG Live featuring Allen Aucoin
Flat Land
Herd Of Watts
Kaleigh Baker with The Groove Orient
The Corbitt-Clampitt Experience
Post Pluto
Squeedlepuss
SPORE with Zahira
Bedside
Leisure Chief
Heather Gillis Band             

Late Night Silent Disco + Beach Stage
Ancient Deep
Big Bucks Crew
Cat Party
Combustible
Cuddlefish
Damballa
Dazey
Elliot Mess
Jeff Randall
Leginge
Paten Locke
Ricky Raw
Sir Charles
Skythye
Taste Tester
Triclops1
Vlad the Inhaler
Zachy Nix

Thursday Night Pre-Party
Sunsquabi
Savi Fernandez Birthday Band
Space Kadet
Gypsy Elise