festgrrl

Dumpstaphunk Does P Funk

2012-02-02T11:07:00.001-05:00

This news from the prodicers of April's Wanee Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park makes festgrrl very, very happy.

Ivan Neville and Dumpstaphunk will be returning to the Mothership with a set of 'D-Funk does P-Funk' -- a special Wanee Exlusive!

Here's a little Dumpstaphunk (Not doing P funk) to brighten your day...

Great Shows This Week in Tally

2012-01-31T11:15:00.001-05:00

What a treat this week!

The Tipsey Gypsies at The Mockingbird Cafe Wednesday night, no cover, but it's nice to tip the musicians. And the food there is heavenly.

Georgia looper Zach Deputy, who's got soul and knows how to put on a dance party, plays with Orlando's fine band Cope at The Warehouse Friday, February 3. This should be a fantastic show -- these folks are all exuberant performers with mad chops. Zach lays down everything from reggae to gospel to Michael Jackson beats. Cope is a fine danceable rock/jazzy/jam band that can tear up the bluegrass as well. Show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 advanced and $17 day of show.

On Saturday, Feb. 4, the wonderful Tallahassee local Americana band, The New 76ers, play the American Legion Hall at Lake Ella. Don't miss this band's beautiful harmonies, interesting, tight arrangements and the angelic voice of Kelly Goddard. It'll stay with you long after you leave the show. The show is $10 and it happens early -- at 6:30 p.m. It's a brthday party for Elizabeth George.

Also, the wondefrul Florida Americana singing duo Lis and Lon and Williamson play The Mockingbird Cafe 7-10 Saturday night.

Deadline for Orange Blossom Early Bird is Tomorrow

2012-01-30T10:35:00.001-05:00

Only two more days to get your early bird tickets for the wonderful Orange Blossom Jamboree, which takes place at the Sertoma Youth Ranch outside Brooksville (not far from Tampa) May 17-20. As I've written before, this is an intimate, family-friendly venue with just a couple of stages, which makes it super relaxing and stress-free. The bands really play their hearts out. Orlando uber-jammers Cope headline.

The early bird price (through Feb. 1) is $45 for a 3-day pass to see 30 live bands. Kids 12 and under are free.

Primitive camping is free with your ticket; an electric-water campsite upgrade is $60.

Here's the lineup:

* Cope

* Beebs and her Money Makers

* Aquaphonics

* 3rd Stone

* Applebutter Express

* Free Range Roosters

* Legacy and The Heard

* Soulnar

* The Estimated Prophets

* Bride Of Chaotica

* Ramblegrass

* Reina Collins

* Shoeless Soul

* Skull and Bone Band

* The Cornerstoners

* Funky Nuggets

* The Funky Presidents

* Funky Seeds

* The Human Condition

* The Transfers

* Scholars Word

* Another Roadside Attraction

* Between Bluffs

* Sosos

* Honey Henny Lime

* BlessEd and the Divine Derelicts

* Juanjamon Band

* Bounce House

* Smilin' Bill

* Green Sunshine

Aura Fest Happening in Central Florida

2012-01-26T10:50:00.003-05:00

The Aura Festival happens March 9-11 in St. Cloud, north of Orlando. This fest is a mix of live electronica, jam, funk, rock, reggae, and deep House.

Performers for this year -- the fest's third -- include Papadosio (x2) • Brothers Past (x2) • The Heavy Pets (x2) • Zoogma • The Malah • Kung Fu (x2)• DrFameus feat Allen Aucoin of The Disco Biscuits • Dopapod • The Werks • BioDiesel feat Johnny Rabb & Clay Parnell • COPE • Damn Right! • DJ Craig Heneveld •Aquaphonics • Brother Bean • UV Hippo • EP3 • ArtOfficial • Former Champions • BANG BANG feat Todd Stoops & Scotty Zwang • Sonic Spank • The Mantras •J2K • FLT RSK • Newton Crosby • Sounduo • The Fritz • The Resolvers • Third Nature • Elephantgun • Ketchy Shuby • Fusik • Saltwater Grass • Green Sunshine • Sosos • The Short Straw Pickers • Nick Noyes • Marc Paper Scissor & Friends • The Funky Nuggets • Psychedelphia • Ancient Intelligence

Aura is a camping festival at the 4,700-acre Forever Florida eco-ranch. When you go in to the festival, make sure you have everything you need, because you're there to stay. There's no re-entry. And you camp where they tell you -- right outside your car. You can't pick your site and you can't save sites. So to make sure you can camp with your crew, best to all to meet outside and go in caravan-style. RVers have to buy a $50 parking pass to get in, but all sites are primitive -- there are no electric or water hookups.

No campfires or fireworks allowed. (There was an unfortunate fire last year which totalled a car.) You can bring a grill, but it has to be up off the ground.

A 3-day ticket is $90 through March 8. A 3-day ticket for kids age 5-12 is $50. Kids 5 and under are free. Aura sold out last year, so if you plan to go, I'd be smart and get your tickets now.

New Grassroots Festival in Virginia Key

2012-01-23T11:23:00.001-05:00

Chaka Khan is one of the headliners

A new festival has arrived in Florida. New York state roots jam band Donna The Buffalo has been putting on roots/Americana festivals in New York state and in North Carolina (Shakori Hills). On February 9-12, they are rolling out the first-ever Virginia Key Grassroots Festival. This is a camping fest at Miami’s Historic Virginia Key Beach Park.

The four-day event will have four stages with roots rock, reggae, hip-hop, Latin, funk, Cajun, bluegrass, African, Kompa, world beat and zydeco on the bill. Chaka Khan, The Del McCoury Band and Arrested Development will headline along with ska/reggae band, Fishbone, Donna the Buffalo, BeauSoleil avec Micheal Doucet and several South Florida local favorites Locos Por Juana, Suenalo and ArtOfficial. (Full lineup is pasted below.)

Organizers say they will have a Kids' Village with interactive programming and a Healing Arts Area with movement workshops and massage. Local and visiting artists will sell handcrafted wares.

4-Day Tickets are $100 for adults and $50 for teens (13-15). Individual day tickets are available for Thursday- $30, Friday and Saturday -$35 and Sunday -$30. Children 12 and under free. If you want to camp on site, you have to pay. You can tent camp for $50. If you want to camp with yout car, it's $100. And if you have an RV, it's $150.

Here is the full-on lineup:

* Arrested Development

* Artofficial

* BeauSoleil Avec Michael Doucet

* Big Brass Juke

* Big Cosmo

* Bill Kelly

* Chaka Khan

* Christabel and the Jons

* Cope

* Crazy Fingers

* The Del McCoury Band

* Donna The Buffalo

* Driftwood

* Elastic Bond

* Fishbone

* Giant Panda Geurilla Dub Squad

* Greg Humphreys

* The Habanero Honeys

* The Heavy Pets

* Hindu Cowboys

* Hobex

* Immortal Technique

* The Jacob Jeffries Band

* Jahfe

* Jah High Towa

* Jewels

* Jim Lauderdale

* Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band

* Keith Secola and his Wild Band of Indians

* The Lee Boys

* Locos Por Juana

* Mishka

* Mixed Culture

* Omniscient

* Preston Frank and his Zydeco Family Band

* Raffa and Rainer

* Revelation Mizik

* DJ Richard McVay

* The Rowan Cunningham Band

* Rubblebucket

* Sim Redmond Band

* Son Salvaje

* SUENALO

* The Sunsetters

* Thousands of One

* Toubab Krewe

* Willie Watson and the Evil City String Band

Wanee Tickets on Sale Friday!

2012-01-19T14:25:00.003-05:00

Fire up your keyboards -- tickets for the Wanee Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. They are $189.50 at this point (plus fees.)

This year is going to be a Deadhead's dream, with Phil Lesh and Bob Weir's Furthur co-headlining with the Allman Brothers Band. With Dead drummer Mickey Hart's band on the bill, and also former Dead keyboardist Bruce Hornsby, just about everybody's accounted for save Dead percussionist Bill Kreutzman (and, of course, the late and beloved Jerry Garcia.)

You can check out Wanee's fantabulous lineup here

Day of Protest for Net Freedom

2012-01-18T10:39:00.001-05:00

See Some Great Jam Cruise Performances Here

2012-01-17T12:03:00.000-05:00

Were you amog the many of us music lovers who couldn't swing the Jam Cruise this year? Thanks to generous videographers, Cheesehead Productions, some of the great performances on the boat are now available for your enjoyment on You Tube. Check out this gem - Soulive with Karl Denson, Trombone Shorty and Robert Walter.

Wanee Festival Lineup Is Out!

2012-01-16T10:09:00.000-05:00

Wanee announced today: Sharing the stage for two nights (April 20 & 21) with The Allman Brothers Band is Furthur featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. The rest of the line-up includes: Bruce Hornsby, Mickey Hart Band, Gov’t Mule, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jaimoe's Jasssz Band, Buddy Guy, Electric Hot Tuna , Ray Manzarek & Roy Rogers Band, Leftover Salmon, North Mississippi Allstars, Trigger Hippy (featuring: Joan Osborne, Jackie Greene, Steve Gorman, Audley Freed & Nick Govrik), Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Devon Allman's Honeytribe, Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio, Soja, Conspirator, Eoto, Particle, Zach Deputy, Matt Schofield , Big Sams Funky Nation, Charles Bradley, Bonerama, The Yeti Trio, Jacob Jeffries Band and Bonnie Blue.

THREE DAY GENERAL ADMISSION FESTIVAL TICKETS:

$189.50 (plus applicable fees) from January 20th– February 19th (After February 19th price will increase). Price includes (1) pass to the Festival (Thurs.,Fri. & Sat.) with music beginning at 2:30PM on Thursday and 3 nights of primitive camping (Thurs., Fri. & Sat.)

Crawlers Crawling Tonight

2012-01-14T10:45:00.000-05:00

Love Tallahassee's Crawlers. They'll tear it up at Bird's Aphrodisiac Oyster Shack in Tallahassee at 9 p.m. tonight. Special guests include Scott Campbell, Drew Matiluch, Deb Berlinger, and Chelsea Chason. They're calling it "the best neo-retro-acoustic-swamp-funk-grass in town." Get you some oysters, a grouper sandwich, a cold beer, and settle in for a good show.

Tab Benoit brings smokin' NOLA blues to Tallahassee tonight

2012-01-12T10:41:00.000-05:00

Tab Benoit plays The Moon tonight. He's a talented guitar player with that special New Orleans lagniappe. The show's at 7:30, cover is $15 for general admission and $25 for a reserved table. Students can get $10 advanced tckets at the Moon website. King Cotton opens.

Here's a taste of Benoit's funky swamp blues for you:

Songsters Hit Panhandle's 30A Hwy This Week

2012-01-09T20:34:00.002-05:00

The Bangles will be one of the many acts at Seaside this weekend for the 30A Songwriters Festival (Jan. 13-16). It's $150 for a weekend ticket. This is not a camping festival -- it happens in bars and restaurants along scenic Highway 30A in beautiful Walton County.

Check out my detailed post about this great event here. If you can swing it, you'll be glad you made the trip.

Hot String Show Tonight In Tally

2012-01-03T16:55:00.000-05:00

If you want to hear some seriously talented string players laying it down, head to the Mockingbird Cafe in Tallahassee tonight from 7 -10 p.m.

Calling themselves the 'Tipsy Gypsies" are some familiar stellar local musicians -- Mickey Abraham, Kevin Robertson, Drew Matulich, Mike Snelling, & Carrie Perkins. They'll be playing bluegrass, newgrass, swing, jazz, acoustic, folk, & dawg music.

There's no cover, and you can have a nice dinner if you reserve a table.

Jam Cruise Sets Sail January 9

2012-01-02T11:15:00.001-05:00

Jamcruise 10 embarks from Fort Lauderdale January 9 and sails through the 14th to Jamaica and Haiti. It's sold out, but there is a waiting list and you never know, a miracle ticket might arrive for those with big wads of cash (or credit cards) at the ready.

The Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale is hosting pre-shows and post-shows. Umphrey's McGee plays with Toubab Krewe Jan. 7, and The New Mastersounds play with Umphrey's McGee on Jan. 8. Tickets are $25 (or $20 if you're booked on the cruise.) On January 14, Galactic, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, and Bobby Lee Rodgers play the post-cruise show. Tickets for the post-cruise show are $25 (or $20 if you're booked on the cruise.)

For those of us who can't make it to the cruise, there's a way to see the shows (from last year's cruise) vicariously. Check out last year's performances at iClips.

And don't forget this week's Toubab Krewe and Galactic show in Jacksonville. It's Thursday, Jan. 5.

Happy New Music Year!

2011-12-31T10:11:00.001-05:00

Thanks for all your feedback and support this year, readers. and here's to many good shows in 2012!

Galactic, Toubab Krewe Hit Jacksonville Jan. 5

2011-12-27T15:24:00.000-05:00

Now here's a killer show coming up January 5 in Jacksonville -- New Orleans power-funk band Galactic -- hot off their New Year's Eve gig at NOLA's Tipitina's -- joins the cool, world-beat Toubab Krewe at Freebird Live in Jacksonville Beach. Tickets are $20 advanced Corey Glover from In Living Colour and Corey Henry from Rebirth Brass Band will be playing with Galactic.

Here is a cool Galactic video with legendary singer Irma Thompson:

And check out this kick-ass show Toubab Krewe did in Tallahassee a few years back at the old Beta Bar:

Save a Little on Suwannee

2011-12-26T10:21:00.002-05:00

The fine folks behind Suwannee Springfest (March 22-25) are extending their early bird prices to this midnight Saturday. You can get a ticket for $125, after that it goes up to $150. The newgrass lineup is lovely, with Yonder Mountain String Band, The Gourds, and more. The festival is held at the beautiful Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fla (see pic of lovely lake camping, above.) It is a family friendly fest, a good place to bring bikes and hammocks and swimsuits for the pool and river.

The Pinkham Family from Tampa will be there, with the incredible mandolin player, Josh Pinkham. Josh has been playing this festival since he was a little tyke. Here he is playing last year at Suwannee with David Grisman:

Bond-fire Festival Cancelled

2011-12-25T14:53:00.001-05:00

But you already knew that......

Happy Holidays!

Festival Fiasco!

2011-12-24T10:36:00.000-05:00

Folks hoping to go to go the funk-filled Bond-fire Art and Music Festival starting this Thursday and stretching over New Year's Eve got the odd news last night that the entire outdoor camping festival is instead moving to indoor venues in downtown St. Peterburg -- The State Theater and one other facility, Local 662. This fiasco keeps unfolding.

After howling from patrons who paid for an outdoor camping festival (some buying tickets last summer), some traveling by air and some rolling down to sunny Fla in RVs with kids in tow, the promoters got on Facebook this morning and said they have a 50-50 chance of some other outdoor venue -- still unidentified -- and asked fans for ideas. For the latest, check the Bond-fire's Facebook page.

The festival went on the ropes this week when the Lake County Commission denied its permit, citing lateness of application and safety concerns.

Hmmmm. What Would George Clinton Do?

Bond-Fire Festival Change of Venue

2011-12-21T11:57:00.002-05:00

Green man, can you help us?

It looks like the Bond-fire Art and Music Festival, scheduled outside Orlando over New Year's Eve weekend with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, The New Mastersounds, and North Mississippi All Stars, will have to move at the last minute.

Hectic talks are underway after the Lake County Commission denied the promoter's permit. Whew, wouldn't want to be in those folks' shoes right now! The fest is suposed to kick off in eight days.

We've seen miracles before. The now-successful Bear Creek Art and Music Festival got the thumbs-down in Gadsden County its first year and scrambled and moved to Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak at the last minute. The fest remains there today.

Positive thoughts for the Bond-fire folks, people!

Super Talent at 30A Songwriters Festival

2011-12-18T17:07:00.001-05:00

If you can make it over to Seaside, Fla (between Panama City and Destin) on Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend (Jan 13-15) you'll be treated to the excellent 30A Songwriter's Festival, now in its third year.

The past two years have been a talent feast. This is a showcase for hot songwriters, many of them working in Nashville. But it isn't a country festival -- here, songs are stripped down to their bare bones. The audience (for the most part) really listens.

Headliners include Rodney Crowell, The Bangles, Shawn Mullins, Sam Bush Band, Amy Ray of The Indigo Girls, and Matthew Sweet.

The thrill for me, though, has been listening to the "unknowns" performing there, and finding some incredible gems. Angel Snow was one of them last year. Madison Violet was another.

This is not a camping festival, and it isn't a great place to lug kids around, either. Performances are held in a variety of venues, including bars and restaurants, along the coastal highway there -- 30A. You can hop from place to place eating and drinking along the way. Tickets are onsale online at $125 for the weekend. The gate price is $150.

I was able to video quite a few of the performances last year. And you can read my post on lodging and logistics here. Here are some more of the folks performing this year:

David Wilcox, Steve Forbert, Mary Gauthier, Sam Bush Band, Randall Bramblett, Tommy Talton, Jeffrey Steele, Chely Wright, Chuck Cannon, Tim Nichols, Corey Smith, David Olney, Davin McCoy, Lori McKenna,Tommy Womack, Kevn Kinney, The Shadowboxers, Larkin Poe, Emily Lynch, Joseph Arthur, Matthew Mayfield, Rachel Platten, Callaghan, David Berkeley, Garrison Starr, Jeff Black, Joe Leathers, Ben Glover,Billy Montana, Chas Sanford, Brian and Karyn White, Greg Barnhill, Forrest Williams Band, Kyle Jacobs, Kelsey Anna, Reed Waddle, Meg Hutchinson, Brigitte DeMeyer, Daphne Willis, Shannon Whitworth, Suzi Ragsdale, Georgia, Ashleigh Flynn, Joanna Cotton, Matthew Kahler, Over The Rhine (Karin Bergquist & Linford Detweiler), Bryan Kennedy, Nicole Witt, Granville Automatic, Angel Snow, Chatham Street, Deux, Birds, Jesse Terry, Michael Witty, Sterling Fletcher, Grant Peeples, The Tall Pines, and over 75 more.

Here is an amazing performance of one of my favorite songs, "Mercy Now," by Mary Gauthier -- that's Tania Elizabeth who used to fiddle for the great Canadian newgrass band, The Duhks, performing with Mary. There's a long and funny intro by Mary congratulating country star Chely Wright (who is onstage but out of the frame) for coming out as a gay woman.

Live Electronica, Dub Step In Tally This Week

2011-12-13T11:01:00.002-05:00

If you like dub step and live electronica, check out Jacksonville Beach's Greenhouse Lounge, playing Thursday night at The Engine Room. This band is known for its late-night rages at festivals.

For this show, doors open at 8 p.m. and cover is $8. Remember, they don't let ladies wear high heels at The Engine Room. They just don't, OK?

Check out the groovy Budos Band

2011-12-10T18:25:00.001-05:00

These guys are just great....The Budos Band

Sweet Fest This Weekend Near Gainesville

2011-12-07T06:23:00.001-05:00

The Farm To Family Full Moon Festival happens this weekend, Thursday through Sunday, (Dec. 9-11) in a little piece of paradise near Ginnnie Springs in Gilchrist County, outside Gainesville.

I can't say enough good things about this festival. Super chill, kind people, family friendly, totally relaxing, with just one stage. Set down your chair and your cooler and enjoy the show. You can check out the lineup of regional acts here.

You may not have heard of some of these performers, but trust me, you will enjoy them. It's a mix of folk, jazz, ska, blues, bluegrass, world beat and jam. This is a lovely event, and it is a bargain -- $20 advanced, $25 at the gate. Kids 13 and under are free. Nice spots for shaded camping, a good place to let kids run around. The Grilled Cheese Wagon and a few other vendors provide vittles. There are some great vendors also with handmade items for holiday shopping.

Check out the Farm To Family You Tube Channel.

And here's a video by the ska band The Duppies, who play Saturday night:

Wanee Early Bird Tickets Sold Out!

2011-12-04T11:21:00.001-05:00

That was fast. Early Bird tickets for the Allman Brothers' annual Wanee Festival April 19-21 sold out in a day at $165 (plus fees.) The early bird sale was supposed to run through Dec. 10 at 10 p.m. woder how many the promoters set aside for this promotion?

And no, they don't have an announced lineup yet. This is just how Wanee rolls. This is one of the largest of the festivals at the gorgeous Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Lilve Oak, Fl., with fans rolling in from all over the country for some Southern rock and Florida springtime...and gnomes.

Get Your Early Bird Tickets for Orange Blossom Jam

2011-12-01T18:00:00.001-05:00

Early bird tickets go on sale today. for the wonderful Orange Blossom Jamboree May 17-20 at the Sertoma Youth Ranch in the rolling hills outside Brooksville. The early bird price for weekend tickets is $45. Tickets go up to $60 after that. Primitive camping is free, and sites with water and electric are $60 for the weekend. Kids under 12 are free.

You can see the lineup, which includes the supremely talented Cope, here

This was one of the best festivals I went to last year. It's a family-friendly small festival with really nice campsites and some of the sweetest folks you will find anywhere. Plus, they have kick-ass acts like this:

(Beebs and her Money Makers)

This Funk Band Kills It!

2011-11-30T15:56:00.001-05:00

This Brooklyn band, Turkuaz, (pronounced 'Ter-kwaz') blew everybody away at Bear Creek Music and Art Festival -- They're touring America bringing the funk. Enjoy!

Beyonce Bluegrass

2011-11-29T09:48:00.001-05:00

Yonder Mountain Spring Band's Southern Tour

2011-11-28T11:47:00.001-05:00

Yonder Mountain String Band will be heading to the southeast for a tour in February, including five shows in Florida. The band will also be at Suwanee Springfest March 22-25. Tickets for the 'Cabin Fever" tour shows are here.

Below is a video of the band playing live, and here are the tour dates for your planning (and holiday gift-giving) pleasure:

02.08 Fayetteville, AR George's Majestic

02.09 Baton Rouge, LA Varsity Theatre

02.10 Nashville, TN Marathon Music Works

02.11 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle

02.12 Birmingham, AL Workplay Theatre Soundstage

02.15 Pensacola, FL Vinyl Music Hall

02.16 Orlando, FL Beacham Theatre

02.17 Fort Lauderdale, FL Revolution

02.18 St. Petersburg, FL Jannus Live

02.19 Jacksonville, FL Freebird Café

02.22 Charleston, SC Music Farm

02.23 Asheville, NC Orange Peel

02.24 Asheville, NC Orange Peel

Thanksgiving Bluegrass Festival

2011-11-23T14:49:00.001-05:00

The lovely Sertoma Youth Ranch in Dade City (near Brooksville) is hosting a bluegrass festival and potluck Thanksgiving dinner, starting tomorrow and lasting through Sunday. This is such a pretty campground and such a relaxing venue.

Advanced tickets are $63 for Thursday-Sunday and $69 at the gate. If you want an electric/water campsite, it's $60 for the weekend.

Here's the lineup:

THE LONESOME RIVER BAND – IIIrd TYME OUT

LARRY CORDLE & LONESOME STANDARD TIME - SPECIAL CONSENSUS – THE CHAPMANS - PACKWAY HANDLE BAND – PAM CURTIS & UP THE CREEK REMINGTON RYDE –

CHERYL WATSON & WATERTOWN - BACKWATER BLUEGRASS - MARK JOHNSON

THE LONESOME SPECIAL - CHAPPED OUT STEW - CRISPY BAKED BANJO'S - AND MORE

Have fun picking!

Bear Creek live recordings!

2011-11-22T12:45:00.001-05:00

http://www.glidemagazine.com/hiddentrack/bear-creek-music-festival-2011-the-videos/

http://funkit.virose.net/?p=1316

Enjoy funkateers!

Discount Ticket Special for Bond-Fire Fest

2011-11-21T10:08:00.001-05:00

The funkalicious New Year's Eve festival (Dec. 29-Jan. 2) in rural Lake County outside Orlando, called the Bond-Fire festival, is now offering 4-day tickets for $100. This promo lasts one week, ending next Sunday, Nov. 27, at 11:55, use the case sensitive promo code SIRPRIZE. Kids 15 and under are free.

The lineup includes George Clinton and P-Funk, The New Mastersounds, North Mississippi All Stars, Soullive, Zach Deputy, Papadosio, Cope, The New Orleans Suspects, and more.

This is a first-time affair, so I can't advise much about festing conditions. I can tell you these bare details: The venue has port-o-lets only -- no brick-and-mortar bathrooms. They plan several stages and a late-night tent. They will be restricting campfires to designated areas -- that part of Florida has been so very dry. No pets, no charcoal grills. You can have coolers at the campground but not at the stages.

The four-day pass includes primitive camping. You cannot reserve RV sites ahead of time -- if you want to bring an RV in and set it up in primitive, you have to pay an extra $65 at the gate. If you want an electric site, it’s $85. The promoters were not sure, when I contacted them about a month ago, whether RV sites would have water as well as electric. So I'd bring my own water if I were you, along with my festive disco outfits. They have a no-glass policy, so not sure about how to handle New Year's bubbly. Do they make champagne kegs?

Wanna Be In A Video?

2011-11-19T15:52:00.001-05:00

Newgrass aces Dread Clampitt will record a live show (CD and video) on Sunday at The Red Bar in the Panhandle's Grayton Beach. This excellent band is about to celebrate its10th anniversary, and the Sunday Red Bar gigs have been their bread and butter throughout that time. The show starts at 7 pm., kids are welcome, and it's free!

Here is a great Dread Clampitt original from Suwannee Springfest... note that Rashad Eggleston from Tornado Rider is sitting in.

Playing In The Band

2011-11-18T09:28:00.001-05:00

Tonight, Tallahassee band Harvest Gypsies plays The Mockingbird Cafe in Tallahassee. Harvest Gypsies is a hard-working local band that always put on a heartfelt show with a mix of jazzy, bluesy, pop originals and covers that gets everybody dancing and smiling. At the keyboards will be the wonderful songwriter Mike Rychlik, a public school teacher, writer, all around great guy, and father of several fine musicians.

Mike has been playing the Tallahassee scene in various bands, including the Labamba Brothers,since the eary 1970s. This month, in his excellent blog, he has written a wonderful entry about playing on Tennessee Street in the old days at the Pastime, the Pastime II and Tommy's. Read it and take a trip back.

Tonight, at the Mockingbird, Mike and Warren Sutton will play acoustic versions of Mike's songs from 7-8. The full Harvest Gypsies band plays from 8-11. The show is free. It's always a good idea to reserve a table, and get something to eat, since the venue is pretty small. Have fun!

George Clinton's Makeover

2011-11-17T10:16:00.001-05:00

Well, we hardly recognized George Clinton without the rainbow dreads he's sported for decades. Here he is last night in Tallahassee:

Clitnon's suprprise show at Tallahassee's club The Moon featured the time-honored P-Funk shenanigans -- simulated sex on stage, fur chaps, booty shakin girls, Indian headresses, zombie costumes, a giant doobie-smoking skull head, and killer funk. At the end, I counted 46 people on the stage.

Clinton and P-Funk now head out on tour after spending time in Tallahassee recording a new album. They go to Gernamy, the Netherlands, Belgium and England. They will be back in Florida on New Year's Eve, where you can catch them at The Bond-Fire Festival outside Orlando along with The New Mastersounds, The North Mississippi All Stars, Soullive, Particle, Cope, Papadiosio, Zach Deputy, and more.

If you get tickets now, it's $150 for a four-day pass. Kids 15 and under are free. This is a first-time affair for this festival, so I can't advise much about festing conditions. I can tell you the site has port-o-lets only -- no brick-and-mortar bathrooms, and will have several stages and a late-night tent.

The four-day pass includes primitive camping. If you want to bring an RV in, you have to pay an extra $65 at the gate. If you want an electric site, it’s $85.

P Funk New Year's? Oh yeah, I'm in.

P-Funk Tonight!

2011-11-16T10:36:00.001-05:00

Here we go, show is tonight at 8 at The Moon, let's show George Clinton and P-Funkadelic some hometown love, funkateers!

Back in the day......

George Clinton and P Funk in Tallahassee This Week!

2011-11-14T14:12:00.001-05:00

George Clinton & P-Funk All-Stars will play at Tallahassee's The Moon this Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m. $10 at the door. The Tallahassee Democrat says: "Clinton and his players are in Tallahassee recording and decided to do a last-minute live gig."

Gone Festing!

2011-11-11T12:19:00.001-05:00

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe

2011-11-10T11:42:00.000-05:00

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe is gonna rock it late night at Bear Creek Music Festival tonight...

Wow! Check Out this Bear Creek Band!

2011-11-09T10:50:00.000-05:00

Some kind person (actually, the band's manager) alerted me to this 11-piece afro beat band, Zongo Junction, from Brooklyn. They've been touring with Toubab Krewe, They will be rocking two sets during Bear Creek -- Thursday at 2:00pm at the Campground Stage and Friday at 11:30am at the Big IV Amphitheater. Check out this wonderfulness:

Zongo Junction EPK from Zongo Junction on Vimeo.

Bear Creek Music Fest -- 10 Things To Know Before You Go

2011-11-08T09:09:00.003-05:00

1. There's a giant bat house at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. It is just beyond lake camping in the field. At sunset, you can grab a beverage and go watch incredible numbers of bats fly out!

2. You can camp for free on a beautiful cypress lake -- choose primitive "lake camping." Reese Lake, lined with cypress trees, is home to the campground stage, it has nearby Port-o-lets, and the lake bathhouse and showers are a three-minute walk away. Don't be discouraged by the roundabout kooky drive to get to lake camping. Keep a level head. Persevere. You'll find it. It's worth it.

3. You can bring your own beverages to performances on the campground stage, but not the other stages.

4. The on-site Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park restaurant has a good breakfast buffet. They have nice bathrooms. Also a really cool hand-painted mural of local wildlife. You can get food from the restaurant while watching shows in the Music Hall.

5. You can get fresh ice at the camp store next to the restaurant.

6. The white sand Suwannee River beach is not to be missed, especially with the big fat moon shining on it this week. The river's a long walk from the fest site -- grab a bike, a ride, or a golf cart.

7. The Suwannee River water is dark (dyed by tree tannins), but it is spring-fed and the river bottom is clean and sandy.

8. It can be chilly at night in North Florida. Then you dance. Then you sweat. Then you’re chilly. As festgrrl's friend says; "Layering -You're a fool if you don't!"

9. Bring a hammock. The Big IV Ampitheater is full of trees! The informal rule is you can get in anybody’s hammock until they want to use it. Then you go find another one, and so on.

10. Sunday night is awesome for those lucky enough to stay around for it. Check out my Bear Creek preview for more!

Two Fantastic Fests This Week

2011-11-07T09:43:00.000-05:00

The musicians are coming south this week to play at two epic fests -- Bear Creek Music and Art Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. (Thursday- Sunday, with a Wednesday night pre-party) and Orlando Calling (Friday and Saturday) at the Ctirus Bowl.

You get all the details at the links above. Here's a little taste of what you're going to hear.

Orlando Calling performers the great Avett Brothers sing "Shame:"

Bear Creek funkateers Lettuce break it down:

Don't Forget Riverhawk This Weekend

2011-11-04T11:57:00.001-04:00

Some Central-South Florida peeps aked me to remind folks today about this weekend's Riverhawk festival. Check out my post with all the details from earlier this week. I can't make this one, sorry to say, but wishing everyone a relaxing, sweet time, because I know you will have one in that special place!

Hello? Orlando Calling!

2011-11-03T10:49:00.000-04:00

Bob Seger, Kid Rock, The Raconteurs and The Killers headline the two-day rock extravaganza Orlando Calling which happens Nov. 12 and 13 in Citrus Bowl Park. This first-time fest has a roster of heavy-hitting performers.It's not a camping festival -- in fact you can't bring your own chair, kids under 3 are prohibited, and kids over 3 have to get an adult ticket. So this is one of those giant stadium shows, with a lineup to match:

The Killers, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band, Kid Rock, The Raconteurs, The Pixies, The Avett Brothers, The Roots, Gogol Bordello,O.A.R. (...Of A Revolution), Iron & Wine, Pete Yorn, Jenny and Johnny, Gavin DeGraw, Drive-By Truckers, Dr. Dog, Civil Twilight, Blake Shelton, Doobie Brothers, Dwight Yoakam, Buddy Guy, Warren Haynes Band, Chris Isaak, Brandi Carlile, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Lucero, The Felice Brothers, Ben Sollee,The Flatlanders, Los Lonely Boys, Blues Traveler, Michelle Branch, Justin Townes Earle, The David Mayfield Parade,The Supervillains, and Renee & The Translators

With fees, day tickets are $93.25 each day, weekend tickets are $170.50. Some important stuff to know: You can't park on site, but shuttles and other transportation options are here. There's a large list of prohbited items you should become familiar with.

Here's the great Buddy Guy, who plays Sunday at 5:

Get Your Bad Self To Bear Creek!

2011-11-02T11:27:00.000-04:00

This time next week, folks will start rolling into the Wednesday night pre-party for Bear Creek Music and Art Festival. We are blessed here in the Southeast with many excellent music festivals throughout the year. Even with all that abundance, Bear Creek (Nov. 10-13) rises to the top. Fests don't get much better than Bear Creek – the lineup, the musicianship, the intimate atmosphere, the kind crowd, and the sheer joy of dancing in Florida paradise (Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak.)

Bear Creek’s excellence ties back to the promoters’ main goal: to have more sit-ins than any festival outside the big daddy of fests, New Orleans Jazz fest.

More sit-ins means that musicians are energized all weekend, not rushing back to the tour bus to move on to the next gig. It means fans are constantly surprised and delighted with instant, one-of-a-kind collaborations that you’ve just got to be there to experience: Mofro’s JJ Grey singing lead with Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk on Sly Stone’s Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin; guitar ace Derek Trucks popping on stage unannounced to play with Berklee School of Music funkateer alums Lettuce in the moss-draped, hammock-filled ampitheater; the surprise midnight act Soullive performing a scorching cover of the Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby in a circus tent.

Once you go, you’ll always want to come back. At least that’s how it’s been for me, since the days of Down on the Farm, the precursor festival to Bear Creek, where the (relatively unknown at the time) Avett Brothers played an astonishing show for a tiny crowd of us in a sunny field in Quincy, Florida. This fest has come a long way since then, but it manages to maintain the intimate feel of the early days. Expect a crowd of 4,000 to 5,000 on the spacious Spirit of the Suwannee grounds.

Bear Creek promoters Lyle Williams and Paul Levine are artful in their selections -- last year, James Brown band players Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis and Maceo Parker roamed the festival as artists-at-large, sitting in – and kicking ass – with band after band. Legendary funky keyboard great Bernie Worrell (Talking Heads) has torn up Bear Creek’s stages. This year we’re going to enjoy a reunion of New Orleans’ greats, the original Funky Meters. Watching young funk players jam with the folks who first laid it down back in the day is something to see.

This year, there’s an emphasis on funky jazz. Trey Anastasio of Phish fame brings his jammy Trey Anastasio Band; Medeski, Martin, Scofield and Wood and Dr. Lonnie Smith, Pee Wee Ellis and others bring the jazz. There is a ton of funk, including Galactic, The aforementioned Funky Meters, Lettuce, Dr. Klaw, The New Mastersounds, Orgone, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Soullive, and smaller acts like horn-heavy Snarky Puppy and the quirky young Rubblebucket. There’s a bunch of electronica acts and a silent disco (headphones) as well. Music’s going to go all night. Here's the full, kick-ass lineup.

Williams and Levine have been known to scout for Bear Creek acts in the late-night scene after NOLA’s Jazzfest, and so you’re always going to get the chance to see something new. I saw Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue for the first time at Bear Creek a couple of years ago before he got all Treme-big-time on us.

Bear Creek is about wandering the woodsy campgrounds and coming up on a horn section wearing high school band uniforms bringing the funk. It’s about groove-man Zach Deputy setting up an impromptu late-night stage on scaffolding above a food vending tent in the campground and instantly drawing a crowd getting down to a Michael Jackson cover. It’s about the magnificent Where the Wild Things Are wooden painted larger-than-life creatures placed around the cypress-lined pond a la The Wild Rumpus. It’s about reunion, new friends, great conversation, wacky costumes, and celebration. It’s about escape.

Ready to escape? Tickets (which include primitive camping) are available online at $175 for 3 days, $225 for 4 days, and $245 for five days. Saturday and Sunday tickets at the gate are $130. Day-only tickets (no camping) are $80 Friday and Saturday and $50 for Sunday.

Definitely plan on taking Monday off work — Sunday night is a funk get-down, including an extended jam session with Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk and a whole mess of ridiculously talented musicians sitting in. (Ivan's dad is New Orleans balladeer Aaron Neville of the Neville Brothers.)

If this video doesn't make you wanna go, well, I don't know:

Check Out Riverhawk Festival This Weekend

2011-11-01T10:22:00.000-04:00

We love the wonderful venue that is Sertoma Youth Ranch outside Brooksville (less than an hour outside Tampa.) Rolling hills, a little stream, nice campsites, just two stages. There are several lovely fests there during the year, and this weekend is Riverhawk. You can check out the lineup here. This fest is family and pet friendly, and get ready for some wonderful campground picking. There are great food and craft vendors.

Tickets are $110 for three days and $95 for the weekend only, and that includes primitive camping. Electric sites are extra. Kids 13 and under are free. Kids 14-17 are $30 for the whole weekend.

You can't miss with this relaxing venue and kind folk!

Here is the Claire Lynch band, who will be playing Riverhawk:

Monster Mash!

2011-10-31T10:20:00.000-04:00

JB's Zydeco Zoo Tonight

2011-10-29T13:58:00.001-04:00

Here's a little clip of JB's Zydeco Zoo. They throw down tonight at the Bradfordville Blues Club at 9:30.

Musical Howling This Weekend In Tally

2011-10-28T10:37:00.000-04:00

Tallahassee band Harvest Gypsies -- so very pop-jazzy, danceable and soulful, with really wonderful orginals -- plays a benefit at The Warehouse tonight for The Alzheimer's Project, Inc., Halloween costumes encouraged -- Doors open 7:30 -8:00. Johnny and the Angels will play from 8:30 to 9:00 and then Harvest Gypsies play from 9:00 - 12:30. $5 cover. There will be games and a BBQ food truck.

Also tonight, Jazz trumpeter Scotty Barnhart plays with a smokin' quintet at 9:30 p.m. at Hi Jazz Cafe. It's a $10 cover, and a $10 minimum per table.

Saturday, JB's Zydeco Zoo hosts a dance party at Bradfordville Blues Club at 9:30 (sorry, not sure of the cover) and funkateers Crooked Shooz play The American Legion Hall -- $8 per person, $15 per couple.

Have fun out there!

Do You Voodoo?

2011-10-26T20:11:00.001-04:00

It wouldn't be Halloween in New Orleans without Voodoo Music Experience at City Park in the Big Easy this weekend. This is the 13th year for this festival. There's no camping, so you've got to find a hotel or a NOLA friend.

Better put some effort into your costume, this is New Orleans. Don't slack. You can see some of the art installations here and if you can't make it over to NOLA, there's a radio webcast by Free Yr radio.

Tickets are $150 for 3 days.

Check out this crazy fantastic lineup:

* Soundgarden

* Blink 182

* Steve Angello

* Snoop Dogg

* My Chemical Romance

* Girl Talk

* The Raconteurs

* Band of Horses

* Fatboy Slim

* TV on the Radio

* Cheap Trick

* Dr. John

* Ray Davies

* Odd Future

* Portugal. The Man

* Fishbone

* Major Lazer

* X

* Social Distortion

* Mastodon

* Ozomatli

* Ani DiFranco with Ivan Neville and Herlin Riley

* Mates of State

* Dirty South

* Fitz and The Tantrums

* Blind Pilot

* The Wombats

* Civil Twilight

* Peelander Z

* Cassy

* King Britt

* Ever Expanding Elastic waistband w/Members of Morphine with Jeremy Lyons

* Mike Relm

* The Bangerz

* Claude VonStroke

* A-Trak

* The Static Jacks

* Quickie Mart and Tony Skratchere

* Red Baraat

* The Vettes

* Mary Jane Coles

* Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes

* Honey Island Swamp Band

* Force Feed Radio

* Fleur De Bris with Tork and Porter (David Torkanowsky & George Porter)

* Mississippi Rail Company and friends

* Ernie Vincent

* Three

* BeauSoleil w/ Dr. Michael White

* Kora Konnection feat. Morikeba Kouyate & Thierno Dioubate

* The High Ground Drifters Bluegrass Band

* Natalie Mae & Her Unturned Tricks

* Quintron & Miss Pussycat

* Cheeky Blakk

* Dangermuffin

* Achachay

* Noisician Coalition

* City And Colour

* Z-Trip

* Daedelus

* Boots Electric

* MyNameIsJohnMichael

* Kreayshawn

* Gordan Gano (Violent Femmes) and the Lost Bayou Ramblers

* Lee Burridge

* Star Eyes

* Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk w special guests

* Bobby Rush

* Soul Rebels Brass Band w Cyril Neville

* Danny Howells

* Iris May Tango

* Illluminasti Trio plus 1 featuring Mike Dillon

* James Singleton

* Skerik and Brian Coogan

* Fort Knox Five

* Craig Richards

* Tommy Malone and the Hard Heads

* Chris Thomas King

* Treme Brass Band

* Tao Seeger Brass Band

* Palmetto Bug Stompers

* Morning 40 Federation

* Deniz Kurtal

* Rotary Downs

* The Happy Talk Band

* The Revivalists

* Carmine P. Filthy

* Kyle Turley

* Hurray for the Riff Raff

* R. Scully's Rough 7

* Katey Red

* Vockah Redu

* The Limousines

* Wolf+Lamb

* Givers

* "Ma Maison" with the Trey McIntyre Project and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band

* Jackmaster

* Glen David Andrews

* Mannie Fresh

* DJ Swamp

* Soul Clap

* Bonerama featuring Dave Malone of the Radiators

* The Travelin' McCoury's w Keller Williams

* The Sheepdogs

* Stone Foxes

* The One AM Radio

* Tanner Ross w Voices of Black

* American Legacies with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Del McCoury Band

* New Orleans Klezmer Allstars

* Leo Jackson and The Melody Clouds

* Christoph Andersson

* The New Orleans Bingo! Show

* SWISS CHRISS

* Fleur De Tease

* King James and The Special Men

* Miracle at St. Anna

Amazing Carved Slopryland Pumpkins!

2011-10-24T19:58:00.000-04:00

Every year at Magnolia Fest, we are treated to the wondrous hospitality of the after-hours stage at Slopryland, courtesy of the Wisconsin string band, Sloppy Joe. They build a tiki hut ot of palm fronds, fill the trees with hanging pumpkin lanterns, and keep an enormous bonfire going all weekend long for all manner of pickers to enjoy.

One of the best things is always the amazingly carved pumpkins, mostly courtesy of Stef Lee, Sloppy Joe singer, composer, banjo player, upright bass player, fiddler, and overall awesome chick! I got to watch her put the finishing touches on this gourd upright bass:

This one had exposed brains:

This one had a skeleton coming out of the side of its head:

Here are some more:

THANKS, SLOPRYLAND!!!

Seven Walkers Tonight At Magnolia Fest

2011-10-20T10:56:00.001-04:00

Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann's band, Seven Walkers, headlines the first night of Magnolia Fest tonight at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Papa Mali, Matt Hubbard, and funkateer George Porter, Jr. (The Funky Meters) round out the band .

It's going to be a beautiful weekend for bonfires and dancing, and festgrrl's outta here.

Here's a little Seven Walkers for you:

Ska La La

2011-10-18T09:27:00.000-04:00

Ska stalwarts The Toasters play The Engine Room in Tallahassee Wednesday night. The Toasters are from New York City, and they have been around for 29 years (though not with all their original members.) Cover is $10 and doors open at 8pm. (Ladies, please be forewarned that there is a no high heels policy at The Engine Room. No, I don't know why. Just don't wear them.)

I enjoyed some frenetic dancetastic Toaster shows in the '80s. Here's a link to a truly fantastic live show video of The Toasters playing the Cat Club then (1986) and in Philadelphia this year:

Magnolia Fest This Week!

2011-10-17T09:17:00.000-04:00

What a truly wonderful festival Magolia Fest is. First off, it is awesome just camping at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park this time of year, even if there weren't a fantastic, family-friendly music festival there. But we get both! Plus campground picking, artistry, the incredibly carved pumpkins of Slopryland, family and friends and all the rest of it. Ahhhhhh.

Tickets for 3 days are $165 online through tomorrow, and $180 at the gate.Single day and Friday-Saturday-only two day tickets are also available. (FYI, we got our tickets at Suwanee Springfest last year for just $110 -- that includes five days of primitive camping and music; a similar deal will be available for this weekend's Magnolia Fest attendees to buy Springfest 2012 tickets.)

The lineup this year is a melding of Americana and jam bands and, as always, you get a lot for your money. The daily schedule is here.

Lineup includes Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, moe.(headlines Friday and Saturday late night), Steel Pulse, Lucinda Williams, Anders Osborne, Railroad Earth, Lucinda Williams, Keller Williams and the Travelin McCourys, Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, the Mosier Brothers, Col Bruce Hampton and the Quark Alliance, Cornmeal, Dread Clampitt, Torrnado Rider, Frontier Ruckus,Toubab Krewe, The Infamous Stringdusters, Honey Island Swamp Band, The Lee Boys, and more. As always, expect lots of collaborative sit ins, especially Sunday night when Donna the Buffalo closes out the fest.

This is gonna be good!

The Big Jammalamma

2011-10-13T12:47:00.000-04:00

The Big Jammalamma Hops Art Cram and Hops Slam happens this weekend at a farm outside Lakeland with Cope, 3rd Stone, FunkUs and more playing. Organizers promise a big field of interactive art to go along with the music, and, of course, beer. Tickets are $50 for the weekend, with day pass options available also. Kids are free. Camping is primitive. Food vendors won't be up and runnning until Saturday noon, so if you go Friday night, bring yer vittles.

An update: BOGO ---- The giant DeLuna Fest, in Pensacola Beach this weekend has announced that folks who have 3-day tickets can now bring a friend for free. Also, more hotel rooms have opened up for last-minute decicion-making. Go to the site for details.

Coolest Dance Ever!

2011-10-12T12:08:00.002-04:00

Thanks for this, Craig!

Do You Deluna? Pensacola Fest This Weekend

2011-10-11T09:35:00.000-04:00

The heavy-hitter-headliner Deluna Fest happens on Pensacola Beach this weekend, with a wide variety of acts from West Coast indie to New Orleans and a lot of stuff in between.

Linkin Park, one of the headliners, has pulled out due to a band member's surgery. But there are 80 bands on the bill on five stages.

This is the fest's second year. This is not a camping festival, and there will be shuttles from downtown Pensacola and other locations to get people in and out of the venue on the beach. It's a $10 round trip.

It runs from noon to midnight Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $190 advanced. Day passes are $75 plus tax, (here's the daily lineup) and there are steep discounts for active military members. Kids under age 10 are free.

For some reason, you can't bring your own chair -- not sure what's up with that. Anyway, here's the lineup:

* Jane's Addiction

* Weezer

* The Shins

* Cake

* Girl Talk

* Big Boi

* Stars

* The Airborne Toxic Event

* Cut Copy

* Diplo

* Matt & Kim

* Cold War Kids

* The New Pornographers

* MuteMath

* Manchester Orchestra

* Ghostland Observatory

* Ladytron

* Dirty Dozen Brass Band

* Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

* Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers

* The Sounds

* Wanda Jackson

* Ra Ra Riot

* Awolnation

* Givers

* Dirty Heads

* The Limousines

* Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

* Grouplove

* JJ Grey & Mofro

* wallpaper.

* The Little Death

* Bettye LaVette

* Toubab Krewe

* The Hood Internet

* Cowboy Mouth

* The Constellations

* Telekinesis

* Bad Books

* Papa Grows Funk

* Kevin Devine

* The Infamous Stringdusters

* The Parlotones

* The War On Drugs

* Honey Island Swamp Band

* Nico Vega

* Rehab

* Motopony

* Anders Osbourne

* The Stone Foxes

* Still Corners

* Royal Bangs

* Sleeper Agent

* Griffin House

* Dinosaur Feathers

* PS I Love You

* Bear Hands

* Asobi Seksu

* Free the Robots

* Robbers On High Street

* Shamarr Allen and the Underdawgs

* Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band

* Hands

* K. Flay

* Jonathon Tyler and the Northern Lights

* Colour Revolt

* Saints of Valory

* The Listening

* NICOS GUN

* Antoine Knight

* The Revivalists

* Blackbells

* Dragoon

* Gary Fields

* The Icarus Effect

* Eerie Rockwell

* DLP

* Mr. Fahrenheit

* Kitt Lough

* June In January

* PALOMA

Ticket Bargains!

2011-10-10T10:44:00.000-04:00

If you are going to Bear Creek Music and Art Festival November 10-13, and trust me -- you should not miss this most excellent North Florida funk extravaganza -- you might want to get your ticket this week, because you can save a little.

This Saturday (October 15), the prices increase. This week, you can pick up a 3-day ticket for $165, a 4-day ticket for $235 and a 5-day ticket for $255. All tickets include primitive camping at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. You'll be able to get Friday- and Saturday-only tickets at the gate for $130.

Bear Creek is a mighty musical explosion: There are seven bands scheduled on Wednesday night, four stages and 16 bands Thursday night, six stages running Friday and Saturday, and four stages running Sunday. Plus all the crazy surprises, like pop-up performances throughout the park. Here is the lineup.

Another bargain will be available at Magnolia Fest October 20-23. If you go to Magfest, you'll be able to pick up tickets the Suwanee Springfest bluegrass-newgrass March 24-27 throwdown for just $110. Here's the Springfest lineup.

Music Everywhere: Alabama, Suwannee, Crawfordville

2011-10-06T10:42:00.000-04:00

The Acoustic Cafe, which holds music festivals outside Birmingham in Haleyville, Alabama, has a little fest this weekend called Folk in the Fall with Dread Clampitt and others. This is always a great time, a single stage, phenomenal string players, and kind folks. Very family friendly, camping included in the $40 price at the gate.

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. hosts Disc Jams, a music and frisbee disc golf series with music Friday and Saturday nights. This is the first time for this event. The Whethermen, Saltwater Grass, SOSOS and 3rd Stone play. It costs $30 for the tournament, $20 if you don't want to play golf but want to camp for the weekend and join the party. Players can win free tickets to Magnolia Fest and Bear Creek Music and Art Festival.

Woodstork, a benefit for the Florida Wild Mammal Association, happens on Saturday in Crafordville, south of Tallahassee. This is not a camping festival, suggested donation is $5, and proceeds go to rescue wild critters. There's a silent auction, and Ralph Pelletier, Swingin Harpoon, Mimi & The HearnDogs, the Sarah Mac Band and the Rick Ott Band play.

And if that isn't enough for you, see my previous posts for two other festies this weekend: Farm to Family outside Gainesville and Harvest Moon in Callaway Gardens, just south of Atlanta, with gourmet food, the B 52s, John Hiatt, the Gin Blossoms, Shawn Colvin, and more.

Chill Fest Outside Gainesville This Weekend

2011-10-05T09:52:00.000-04:00

I made this musical note into a hat. It was quite tall.

Farm To Family Full Moon Festival -- such a sweet little bargain fest outside Gainesville, great for families, right near the gorgeous Ginnie Springs. It's $20 for the weekend advanced, $25 at the gate.

You might not have heard of many of the bands that are playing, but I have been to this long-running event many times and I have not been disappointed.The kick-ass Thomas Wynn and The Believers plays Saturday night, along with the Jesse Smith Project with Hannah Barber.

You can hear audio of the other bands on the lineup section of the fest website.

This little fest is chill and small, with nice, shady camping, a few vendors and a single stage. The Grilled Cheese Wagon will feed you. Just a great, relaxing time among cool folk. No one cares if you bring your own stuff to drink. Bring some chairs and maybe a blanket to relax by the stage. Bliss!

Here is Jesse Smith Project with Hannah Barber:

B 52s, John Hiatt, Gin Blossoms and More at Callaway Gardens This Weekend.

2011-10-03T16:42:00.000-04:00

On the way to see Furthur in Atlanta last spring, we stopped for a visit in Pine Mountain, Georgia, home to Callaway Gardens. It's a little south of Atlanta, and it has a super cool butterfly house and acres and acres of beautiful gardens. I liked the tulips:

This weekend (Oct. 6-8) It is home to The Harvest Moon Festival

Here's a look at the lineup:

Thursday, Oct. 6:
Nic Cowan
Zaib Khan Band
Joe Purdy

Friday, Oct. 7
The B-52's
Parachute
Shawn Colvin
Allgood
Dread Clampitt
Martha's Trouble

Sat., Oct. 8
Gin Blossoms
Big Head Todd & The Monsters
John Hiatt
David Ryan Harris
Mat Kearney
Shawn Mullins
Infantree
Company Of Thieves
Ed Roland

And there's food! Here's what the promoters have to say:

"Appearances and demos by world-class chefs – including Claire Robinson of the Food Network – pop-up kitchens from regional farm-to-table restaurants, fresh and delicious offerings from street food vendors, and our own Callaway Gardens Farmers Market ensure that your taste buds will be tickled as well. The Harvest Moon Festival will also offer college football on big screens, gardening demos, a Vendor Village featuring eco-friendly products, yoga sessions and great activities for the family like a puppet factory from Atlanta’s world-renowned Center for Puppetry Arts."

There is no camping, but there are a lot of options for places to stay in and around Pine Mountain, including a state park.

The festival has one of the most complex sets of ticket prices and options that I have seen in a while, so be sure to check out the website. The basics: You can get an advanced ticket for the weekend for $79, and kids ages 6 to 16 are $39.50. Day passes for Friday are $39 adult, $19.50 for kids ages 6 - 16: Day passes for Saturday are $49 for adults and $24. 50 for kids ages 6 - 16.

Did I mention Callaway Gardens is beautiful?

It's a Party when Zach's in Town

2011-09-28T10:21:00.000-04:00

One-man party Zach Deputy plays two venues in the Panhandle this week -- Pensacola's Handlebar tonight and The Engine Room in Tallahassee tomorrow night. The Engine Room show has a $15 cover charge, doors open at 9, and Tallahassee blues man Sir Charles Atkins opens.

If you've never seen Zach, check him out. He's an infectious performer with a lot of funk and soul in his bones. He creates a musical stew on stage with the help of looping equipment and plays everything from originals to Michael Jackson to reggae to classical guitar. It's a serious funky dance party.

Zach has a spanking new album out, Another Day

Here he is doing his thing, playing his orginal "Tube Steak:"

On Tap This Coming Weekend: A Cool Drum Festival

2011-09-26T10:26:00.000-04:00

You might think, if you are not a drummer, that you wouldn't enjoy an all-drumming festival. I thought that, but a friend convinced me to go to the Paralounge Drum Gathering several years ago, and it was great. This is not your festival drunks playing badly at 4 a.m. while you're trying to sleep. They might be playing at 4:30 a.m. at the Paralounge, but it's gonna be good.

When I went, there was a huge variety of percussion that was super-interesting, every day there were learning workshops (and drums available for everyone,) there was yoga, evening bonfires with hot dancers, kid's activities, awesome guest performances by world-class drum ensembles, cool vendors, and these folks know how to throw a lovely gathering.

The Paralounge's October gathering happens this weekend, Sept. 30-Oct. 1 at Camp Kiwanis on Mill Dam Lake, which is (oddly) a private campground located in the Ocala National Forest (Silver Springs, Fl.)

This year features a performance by Dimas Sanchez and “Traditional Bomba” from Puerto Rico. This percussion style reaches back to the early 1800’s when African slaves from Ghana brought their traditions to the sugar plantations of Puerto Rico. Traditional Bomba will also give instructional workshops.

I really dig this little treatise the Paralounge has on "drum circle etiquette."

Admission is $50 for the weekend, $30 for the day -- pay at the gate. Kids 12 and under are free. You need to bring an above ground fire pit or grill if you want your own campfire (but going to the main drum circle fire is preferable in any case)There are no RV hookups at the festival, but there is an RV camping area across the lake (not sure how far.) No pets. If you want to tent on the lake, bring a wagon to cart your stuff. Or, you can camp by your car away from the lake.

There are dorm rooms available also for a fee, in case you don't want to camp. But be prepared: they are rooms filled with camping bunks, meant for scouts!

Good Local Bluegrass, Americana in Tally Tonight

2011-09-24T11:13:00.000-04:00

Up-and-coming local bluegrass band Stranger Still plays Bird's Aphrodesiac Oyster Shack at 8 p.m. tonight in a show with Coon Bottom Creek called "Bluegrass on the Half Shell." cover is $5, and yes, Septemebr is an 'r' month if you are ready to commence bivalve consumption season.

The kick-ass New 76ers return to the stage tonight after a hiatus. They'll hit the Mockingbird's tiny stage at 7 p.m.. The show is free, but it is a good idea to reserve a table and eat there. The food's a bit pricey, but quite good.

Here's a nice video of this very excellent band. Kelly Goddard has such a beautiful voice!

Gram Parsons Guitar Pull This Weekend

2011-09-22T12:07:00.000-04:00

If you're not going to the Blackwater Music Festival this weekend, you might want to check out The Gram Parsons Guitar Pull at the Okeefenokee Fairgrounds in Waycross, Ga.

This country-roots camping and music festival honors the late Parsons, who died in 1973. Parsons is a legendary musician who was a pioneer of the alt-country genre, singing partner to Emmylou Harris, brief member of The Byrds, co-founder of The Flying Burrito Brothers, and a pal of Rolling Stones wild man Keith Richards. He came from Waycross, and they've been honoring this hometown hero for several years now.

It costs $35 advanced for all 3 days. At the gate, it's $20 for Friday, $20 for Saturday, and $10 for Sunday. Primitive camping is $10 for the whole weekend. If you want an electric/RV site, it's $30 for the weekend. Kids 12 and under are free. Be forewarned, they want you to bring a stove or a fire pit for your campfire. Coolers are allowed. I'd imagine the picking in the campground is going to be fantastic!

Here's a neat website about Parsons

Blackwater Music Festival: 10 Things To Know Before You Go

2011-09-21T13:12:00.000-04:00

Blackwater Music Festival hits Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. this weekend. Here's 10 things you need to know:

1. There will be shade for your tent.

2. You can camp for free on a beautiful cypress lake -- choose primitive "lake camping." Reese Lake, lined with cypress trees, is close to the stages, it has nearby Port-o-lets, and the lake bathhouse and showers are a three-minute walk away.

3. Don't be discouraged by the roundabout kooky drive to get to lake camping. Keep a level head. Persevere. You'll find it. It's worth it:

4. Bring a baby pool for your campsite instead of firewood - fall's not here yet, y'all.

5. In the morning, the on-site Suwannee Music Park restaurant has a good breakfast buffet. They have nice bathrooms. Also a really cool hand-painted mural of local wildlife.

6. You can get fresh ice at the camp store next to the restaurant.

7. The Suwannee River beach is not to be missed (see top pic.)There's a rope swing. The river's a long walk from the fest site -- grab a ride or a golf cart.

8. The Suwannee River water is dark (dyed by tree tannins), but it is spring-fed and the river bottom is clean and sandy.

9. There's a giant bat house. It is just beyond lake camping in the field -- ask other campers where it is. At sunset, you can grab a beverage and go watch incredible numbers of bats fly out!

10. Bring a hammock. The ampitheater is full of trees!

A Little Reggae Tonight

2011-09-20T11:11:00.000-04:00

Boston reggae funk band Spiritual Rez hits the Engine Room in Tallahassee tonight. Doors open at 9, cover is $10.

Local band Shoes and Laces opens.

Spiritual Rez opened last weekend's PoJo Festival in Port St. Joe, Fla.

That little PoJo fest was a gem -- listening to music while bobbing in the clear aqua waters, yes! Texas's Bob Schneider, indie darlings (recently on the cover of Rolling Stone) The Sheepdogs, Calfornia's ALO, and Honey Island Swamp Band out of New Orleans turned out stellar performances to a crowd that was pretty tiny.

Props to the organizers, and if they keep booking bands this good, this fest can only grow. There's plenty of room for more of us to float in that lovely bay.

Here's some Spiritual Rez:

The Flaming Lips

2011-09-19T10:30:00.000-04:00

The Blackwater Music Festival hits Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. this weekend. This fest draws a youngish crowd, with electronica acts STS9, Girl Talk, Eoto and Ghostland Observatory on the top of the bill.

Tickets are $165 through Wednesday, and $180 at the gate. That includes free primitive camping. (You could have bought 3-day tickets in May for the bargain advanced price of $110.)

You can get a one-day pass (no camping) for $40 Thursday, $60 Friday, and $70 Saturday.

The headliner is the incomparable psychedelic band The Flaming Lips, which puts on one of the best live shows on Earth. If you watch the excellent documentary about the band, Fearless Freaks, you'll learn that they used a motorcycle running on stage in tiny dive clubs to get a smoke-on-the-stage effect.

These days they have all the stage toys they can handle -- a plastic bubble to roll over the crowd with, clever cameras, confetti machines -- I'm writing this and it doesn't sound nearly as awesome as it is. Trust me, this will be one of the best live rock shows you will ever see.

Here's a little interesting video story about their shows featuring lead singer Wayne Coyne.

Goin' To The PoJo

2011-09-15T11:56:00.000-04:00

Heading down to the Panhandle coast tomorrow for the free PoJo festival in Port St. Joe, Florida, which has a bunch of national acts and a few local ones as well. Did I mention it's free and on the coast? Here's my other festgrrl post on it and my other festgrrl post on it.

Check Out Lovely First Aid Kit

2011-09-14T10:20:00.000-04:00

festgrrl took her daughter to see Bright Eyes in Tallahassee at The Moon this week, and was most blown away by the opening act, Swedish pop duo First Aid Kit, who were playing Tallahassee for the first time.

These sisters play autoharp, guitar, and keyboard, and they are backed by a single drummer. They got discovered in a 2008 You Tube video they did covering the Fleet Foxes' "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song."
Check 'em out!

JJ Grey Releases Live CD and DVD

2011-09-12T12:27:00.001-04:00

Hometown Jacksonville musician JJ Grey (Mofro) goes uptown tomorrow night at City Winery in New York City to release his first live CD and DVD, "Brighter Days," The low-down swamp funk ("Dirt Floor Cracker") that got Mofro fans sweaty and ardent from the band's inception is still there in Grey's repertoire, although he has evolved into more of a soul singing act with a backing band. As a soul singer, Grey is the real deal. He'll rip your heart out and make the ladies swoon.

Grey will be coming our way Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall in Jacksonville. Doors open at 6:00 pm, followed by a full screening of the live concert DVD starting at 7:00, an acoustic show with Grey and a Q and A session with JJ and director Spookie Daly. Tickets are $20 advanced, $25 day of show.

Here, JJ Grey sings one of the very best songs in the world::

And here's the trailer for the new documentary:

A little ALO pre PoJO

2011-09-11T17:10:00.000-04:00

Here's a video by the danceable jazzy California band, Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO) who are headlining the free PoJo Festival this weekend in Port St. Joe, Fl. ALO's latest release, Man of the World, is on Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records label. You can hear their music player here

ALO will headline PoJo on Saturday night, starting at 8:30 pm.

Check Out These Good Shows In Tallahassee This Weekend

2011-09-09T12:42:00.001-04:00

This just in... the full lineup for the New Year's Eve Bond-Fire festival outside Orlando, featuring. George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, has been announced. The weather's fine in Tallahassee these days and the tunes are cookin.'

Don't forget, next weekend is the free PoJo Fest, so make your plans now to head down to Port St. Joe for some very fine national touring acts who are, improbably, coming to play this very sleepy place. It has something to do with BP oil spill reparations but I don't even want to dwell on that. It's Friday, after all....

In Tallahassee this weekend, a couple of promising shows:

The very talented indie Sarah Mac Band plays The Warehouse tonight at 8 p.m.

Provocative rock-punkers Catfish Alliance play the Krewe de Gras at 10 p.m. tonight.

Americana-folk pickers Lon and Lis Williamson play the Mockingbird Cafe from 7-10 pm. tonight.

JB's Zydeco Zoo , that wild band of Cajun celebrants, will be tearing it up at the Bradfordville Blues Club at 9:30 p.m. tonight. You'll get your weekend workout at this show - you can't sit still when these guys are rocking it!

Oh yeah -- and on Monday, alt-country up-and-comer Grant Peeples , of Wakulla County, comes back from national touring to play the Mockingbird Cafe from 7 to 10 pm.

I gotta include this song by Grant today because he is a stellar Floridian and it is freaking brilliant -- too bad the people who picked the state song couldn't get jiggy with it. Enjoy!

Loving Honey Island Swamp Band

2011-09-08T12:52:00.000-04:00

Here's a nice clip of the hot New Orleans band Honey Island Swamp Band, who will be playing the free PoJo Festival in Port St. Joe, Fl. Sept. 16-17. Honey Island Swamp Band headlines Friday night!

Get Your Mag on Before The Price Goes Up

2011-09-07T14:25:00.001-04:00

The price increases tomorrow for one of the loveliest festivals in these parts -- Magnolia Fest, Oct. 20-23 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Llive Oak, Fl. . Magfest is moving a little away from its pure-bluegrass/newgrass roots, with jamband moe. as a headliner this year, performing two shows. The price is $150 today and $165 tomorrow.

This is a family-friendly fest in such a gorgeous time of year. I always make the most of it by showing up Wednesday and staying through Monday morning. Sunday day and night is especially sweet, with just one stage and Donnna The Buffalo and special guests closing out what becomes and intimate party.

Performers include Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, Lucinda Williams, Railroad Earth, Keller Williams and The Traveling McCourys, 7 Walkers, Tornado Rider, Infamous Stringdusters, Toubab Krewe, Honey Island Swamp Band, Cornmeal, and more. Seeing banjo great Bela Fleck -- especially with the Flecktones, is always a treat. Enjoy this performance, and get those tickets today!

Langerado Cancelled!

2011-09-05T19:29:00.000-04:00

Langerado, which was supposed to happen next month -- Oct. 8 and 9-- down in Sunrise, Fl. has been cancelled -- no explanation why yet. The promoters are offering a full refund at the Langerado site.

As my previous post about Langerado noted, this South Florida fest was supposed to feature Death Cab for Cutie, Trey Anastasio Band, Ben Harper, Thievery Corporation, Ween, Arctic Monkeys, G. Love & Special Sauce, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Wolfgang Gartner, Etienne De Crecy, the Glitch Mob, Ghostland Observatory, Das Racist, Portugal. The Man, Friendly Fires, Childish Gambino, Smith Westerns, Super Mash Bros., Conspirator, Savoy, Mates of State, the Whigs, Yuck, Metropolis, Keys N Krates, Two Fresh, RAC DJs, Lance Herbstrong, HOTTUB, Bobby Lee Rogers, the Heavy Pets, Nicos Gun, a Million Pieces, Nic Cowan, Bear Cub, K. Flay, Rachel Goodrich, and the Kingston Springs.

I am thinking this is the second time Langerado has been cancelled in the past few years. They moved the fest out of the Big Cypress wilderness into downtown Miami, then cancelled it altogether. Too bad.

Fest Season is Heating Up

2011-09-02T11:51:00.014-04:00

Actually, festgrrl is hoping it is cooling DOWN. She's about worn out from dancing in the 90-degree-plus heat.

Many, many music festivals are on the books for the next few months here in the southeast, and I will be running them down as we move along through fall.

My wallet is digging the free fest coming up in a few weeks, the Po Jo Festival Sept. 16 &17 in downtown Port St. Joe, in Florida's panhandle. Danceable New Orleans Honey Island Swamp Band headlines Friday and ALO (Animal Lienberation Orchestra) out of California, headlines Saturday. Bob Schnieder also plays Saturday.

ALO is a jazzy-jammy band hardly ever makes it to our neck of the woods, so I'm definitely hustling to the sleepy burg of Port St. Joe to check them out. No camping there, but there are a bunch of motels. Here's a great ALO song (sorry the video is nothing, but the song is great!)

Langerado Advanced Tickets On Sale

2011-08-31T10:52:00.000-04:00

Advance tickets -- at $150 for 2 days and $75 for one day -- are now on sale for the Langerado festival, which returns to the South Florida scene October 8 & 9 in Markham Park in Sunrise, Fl. This year they are offering free camping, but spots are limited so you need to get on that as soon as you can.

Wierdly, all the music ends at 10 p.m. The lineup includes Death Cab for Cutie, Trey Anastasio Band, Ben Harper, Thievery Corporation, Ween, Arctic Monkeys, G. Love & Special Sauce, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Wolfgang Gartner, Etienne De Crecy, the Glitch Mob, Ghostland Observatory, Das Racist, Portugal. The Man, Friendly Fires, Childish Gambino, Smith Westerns, Super Mash Bros., Conspirator, Savoy, Mates of State, the Whigs, Yuck, Metropolis, Keys N Krates, Two Fresh, RAC DJs, Lance Herbstrong, HOTTUB, Bobby Lee Rogers, the Heavy Pets, Nicos Gun, a Million Pieces, Nic Cowan, Bear Cub, K. Flay, Rachel Goodrich, and the Kingston Springs.

The Broward-Palm Beach New Times has a nice "Langerado Survival Guide," with hotlinks to help you decide where you want to stay, etc. This is a big fest in a pretty populated area, so pre-planning now is a really good idea.

Elvis Costello Tours Florida in September

2011-08-29T12:38:00.000-04:00

New Wave pioneer Elvis Costello is playing four Florida shows in September -- Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on Sept. 17, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on Sept. 18, Bob Carr Performing Arts Center in Orlando on Sept. 19, and the Florida Theater in Jacksonville on Sept. 21. He'll do a show at Atlanta's Chastain Park on Sept. 24.

Costello continues to be one of the most innovative performers around, a musician's musician who has spread art and tunes around the globe. On this tour, he's bringing along "The Wheel" a roulette game which has songs and themes. Folks from the audience are chosen to spin the wheel, then Costello and his band The Imposters will play the random song or a series of songs which correspond to a theme. Costello pioneered this fun live approach back in the 1980s. Here's a blast from that past to start your week out right:

Jambando This Weekend, Seaside Next

2011-08-26T12:48:00.001-04:00

I am heading out to Jambando in the Park II this weekend for some swimming, laughing, dancing and camping along the Suwannee River.

I wanted to give folks a heads up about an event next weekend. Little-known (but incredibly talented) New York singer-songwriter Pat Hull joins his friend, former Panhandle resident, Corey Copeland and cool indie duo, The Smoking Flowers, for Corey Copeland's album release. The event happens at the intimate Seaside Repertory Theater in Seaside, Fla. The show is Sunday, September 4, at 7:30 pm. and tickets are $20. Hull's latest release, Light,is a soaring, ethereal work that I just can't stop listening to.

Here's Hull and Copeland playing at last year's 30A Songwriters Festival:

And here's Hull the year before with a song that blew my mind!

String Cheese Tickets On Sale Tomorrow

2011-08-24T13:01:00.000-04:00

Jazzy jammers String Cheese Incident are touring for the first time in years, and two Southern shows are on the bill -- one Nov. 26 at the fantastic historic Fox Theater in Atlanta and one Nov. 27 in the newly reopened Georgia Theater in Athens, Ga. Nice! Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Here's the full tour:

November 25, 2011 Thomas Wolfe Auditorium Asheville, NC
November 26, 2011 Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA
November 27, 2011 Georgia Theatre Athens, GA
November 28, 2011 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
November 30, 2011 Lyric Opera House Baltimore, MD
December 1, 2011 Tower Theatre Upper Darby, PA
December 2, 2011 The United Palace New York, NY
December 3, 2011 The United Palace New York, NY
December 4, 2011 Orpheum Theatre Boston, MA

The Legendary JC's Break It Down

2011-08-23T14:33:00.000-04:00

The Legendary JC's (stands for Joint Chiefs)are a great Orlando-based soul-funk band playing this weekend at Jambando in the Park II at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. Lead singer Eugene Snowden is fantastic, and he can rock the James Brown good-foot dance and the get-down split on stage! Here they perform at Bear Creek Music And Art Festival for your listening pleasure

Some Cope to Help you Cope with Monday

2011-08-22T13:53:00.000-04:00

Here's a little Cope, the great funky jam band band out of Tampa, to start your week out right. Cope plays Saturday night at Jambando in the Park II at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Some people have been asking me about this little gem of a fest, and I say it is a not-to-be-missed weekend of bands and swimming and jamming for just $30 advanced! There will be bands playing at the Suwannee river beach on both Saturday and Sunday during the hottest parts of the day.

Electric sites are only $25 for this event, so you can plug in your box fans and microwave ovens!

Happy Birthday Ivan Neville!

2011-08-19T13:02:00.000-04:00

The folks at Bear Creek Music and Art Festival remind us that today funk great Ivan Neville is celebrating his birthday. festgrrl is so very glad this fine musician was born! Celebrate with this booty-shaking video of Dumpstaphunk's "gasman," and if you don't have Dumpstaphunk's fantastic studio album, Everybody Want Sum, grab it here. You can see Dumpstaphunk get nasty with the funk in November at Bear Creek Nov. 10-13.

Magnolia Fest Cheap(er) Ticket Deadline Extended

2011-08-17T16:47:00.000-04:00

The folks behind the wonderful Magnolia Fest, happening Oct. 20-23 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, have extended their cheaper ticket prices until Sept. 4.

It's $150 for the whole weekend, with headliners moe., Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Donna the Buffalo, Railroad Earth, Lucinda Williams, Keller Williams, Cornmeal, Tornado Rider, the Infamous Stringdusters with Toubab Krewe (Infamous Krewe) Anders Osbourne, Seven Walkers, and a mess of fine musicians in the gorgeous Spirit of the Suwannee campground in Live Oak, Fl.

Jambando coming Soon to Suwannee!

2011-08-13T21:58:00.000-04:00

The wonderfully intimate gathering known as Jambando in The Park hits the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. August 26-28. I loved this fest last year. It's a collection of Orlando-area jam bands, and believe me, these folks come to PLAY.

The price is right, just $30 advance and $40 at the gate for 25 bands which start Friday at 7 pm and go through Sunday.

The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is offering a special cabin & golf cart deal for the weekend -- 4 people can enjoy a cabin and a golf cart Friday and Saturday night for only $400. The cabins have a queen sized bed, a pullout couch, a kitchen, bathroom, shower and air conditioning.

Here is the lineup:

The Legendary JC's, Cope,
Thomas Wynn & The Believers,
The Burnin' Smyrnans, Shak Nasti, funkUs,
Catfish Alliance, Scholar's Word, 3rd Stone,
Savi Fernandez Band, Beebs & Her Money Makers,
The Absinthe Trio, The Funky Seeds, Black Cat Bones,
Marley's Collie, Green Sunshine, The Goldminers, J2K
Jeff White & Friends, Robot Ears, The Funky Presidents,
Acoustic Swamp Project, Legacy & The Heard
ALL CAPiTAL KYLE

Perpetual Groove in Tallahassee Tuesday!

2011-08-08T17:00:00.001-04:00

Fest favorite jam/live electronica band Perpetual Groove hits Tallahassee's Engine Room Tuesday night for the start of a five-night live run through Florida. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 advance, $15 at the door. They are advertising special guests as well.

This band, out of Athens, Ga., plays Jamcruise, All Good, Gathering of the Vibes, Bear Creek, and many other festivals -- including their own "Amberland" in Georgia, every year. Here's a lok at the Florida tour:

8/9/11 - The Engine Room - Tallahassee, FL
8/10/11 - Crowbar - Tampa, FL
8/11/11 - Firestone Live - Orlando, FL
8/12/11 - The Culture Room - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
8/13/11 - The Culture Room - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

And here's a performance from last year's Amberland:

Keeping Love Alive in Tally

2011-08-06T13:21:00.001-04:00

It's going to be a sweet night at the Warehouse in Tallahassee tonight, where musicians will gather for the annual Keeping the Love Alive concert. It's a night to remember friends who have passed on. Sonic Rangers, Erogenous Zones and the Dead Keys play. Dead Keys lineup will be Hal Month, Kevin Robertson, Scott Campbell, Brian Burgess, Avis Berry, Kris Kulp & Ed Bradley. Doors open at 9 p.m. and the cover is $10.

Pow Wow Festival This Weekend

2011-08-02T17:35:00.002-04:00

I promised to give everybody a another reminder about this weekend's 311 Pow Wow Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, so here it is! Lots of ska, reggae and punk acts. Hit the link above for all the details.

I will say I camped last weekend for the furthur show, and it was super steamy. Bring a hose and fans if you've got 'em. Remember there's a pool and the river at Spirit of the Suwannee. Stay cool out there festivarians!

Rombello Cruise Out of Tampa features Franti, JJ Grey& Mofro, More

2011-07-27T15:21:00.000-04:00

The Rombello Cruise sets sail out of Tampa and jams its way to Cozumel, Mexico Sept. 29-Oct. 3.

On the boat, you'll hear Slightly Stoopid, Michael Franti and Spearhead, G. Love & Special Sauce, Citizen Cope, Brett Dennen, JJ Grey & Mofro, SOJA, Rhett Miller, Gaelic Storm, Big Gigantic, Trevor Hall, Ponderosa, DJ Soulman, Kristy Lee, Jukebox the Ghost, Ella Riot, Ledfoot Messiah, B-Liminal, Trailer Park Ninjas, Little Tybee and others.

JJ Grey&Mofro are selling $5 raffle tickets to win a ticket to the cruise, and proceeds benefit a charity near and dear to festgrrl's heart: St. Johns Riverkeeper. Hurry -- the raffle ends July 31!

Prices for the cruise range from $2,295 for a penthouse to $229 for a four-person interior room. And that doesn't include the $179 in taxes and port charges. The price includes all your meals and access to all the cruise ship's charms, which include pools and water fun.

Here's Michael Franti to explain it all to you: (and don't forget the Michael Franti drinking game, y'all!)

Michael Franti & Spearhead Invite You on Rombello! from Sixthman TV on Vimeo.

Pow Wow Festival Hits Suwannee

2011-07-26T10:54:00.000-04:00

The band 311 is putting on the Pow Wow Festival at Spririt of the Suwannee Music Park August 4-6.

Other acts include Sublime with Rome, G. Love and Special Sauce, and a variety of ska, punk and reggae bands to rock the music park. 311 plays four nights.

Tickets are $145 advanced, $160 at the gate. There are extra fees. Kids under 6 are free.

It's a hot time to fest, for sure, but remember the Spirit of the Suwannee has both a river beach and a swimming pool, plus plenty of shaded campsites.

311 says they will play, for the first time, their album Transistor in its entirety.

Here's one of 311's music videos to check out:

More Concerts in Your Living Room

2011-07-23T14:00:00.000-04:00

You Tube is going to broadcast Chicago's Lollapalooza Aug. 5-7 and Austin City Limits on September 16-18. Austin City Limits has, among others,Arcade Fire, Coldplay,My Morning Jacket and Stevie Wonder, shown here on Sesame Street!

Floydfest Coming Right Up!

2011-07-19T16:43:00.001-04:00

Floydfest, in Floyd, Va., is one of the nicest fests around. Happening the weekend of July 28, it has a beautiful site in the Blue Ridge Mountains with great stages, including a wonderful world music village. It is very family friendly, with child care (for a fee) and a cool kid's stage. The workshops are intimate.You can see my previous post on it here.

You should know: Tickets that allow you to park where you camp are sold out. You have to either camp at an off site campground they have set up or take all your stuff on a shuttle bus they run up to the fest site. From there, you have to haul it to wherever you can find to camp.

You can also find nearby cabins with a good web search.

One of my favorite acts I saw at Floydfest a few years ago -- and they will be playing this year -- is Cyro Baptista and Beat The Donkey. Here's a look at these crazy folks!

ALO Coming To Port St. Joe!

2011-07-15T16:04:00.000-04:00

I'm going to file this under three subjects: IMPROBABLE, AMAZING and YES!! Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO), the fantastically talented California band of Jam Cruise and West Coast festival fame, is coming to play along the Fla Panhandle coast for the PoJo Festival, September 16 and 17!

This festival is FREE in humble Port St. Joe, and other great bands include The Honey Island Swamp Band out of New Orleans, Spiritual Rez, Austin, Texas singer Bob Schneider, and Tallahassee's own Sara Mac Band,among others.

This is a truly fantastic development for all of us who dwell in the middle of Nowhere, Fl, Nowhere, Ala, and Nowhere, Ga. You know who you are, Nowhere People!

Bear Creek Early Bird Tickets End Tonight

2011-07-14T09:50:00.001-04:00

If you get your tickets to Bear Creek Music & Art Festival (Nov, 10-13) at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, by MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, you can save yourself some bucks.

A 3-day pass is $135 today, and goes up to $150 tomorrow. A four day pass goes from $175 today to $190 tomorrow, and a five-day pass goes from $195 today to $210 tomorrow. There's even an EZ Payment Plan for your credit card if you need to go that route.

Check out the crazy good lineup here, which includes the Funky Meters, Trey Anastasoio Band, Medeski, Martin and Wood, Lettuce, oh, I could go on....you're going to dance your behind off.They will have about six stages running with funky goodness around every corner.

Bob Dylan in Pensacola and Atlanta

2011-07-13T11:18:00.000-04:00

There are still tickets available for Bob Dylan's show at the Pensacola Civic Center July 27. ($79-$85 a pop)He's playing Atlanta's Chastain Center the next night, July 28, and there are seats available for that show, too ($63 to $91 a seat.)

Dylan's 70 this year, so if you're a fan of the folkie from Minnesota, you probably want to catch him while he's running through our region.

Turn This Motha New Year Out!!

2011-07-12T15:33:00.001-04:00

Funky friends, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic are headlining a heady fest outside Orlando New Year's Eve weekend.

Why am I telling you this now in the middle of sweltering summer? Because I have your best interests at heart, funkateers: Early bird tickets for the Bond-fire Festival are $125, and the price goes up next week, on July 20th.

This fest is a first-time affair, so festgrrl has no advice on the venue or anything else. It's in Lake County a little bit west of Orlando. Check out this dance-a-thon lineup:

PFunk
Soulive
The New Mastersounds
Particle
Zach Deputy
Papadosio
Cope x2
3rd Stone x2
Beebs and her Money Makers
Cypress x2
Aquaphonics
Legacy & Friends
Green Sunshine
Evan Taylor Jones Band
Two Months to Boston x2
The Time Urchin
Dream9 (Late-Night)
SOUNDUO (Late-Night

The promoters say they will have several stages, RV and tent camping (not sure about hookups yet), live performance art, body painting, art installations, and music 'til sunrise.

Yes! That's how I wanna close out this kooky 2011, getting down with the FREAKS! Like this:

Swamp Stomp This Weekend

2011-07-08T12:04:00.000-04:00

The lovely woodsy Tallahassee Museum hosts its 33rd annual Swamp Stomp on Saturday from 4pm to 9 pm. This is an acoustic affair which takes place beneath the live oaks and cypress along Lake Bradford. The Museum’s Trail Break Café will have food and drinks to buy.

The Swamp Stomp is free with regular museum admission -- $9 for adults, $6 for kids aged 4 to 15, and free for kids under age 3.

There are some really fine acts, and here's the schedule:

4:00 p.m. Hot Tamale

4:30 p.m. Cheap and Easy

5:00 p.m. Wayne DeWeil

5:30 p.m. Swivel Kings

6:00 p.m. Grant Peeples & The Peeples Repubik Band

6:30 p.m. The New 76ers

7:00 p.m. Ric Edmiston

7:30 p.m. The Sarah Mac Band

8:00 p.m. Del Suggs

O Godfather

2011-07-07T15:54:00.002-04:00

Back From Vacation!

2011-07-04T16:44:00.000-04:00

Best patriotic song for your Fourth: