Florida Folk Festival, Acoustic Cafe, This Weekend

The state's 59th annual Florida Folk Festival happens along the Suwanee River at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs this weekend, and if you are willing to take a road trip, the incomparable Acoustic Cafe newgrass extravaganza and camping  fest happens in the hills north of Birmingham, Alabama.

The Folk Festival isn't a camping festival (unless you are already registered as a volunteer) but there are campgrounds and motels nearby. Adult tickets are $40 for the weekend, or $20 a day. Kids 16 and under are only $4 for the weekend. The folk festival has neat displays of Florida folk life and lots of country-cookin' food in booths run by various community groups.

I can't say enough wonderful things about Acoustic Cafe. I have seen  some of the finest playing ever there. It is intimate, for music lovers, and family friendly. People LISTEN and players RAGE. Click here to listen to some past sets.

In the past, it's been just one stage, with a second smaller one for sets between main stage sets. Here is a festgrrl post on it from last year. Headliners this year are New Orleans piano maven Marcia Ball, Dread Clampitt, the Red Stick Ramblers, Tennessee Firearms, and the Herb Trotman Band. Tickets are $60 at the gate, and you need to buy a $10 parking pass. Kids 12 and under are free.

Camping is primitive, and you can camp next to your car. There are no hookups for motor homes. They have showers. The picking at this festie is sublime, good thing they have free coffee!

Fest Season in Full Spring Swing

Jonesin' for jams after returning from the glorious Wanee Festival at Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park last weekend? I hear ya!

You can keep the magic going without going too very far these next few months while the southern weather's still tolerable. Here, then, is a little update on some festies around the corner...

The Gamble Rogers Folk Festival happens in St. Augustine April 29-May 1. Folk singers Richard Thompson, Sam Pacetti, Pierce Pettis, and bluesman Bill Wharton "The Sauce Boss" headline. Tickets are $66.50 advance. This is not a camping festival, and shows take place at a variety of venues in downtown St. Augustine. You will have to find accommodations in St. Augustine or camp across the bridge at the wonderful Anastasia State Park or in one of the private campgrounds.

The String Break music festival happens April 29-May 1 at the Sertoma Youth Ranch in Dade City, Fla. (About a half-hour north of Tampa, near Brooksville.)  This little camping fest features Roots Rock, Alt Country, Newgrass & Bluegrass. Performers include Paul Thorn (Miss.), The Greencards (Nashville), The Chapmans , Rockin Acoustic Circus(AZ), Bearfoot (Alaska). This event has a very organized youth program and is a family friendly event. Tickets are $85 advance, $95 at the gate. Tickets for kids (up to 17!) are $20. They have great vendors, and the venue is small and intimate. You can buy electric camping upgrades.


The Purple Hatter's Ball happens at Spirit of the Suwanee May 13-15. Tickets are $45 advance, and $60 at the gate. This is a camping festival with vendors. The park is offering a deal for a golf cart and a cabin that can sleep 4 people for $400.

The Hangout Festival happens in Orange Beach, Alabama (near Pensacola) May 22-24 with a stellar lineup including Paul Simon, The Flaming Lips, The Black Keys, Widespread  Panic, and more. No camping on site, you have to book accommodations at Orange Beach. A 3-day pass is $174 advance. There are all sorts of extra ticket options, including shuttles, late-night shows, and lodging deals.

The jammy  Orange Blossom Jamboree happens at the wonderful Sertoma Youth Ranch near Brooksville, Fla. on May 21-23. Tickets are just $45, and that includes primitive camping. An electric site is an extra $40 but there's no limit on how many folks you can have on your site, as long as you can fit 'em all.

festgrrl fave the Acoustic Cafe happens Memorial Day weekend north of Birmingham, Alabama May 27-28. Check out one of my previous posts on this gem of a fest from last year. This is a bit of a drive for us Floridians, but you will not be disappointed if you dig string music and mind-bending interpretations of bluegrass. Marcia Ball joins the pickers this year, along with Dread Clampitt and lots of others. Tickets are $50 advance, $60 at the gate. This fest is family friendly camping festival and very intimate. Not a lot of vendors, so bring a stocked cooler.


The state-run Florida Folk Festival happens  May 27-May 29 at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park along the Suwannee River in White Springs, Fl. No camping here, unless you are an official volunteer who has signed up beforehand. A weekend pass is $40 and kids (up to age 16!) cost just $4.

The kinda-monthly Farm To Family Full Moon Festival  takes place June 10-12 outside Gainesville near  beautiful Ginnie Springs. The price is right -- $20 advance, $25 at the gate. Family friendly, small, with a single stage and super kind folks.

And, of course, there's the big daddy fest of them of 'em all, The  New Orleans Jazz  and Heritage Festival, April 29-May 8, with Everyone In The World playing. This is not a camping festival. Advance tickets are $45 a weekend, $60 at the gate. Kids under 10 are $5. No lineup (or food choices) anywhere compares, but be prepared for heat and big, big crowds.

Florida Folk Festival, Acoustic Cafe this weekend

The 58th Florida Folk Festival takes place in White Springs. This is a state-run festival, and you can only camp if you have signed up to be a volunteer. There is a campground pretty close by along the Suwannee River, however.

Headliners are Mel Tillis and Billy Dean, Michael Johnathon, and Ben Prestage. Tallly performers Doug Gauss, The Mayhaws, Frank Thomas, and dulcimer phenom Aaron O'Rourke will be there. Lots of cool folk demonstrations, foods, and a cool Seminle camp. Bring 'yo hand fan, your swimming suit and a bike... it's a warm one during the day.

The incomparable Acoustic Cafe outside Birmingham happens this weekend, with Sam Bush, Dread Clampitt and Tornado Rider headlining. This little festie is a real treat. Small crowd that really listens, stellar players, beautiful area in the mountains. They've moved to a new site this year. Seriously worth the drive. They only have one food vendor and no alcohol vendor, so bring what you need with you. You can car camp.

Today's Deadline for Acoustic Cafe Early Bird Tickets

If you like string music, this little festival in Alabama, outside Birmingham, will absolutely blow your mind. Promoter Steve Masterson is a sort of string scholar, and he picks his acts accordingly.  You are going to see some serious talent on the mountain,and you are going to be in a crowd that's really paying attention. The campground picking ain't too shabby either.

This year, Newgrass pioneer Sam Bush headlines the Acoustic Cafe. It also features the Herb Trotman Band, talented young punkgrass maniacs from San Francisco, Tornado Rider, and Walton County, Fl's own Dread Clampitt. Other acts: Missy Raines and the New Hip, The Brickroom Boys, Allen Tolbert, and the Blue Ribon Healers.

 I have gone for two years and seen some of the best and most intimate newgrass and bluegrass shows I've ever seen. The crowd is super sweet, the fest in family friendly, and Steve provides free coffee the whole weekend. The fest has always happened in Steve's yard on the mountain, but this year he's got a new venue 80 miles northwest of Birmingham near Natural Bridge, Alabama.

If you get your tickets today, it's $40 for the whole weekend (plus $10 for parking) After that, it's $50 (plus $10 for camping)

You will not be disappointed with the level of stellar playing you'll see at this fest. Sam Bush and Dread Clampitt will absolutley shred it, and with Tornado Rider in the mix, its gonna be epic!

BUDDAH SAYS KEEP ON FESTING WHILE THE WEATHER'S FINE!

May is JUMPIN, Y'all!'

Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, May 1-3, St. Johns County Fairgrounds, more info is here

Full Moon Festival, Alachua (outside Gainesville) May 8-10. $40 for the weekend. $15 to $20 sliding scale for the day. This fest is normally just one night, but this is a special three-day show at a different venue, just 5 miles from the old one. Rowan Brothers, Gator Bone, Crazy Fingers, Glass Camels,Third Stone, Quartermoon and more. More info is here

Mossy Headz, DeFuniak Springs, May 14-17, Pre-sale tickets are $66 for 4 day pass, $80 at the gate. Oversize vehicle pass is $25. Fabulous lineup: DubConscious, Ralph Roddenberry, Burnin' Smurnin's, Rebecca Jean Smith, Green Hit, Waco Ramblers, Fusebox Funk, and more. More info is here

Florida Folk Festival, May 22-24, Info is here

Acoustic Cafe, May 22-24, outside Birmingham, Alabama, $40 for the weekend. in a gorgeous intimate mountain setting. Edgar Meyer & Mike Marshall, Dread Clampitt and more. VW busses or tents only on the mountain, other RVs have to park a ways down. To car camp, get an up the hill pass while they last. Info is here.

Wannee Festival, Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park June 4-7, info is here. Killer lineup, Doobie Brothers, Allmans, Wailers, Little Feat and more.

Here's the whole spring lineup

OK, you asked for it: Here is the entire spring lineup in one post:

Springfest, March 26-29, Live Oak, Fla. You can see the lineup here:

I am loving The Gourds and the legendary Richie Havens on the lineup this year!

Keel Family Function, April 3-5, Lafayette, Ga., Get the info here Colonel Bruce Hampton, Blueground Undergrass, and more.

Springing the Blues Festival, April 3-5, Jacksonville Beach, (not a camping fest, but a free fest on the beach) Info is here

Florida Earth Day Jam, Tallahassee, April 18, info is here

Stringfest, Brooksville, Fla. April 17-19, info is here The Waybacks, The Greencards, and more.

Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, May 1-3, St. Johns County Fairgrounds, more info is here

Florida Folk Festival, May 22-24, Info is here

Acoustic Cafe, May 22-24, outside Birmingham, Info is here. Dread Clampitt and more.

Wannee Festival, June 4-7, info is here. Killer lineup, Doobie Brothers, Allmans, Little Feat and more.

More information on these excellent festivals is available by looking back at my older posts in February and earlier in March.

The music is coming!