Two Great February Fests Coming Up

Virginia Key Beach Park

February is upon us, and (at least in Florida) fest season begins again...

I've already previewed the first Florida fest of February, the funk-jam-jazz-and live electronica dance party that is Aura Music and Arts Festival (President's Day weekend, Feb. 15-17, at the beautiful Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak.) Tickets are available at the bargain price of $119 for the weekend.

Now I give you heads-up for February's second cool Florida fest -- the Virginia Key Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance, happening in a coastal park outside Miami February 21-24. This is a super-interesting eclectic fest with world-beat, Cajun, Latin, blues, old-time, and reggae on the lineup. Much-touring jamband Donna the Buffalo hosts this fest, now in its second year. The great Rusted Root is also on the bill.

This is a camping festival -- primitive sites only -- and there are a bunch of different things you need to know -- car passes, carpooling deals, etc. It's $50 a night to bring in your car and tent-camp, $25 a night to tent camp if you don't bring your car in. RV passes are $150, and there are no hookups. No campfires are allowed.

Four day tickets to the fest are $100, and there are daily ticket options as well.

Here is a great video from the fantastic Spam Allstars, who are playing the festival:

Get Your Mag on Before The Price Goes Up

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!

Magnolia Fest Was Sublime

Sunny days, cool nights, a full moon, and a ridiculous amount of talent conspired to make the 14th Magnolia Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL. a lovely event. The park was full of happy campers, but as is usually the case, it never felt too crowded.

Suffice it to say -- whether on stage or in the campground in the wee hours, these folks were here to PLAY. Standouts were the super-fast picking of Keller & The Keels, Cornmeal, the transcendent Dread Clampitt-Tornado Rider late-night jam on Saturday night, the slow and easy Seven Walkers set, Wet Willie's rocking vocals and cool sax, the super loose Donna The Buffalo family show Sunday night, and Joe Craven, a unique performer with a big heart.

There was a lot of talk about this being the last Magnolia Fest, and a lot of folks have been asking me about what's next. That remians to be seen. Founders Beth and Randy Judy are transitioning out of their role as main producers. We're all so grateful for the fatastic events they've put on all these years, starting back with Big Cosmo's Sunshine Daydream.

Paul Levine anad Lyle Williams (of Bear Creek Music & Art Festival) are taking over for the March 2011 Suwannee Springfest, and they have already announced that The Avett Brothers will headline.YES!

Paul and Lyle have excellent taste and new energy, so I'm thinking it's all going to work out just fine.

I'll post some Magnolia Fest videos later, but in the meantime, here are some pics from the weekend!

Joe Craven plays the jawbone

Peter Rowan with Keller & The Keels

18 South Rocks It!

Scramble Campbell paints Joe Craven

Peter Rowan tells it like it is

Sam Bush plays with Dread Clampitt

Early Bird Deadlines for Magnolia Fest and Bear Creek Music & Art Festival

Today's the last day for Early Bird tickets for Magnolia Fest at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park October 21 to 24 -- That's $125 ($147 with fees included) -- through September 1. Here is my earlier post about the lineup. Since then, they've added the phenomenal Sam Bush Band.

And tickets for Bear Creek Music and Art Festival Nov. 12-14, also at Suwannee Music Park, They are $125 now -- they go up 10 $140 on  Sept. 8, y'all.

It's a good idea to buy early, and I'll let you know the dates so keep on checking festgrrl.

Bear Creek had a crazy low price of $99 for super early birds early in the year. Now that's a damn bargain, people! -- especially since James Brown's band is gonna rock it, and that's just the beginning! It's one epic lineup all around.

Thanks, Magfest!

The fine folks who put on Magnolia Festival October 21-24 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park are giving students a giant break. The new special student ticket for four days of festing and camping is just $75 -- that's compared to $175 at the gate. It applies to students age 13 and up, and you have to have a valid student I.D. to get in. If you don't have the I.D., you will have to pay regular price at the gate.

They've also extended early bird price -- $125 ($147 with fees included) -- through September 1. The lineup this year is really excellent. Here is my earlier post about the lineup. Since then, they've added Newgrass pioneer Sam Bush and his band. Basically, some of the finest string musicians in the world will convene at Magnolia Fest for four days in the finest weather we get all year. Bring your Halloween costume and your pumpkin for carving and let's get witchy, y'all.

Suwannee Springfest Was Special Indeed

Suwannee Springfest had about half its usual attendance (2,700  advanced tickets sold, estimated 3,500 in the park.) which turned out to be a special  treat for fans. There was plenty of room and much face time with artists. The whole vibe was intimate and the music was OUTSTANDING. Leftover Salmon's 3-hour Saturday night set was one to remember. Dizzyingly fast picking, tremendous variety, humor, and just a pyycho slamgrass good time. One fan noted: "I  need more time to absorb what I just saw. I'm in a daze!"

Fest newcomer Ruthie Foster was a knockout with driving, Aretha-like vocals. Her slowed-down gospel version of "Oh Susannah" was hauntingly beautiful in the Spanish moss-draped ampitheatre. If she's playing near you, do not miss it.

Other standouts were Nashville's year-old 18 South, sort of a Lyle Lovett-meets-Little Feat-meets-Bonnie Rait vibe with Guthrie Trapp's super cool guitar stylings; Grant Peeples and the New 76ers, with political lyrics and kick-ass vocals; punkgrass talents Tornado Rider; singer-songwriter Jonathan Edwards;  Peter Rowan, Dread Clampitt,  and Donna the Buffalo.

Sunday was an intimate party among artists and friends, tapped off by a wondrous late-night jam between Jeff Mosier (Blueground Undergrass) on banjo and the freakishly talented Rushad Eggleston of Tornado Rider on cello. Mosier says he was so inspired that he wants to do a cello-banjo trance record with Rushad. That would be cool.

The whole experience left fetgrrl filled up with music and love, and reminded her that supporting events like this is more important than ever. Let's keep our scene going long into the future. Every year we get treated to some new awesome talent. Thanks Randy and Beth!

Suwannee Springfest Early Bird Tix Still Available!

Early bird tickets --- at $126, up from $99 last year --- for Suwannee Springfest are available until Jan. 31. It happens March 25-28 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak. Fl. (Paradise.) Kids under 12 are free, thank you very much.

This fest is heavy on newgrass as usual, with Cajun-influenced jam band Donna The Bufffalo and high-energy slamgrass faves Leftover Salmon (celebrating their 20th year) headlining. (You can read all about Leftover Salmon, listen to their music, and get special free downloads at Jambase) The insane Tornado Rider will also play, the incomparable Peter Rowan, and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

I am LOVING Springfest newcomers  18 South, (check out their mind-blowing cover of the Blind Boys of Alabama song "Run On") steppy, fun, Little-featish-Lyle-Lovett sound which has hot, hot, hot guitarist (and hell of a nice guy) Guthrie Trapp (who played with Dread Clampitt a bunch last year, and hot singer-songwriter Jessi Alexander, who is a good singer (and yes, she co-wrote Miley Cyrus' hit "The Climb." ) I'm pretty sure that's the only time you'll ever see Miley Cyrus in festgrrl's blog.


The Duhks, a young Canadian string band with a world-beat vibe, has broken up. Their cool and ridiculously talented fiddle player, Tania Elizabeth, has left the band. Duhks banjo player Leonard Podolok will be at Springfest with a new project, The Turtle Duhks, and former Duhks lead singer Jessee Havey will be there with The Jessee Havey project. Should be interesting, but I will really, really miss Tania Elizabeth. I still remember her amazing performances a few years ago when she was the only member of the band able to cross the Canadian border due to some bureacratic problem. She sat in with EVERYONE and absolutely killed it. Good luck Tania and hope we see you again soon!!


Here's Suwannee Springfest's lineup announcement:

"More than 30 of the finest performers in Americana & Roots Music will appear on the festival’s five stages with nearly 100 individual performances & workshops to be scheduled.


Leftover Salmon will make a rare Florida appearance Saturday evening at Suwannee Springfest in celebration of their 20th year performing together as a band. Salmon defined the contemporary Colorado bluegrass/newgrass sound which influenced groups like String Cheese Incident and later Yonder Mountain String Band. Their high-energy sets at festivals like Telluride Bluegrass, High Sierra, Merlefest and others helped to establish the band and those events’ reputation as well.

Texas singer/songwriter Robert Earl Keene comes to Suwannee Springfest on the heels of his recent CD “The Rose Hotel” which held the #1 position on the Americana airplay charts for several weeks.

Dirty Dozen Brass Band will bring the funk to Thursday evening. Donna the Buffalo will rock the Suwannee Springfest stage for the 13th time beginning on Friday (they were not at the very first Suwannee Springfest).

Peter Rowan is marking his 14th Suwannee Springfest maintaining his role as the Festival Patriarch. Veteran bluesman Roy Book Binder also maintains a perfect reco rd as he performs for the 14th time. 2010 Blues Grammy nominee Ruthie Foster will bring her sultry tones to Springfest on Saturday. Mr. Get Your Mag On Jim Lauderdale, another Grammy nominee as well as multi-instrumentalist Joe Craven will appear on Saturday and Sunday.

Suwannee Springfest will also present several exciting new projects from other Americana favorites. While the Duhks take a brief hiatus, band leader Leonard Podalak is featuring his trio, The Turtle Duhks. And a brand new project featuring former original Duhks vocalist Jessee Havey will debut at the festival, too. Blueground Undergrass is also on hiatus, so Rev Mosier, Johnny Mo and David B will treat us to the new adventures of The Mosier Brothers with David Blackmon.

Another powerhouse new Americana band with deep bluegrass roots appearing is 18 South. The organic and earthy quality of their sound rings with overtones of Blues, Bluegrass, Jazz and Gospel. Larry Atamanuik and Mike Bub hold down a deep and unmovable groove behind Jimmy Wallace's rich vocals and slamming New Orleans Style Piano that in turn gives Guthrie Trapp the opportunity to freely express his fluid and versatile guitar style. With Jon Randall's mournful tenor vocals and solid guitar playing, the band provides a perfect venue for Jessi Alexander to nail the audience to the wall with her smoky heart wrenching vocals.

A young Louisiana group with a bluegrass background, The Belleville Outfit comes to the festival after a nomination for an Americana Music Association award last year. And pure bluegrass will be represented on the bill by The Steeldrivers and their popular new songs.

Expect the unexpected with Tornado Rider bringing smiles to all on the Amphitheater Stage on Thursday night and don’t miss the Emerald Coast favorite sons Dread Clampitt on Friday.

More acts will be added soon. For complete information, visit the Suwannee Springfest Lineup Page on MagMusic.com."

Off to Magnolia Fest!

Festgrrl's gettin her Mag on early, gonna be a great bunch of shows, and see you all there in the beautiful woods where the sounds of funky strings waft through the campfire smoke. Yes!!

Magnolia Fest!

That's Scramble Campbell painting my friends Dread Clampitt at Magnolia Fest. Just a week or so away now! I can't wait to see my friends, make some music, hear great players,sleep under the stars and jump in the Suwannee. Aaaaaahhhhhhhh, heaven!

All the good details are here

Donna The Buffalo plays four nights so get your dancing shoes properly prepared.

Don't forget your pumpkins and don't forget to go to Slopryland to see their amazing jack o lantern's. And just remember: I saw yo mama at Slopry land and she couldn't find her shoes!

Best Donna Show Ever??

The above pic shows David Gans playing with Donna the Buffalo at Springfest '09! I think Saturday night's show was among the best Donna the Buffalo shows I have ever seen... and I've seen a lot of them. Jeb Puryear's playing was simply sublime, especially the way the band stripped down to just a few well-placed notes wafting on the swampy air in the ampitheatre during Everything Seems to Want to Hurt This Time. Just killer. Tara Nevin's vocals on the Sheryl Crow cover, A Change Will Do You Good, were kick-ass. Just great playing, great energy all around.

Other Springfest highlights this year were the Swedish string band Vasen, with Mike Marshall and Darol Anger -- wow! These string virtuosos created classical, jazzy soundscapes that gave me goosebumps. My only criticism was that they did not change the show at all when they played again, down to the same jokes. Ouch.

The Duhks from Manitoba, who got their big break at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park five years ago, were super fun as always and a definite crowd pleaser. The band's original lead singer, Jessee Havey, has been replaced by Sarah Dugas, and not a beat has been missed. Her vocals are awe-inspiring, and her drummer brother Christian Dugas is doing a great job on The Duhks' signature sound - Afro-Cuban-Brazilian beats played against traditional reels. They played some choice tunes off their excellent disc, Fast Paced World. Everyone I play that disc for goes crazy for it!

Tornado Rider from California was out of control per usual! I don't really have any words to describe it... grass-punk comes to mind. Rushad Eggleston is one hell of a player and the distortion he gets out of his instrument is mind-bending. Crowd surfing in skin-tight tights in a lightning storm while playing a distorted electric cello? Insane!

This is how the band describes their sound: "wild western neolithical cello banditry meets thunder-twinged yodeling elf rock of the 4th dimension."

Folk legend Richie Havens proved he's a true master and leader for peaceful people. I saw people crying during that show... maybe it was just the rain?

All in all another amazing fest, depite the rain storms. A good kickoff to a very very busy spring fest season. Next stop: Keel Family Function this weekend in La Fayette, Ga.

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!

Fest Season Approacheth

The Spring Fest Season is fast approaching and festgrrl is mulling her many options! I outline the options for Southern festers below for your planning pleasure. Yes, times are tough, but still... if you get your advanced tickets, festing is still a pretty good vacation bargain. Magnolia Springfest advanced was $100, that's $100 for four days and five stages!

Springfest, March 26-29, is the first fest on festgrrl's list. You can see the lineup at the link here:

http://www.magmusic.com/lineupspringfest.htm

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

The weekend after Springfest, April 3 and 4, is the Keel Family Function in LaFayette, Georgia -- that's way up there near Chattanooga, Tennessee. It's at TDawg's Cherokee farms, and the price is just great -- only $40 for the whole weekend advanced. I have never been to the venue, but friends report great things. The lineup is simply stellar and you can see it here

http://www.keelfamilyfunction.com/

Promoter TDawg knows all about great music. Here's his post on it:


Eye Dawg Productions is proud to announce the inaugural KEEL FAMILY FUNCTION April 3rd- 4th at beautiful Cherokee Farms in LaFayette, GA. We are very excited about this first-time event and plan on having it around for years to come. Once again, we will be featuring the wind/solar power of Tree Power, a subsidiary of Tree Sound Studios and Tree Leaf Music (www.treeleafmusic.com)

Keel Family Reunion
Tickets: Fri-Sat $40 adv/$50 @ gate, Sat Only $30 adv/$40 @ gate, includes camping. Advance tix available online at KeelFamilyFunction.com. Music starts at 7PM on Friday, Noon on Saturday.

The Keel Family Function Lineup:

~ COL. BRUCE HAMPTON ~ featuring Jeff Sipe on drums, Ike Stubblefield on Hammond/bass pedals, Grant Green Jr. on guitar, plus a few friends I’m sure. www.bratoganibe.com/
~ BLUEGROUND UNDERGRASS ~ www.bluegroundundergrass.com
~ DONNA HOPKINS ~ SPECIAL ARTIST-AT-LARGE
~ LARRY KEEL & NATURAL BRIDGE ~ www.larrykeel.com
~ LAURA REED & DEEP POCKET ~ www.laurareedanddeeppocket.com
~ PAPA MALI w/ Jeff Sipe ~ www.papamali.com
~ RALPH RODDENBERY BAND ~ www.ralphroddenbery.com
~ GRAYSON CAPPS & FRIENDS ~ www.graysoncapps.com
~ ANDERS OSBORNE & NEW ORLEANS JUICE ~ www.myspace.com/andersosbornenola
~ DAVID VIA ~ www.davidvia.com
~ CAPTAINS of the INDUSTRY ~ featuring members of N.O. Juice, Susan Tedeschi’s band lineup, Scrapomatic
~ STOP DROP & ROLL ~ www.myspace.com/stopdropandrollband
~ CAROLINE POND ~ www.myspace.com/carolinepond
~ SAINT FRANCIS ~ www.myspace.com/saintfrancissong
~ EYE of the DAWG SONGWRITER SHOWCASE, lineup TBA soon!
~ BLOODY MARY MORNING BLUEGRASS JAM ~ hosted by Stop Drop & Roll, final details TBA soon!
~ THE LOW DOWN THROW DOWN ~ www.myspace.com/thelowdownthrowdown
~ PAST PLUTO ~

Tickets: Fri-Sat $40 adv/$50 @ gate, Sat Only $30 adv/$40 @ gate. Kids 12&under are admitted FREE. Camping included in the cost of the ticket. $10 additional if you wish to come in on Thursday night. Advance tix available online at http://www.TicketAlternative.com/Venues/302.aspx or by visiting the outlets listed above. Music starts at 7PM on Friday, Noon on Saturday. NO DOGS PLEASE.

We are excited to have Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. on board as a sponsor, along with our buddies Wildman Steve Radio and Tree Leaf Music.

Then it's down to Tampa area, for Stringfest on April 17-19. This is the same venue as Riverhawk in the fall. See the lineup here: http://www.lindentertainment.com/StringBreak/SB09/stringbreak_2009
The Waybacks and The Greencards and Larry Keel are standouts in the lineup. This venue, I hear, is very, very sweet. And April is a great time to be in Florida. Tickets are $65 advance for two nights of camping, $85 if you want to stay Sunday night.

That's all for now, I've got another fest to preview and will do it next post.

A Message from Our Magnolia Fest Friends

Here's a missive from the folks who run Magnolia Fest, lots of fun info in here:

Dear Festival Folks:
The 12th Annual MagnoliaFest is right around the corner and we are requesting that everyone on our email list help us spread the word about the festival. We've got lots of new for you today.
Today we're covering:

* MagnoliaFest History
* The Lee Boys & Oteil Burbridge @ Smith's Old Bar
in Atlanta this Friday October 10th
* Get your MagnoliaFest Advance tickets NOW
* Schedule - what Schedule???
* The MagMusic Radio Show
* MagFest Kickoff:Inca Maya & TNS Freebird Live Oct 18th
* Laugh, Love, Dance & VOTE

BIG COSMO'S SUNSHINE DAYDREAM WEEKEND AKA MAGNOLIAFEST
When we began MagnoliaFest 12 years ago as Big Cosmo’s Sunshine Daydream Weekend, it was dedicated to the music and spirit of the late Jerry Garcia. Beth and Randy were both longtime Deadheads with hundreds of shows attended between them. Jerry's untimely passing left a huge musical void for them and many of their friends. After establishing Suwannee Springfest in March of 1997, they planned a fall celebration with a distinct Dead-ish flavor. The first lineup included former Garcia collaborators like the Old & In The Way Bluegrass Reunion featuring David Grisman, Vassar Clements, and Peter Rowan, Merle Saunders & the Rainforest Band, and 60's San Francisco ballroom favorites Gary Duncan & Quicksilver Messenger Service. And Donna the Buffalo was introduced to the Florida & Southeastern GD crowd, too.

This year's MagnoliaFest marks a special tribute to the late Garcia with several more of his former band mates appearing. Thursday will find former Grateful Dead vocalist Donna Jean Godchaeux performing along with her new band the Tricksters. Donna Jean & the Tricksters concentrate on the Muscle Shoals R&B which she started her singing career with (Elvis, Aretha Franklin) plus some blues and Dead songs. On Friday, Melvin Seals and the JGB Band are scheduled to render those sweet Jerry Band tunes. And on Saturday, the new trio featuring former Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann will headline. Kreutzmann is joined by Allman Bros. and Aquarium Rescue Unit bassist Oteil Burbridge and Max Creek guitarist Scott Murawski. The group has been turning heads and opening ears across the nation this summer and they make their Southeastern debut at MagnoliaFest 2008. The band is called KBM and their repertoire includes some fresh original material with lyrics by former Grateful Dead songwriter Robert Hunter, along with other tasteful covers and plenty of classic GD music, too. The band is set to perform for 3 hours to close out the Saturday schedule. Then on Sunday Peter Rowan will be sure to honor both Jerry and Vassar as he deals out a solo set that will morph into our traditional Sunday Bluegrass Set.

MagnoliaFest will take place October 23-26 at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Pa rk in Live Oak, FL. For secure tickets and complete information please visit the festival website www.magmusic.com


TICKETS FOR MAGNOLIAFEST
You may order tickets online or call 904-249-7990 to order by phone.
Our office hours vary tremendously, but generally Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm. If you get a voicemail, leave a message and someone will call you back. We do call backs at all kinds of hours!

All tickets ordered now are being held for pickup at WIll Call.
For complete MagnoliaFest Ticket information go to http://www.magmusic.com/ticketsformagfest.htm

SCHEDULE FOR MAGNOLIAFEST
< /U>
I have it from a very good source that the complete schedule will be posted within the next 24 hours.
It's not up as of the sending of this email, but VERY SOON!
http://www.magmusic.com/scheduleformagfest.htm
MagnoliaFest 2008 October 23-26
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park Live Oak, Florida

THE MAGMUSIC SHOW
Join us every Tuesday evening from 7-9pm CT (that's 8-10pm in the East) for "The MagMusic Show". Hosted by Randy "Big Cosmo" Judy and Beth Judy. The show can be heard online at Wildman Steve Radio, www.wildmansteve.com. Go by and visit with Wildman Steve himself at MagnoliaFest.


MAGFEST KICKOFF PARTY
Come out to Freebird Live in Jacksonville on October 18th
Inca Maya with TNS & Late Nite Transfer
$5 cover gets you a free draft beer & free download of Inca Maya's new album
MagFest Ticket Holders get in free (we suggest you copy your tickets & don't risk losing them)!

VOTE VOTE VOTE
We want to gently remind you all to exercise your citizenship and get out to the polls for this upcoming election. It's important - like laughing, loving and music! Please Vote!

Thank you for your time. We appreciate your support and commit to bringing you quality events that feature great music, a joyful community spirit, healing vibes, and that are just plain fun!

In Harmony,
Iris Blooms (speaking for Beth & Randy)
Magnolia Music & Events, Inc.
www.magmusic.com
904-249-7990













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Magnolia Fest lineup

Expect transcendental jams at Magnollia Fest,October 23-26. Newgrass pioneer Sam Bush is coming, and he's always great to see sitting in with whomever, as well as his own excellent Sam Bush band. He recorded on Dread Clampitt's new CD (not out yet) He played fiddle -- not madolin. Dread Clampitt's talented Balder Saunders held down the smokin' mandolin for the new record. Dread's fantastic fiddle player, Justin from Australia, has left the band, so we'll hear a new sound this Magfest when the boys come over from Walton County, Fla.

I'm psyched to see Donna Jean and the Tricksters, old deadhead that I am. Here's the skinny on the band from their website:

"Donna Jean Godchaux MacKay was born to sing, and over the course of time she’s done so with people like Elvis Presley, Percy Sledge, Boz Scaggs, and Jerry Garcia. Now she has a new band that she’s quite certain is on a creative par with anything she’s ever done. “This band is a perfect fit for me as a singer/songwriter,” she said recently, “and I hope to be doing this for a long time to come. We’re having so much fun with this music!” The Grateful Dead alumna has joined up with six members of the next musical generation – Mookie Siegel (David Nelson Band; formerly Phil & Friends, RatDog), Wendy Lanter (Hope in Time), and Jeff Mattson, Tom Circosta, Klyph Black and Dave Diamond (Zen Tricksters) to form Donna Jean and the Tricksters."

Yeah!!!!!

A number of the Suwannee favorites have new CDs out.

The Duhks, out of Winnipeg, Canada, have a stellar new release called Fast Paced World. Girl singer Jessee Havey is gone, as is the fantastic Afro-Cuban drummer Scott Senior, replaced by Sarah and Christian Dugass. The new disc has a lot more production on it. I'ts slicker than their earlier releases. Sarah Dugass really shines here, but I kind of miss young fiddler Tania Elizabeth's background vocals, they are not as prominent on the new disc. And she really has an angelic voice. How about this for spooky coincidences --- the single off the album, 'Mighty Storm," is an old folk song about a hurricane hitting Galveston, Texas. Who knew?

Donna The Buffalo has a new CD out, Silverlined. It turns out I already knew almost every song on it, because they've been playing them live. A few new treats, though, from this infectiously danceable band. I like the "Superstar" song, it has an old rock and roll feel to it. No doubt the herd will be jumping.

Also new release out from The Avett Brothers, called Gleam II. I reviewed it in the earlier post about Floydfest. It is great, and I can't gush enough about these boys.

Col. Bruce and The Quark Alliance will be in the house, certain to blow everyone's mind. And of course our favorite lion, Peter Rowan. He did a REALLY trippy set at Springfest in the ampitheatre. I hope he brings some of the greats on stage with him, he always does.

TIPS FOR MAGFEST:

The river is really high, so be careful.

Don't forget your radio, they have a lo-fi broadcast from the main stage.

Don't forget your hammock to put up at the ampitheatre stage.

If you have a sun shower, pack it. The showers get gross and they are cold.

Don't miss Slopryland's after-hour stage by the lake in the campground (see picture below) At Wannee, Ralph Rodenberry tore it up back there, and who doesnt love Sloppy Joe and their pre-dawn hospitality! Drikk your coffee and stay up for the late night fun!

Bring pumpkins to carve!

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE ALL MY FESTY FRIENDS!!