The Dread Carpet Saturday

The picket-fence environs of upscale Seaside, Florida will be invaded by music freaks carrying 40-ouncers covered with paper bags (redneck coozies) Saturday night for a very special event -- the premier of a documentary about Newgrass pickers Dread Clampitt. The sneak preview of the documentary, "Back From the Dread" will be followed by a live performance by Dread Clampitt. It's $20 and all takes place at the Seaside Repertory Theatre, which is a very small and intimate venue with great sound.

Oh, and I forgot to mention -- besides the 40-ouncers, they'll have boiled peanuts.

Dread Clampitt came out with their new CD this summer, Learnin' to Live, which has Sam Bush playing on it. There are some great gems on the CD, including "Lord let these chest pains be heartburn from Saurday night," the hippie anthem, "Sisters and Brothers," and a steppy dance number by former Elvis Presley band member Duke Bardwell called "Bayou Country." These are songs Dread Clampitt has been playing at their great live shows for some time, it is lovely to have them recorded. Here's where you can get Learnin' to Love.

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.

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!

Standouts at 30A Songwriter's Festival

The 30A Songwriter's Festival was a gluttonous buffet of killer talent. Only saw one act I didn't care for, and I won't say who.

Here are a few wonderful morsels:

The Smoking Flowers are a husband and wife alt-country/folk duo with unusual harmonies, fabulous stage presence and, to me at least, a very new sound. They are taking old forms (think June Carter and Johnny Cash) and bending things in new, intriguing  ways ways. Tight vocals, tight playing, an a super-cool vibe. A delight. I'd like to see these two tour with festgrrl's long-time faves, The Avett Brothers.

Pat Hull. This guy just absolutely slayed me. High, clear as a bell voice that hits you right in the solar plexus. Heart-wrenching lyrics. He's a youngster but has an old poet's soul for sure. He and his girlfriend drove 20 hours from New York to play here on the Gulf coast, and I am so very glad they made the trip.

Dread Clampitt and Sam Bush. Blistering set Saturday night, everyone sweat-drenched, Kenny Oliverio SLAPPIN' that bass,  Johniie Reinlie on drums, Balder Saunders killing it on the mandolin, Kyle Ogle shredding the guitar, and the uber-talented Sam Bush letting his hair down and playing that electric mando wild and nasty like some lead guitarist for an arena rock band... except way better. It was a Walton County throwdown, the likes of which  I haven't seen before and I've SEEN some Walton County throwdowns, y'all!

The Indigo Girls These two should win the gold medal in Olympic singing. Ridiculously talented. And worth it even though it was freezing and windy and they started late. Their new song, "Fighting for the Love of Our Lives" is an awesome anthem for the push to allow people to marry whoever the hell they want, thank you very much.

A final word about the festival: Organizer Jennifer Saunders had the worst weather luck imaginable. Here she holds a fest in sunny Florida on the beach and it rains ALL DAY Saturday and Saturday night. Then, bitter cold winds kick up just in time for the Indigo Girls concert on the once-sunny beach! It was brutal! Let's hope the bad weather this time doesn't keep anyone away for what we hope will be a repeat of this worthy event. Thanks Jen!

30A Songwriters Festival is Going to Be Amazing

Here's something to look forward to after the holidays. The weekend of January 15 (Happy Birthday Martin Luther King, Jr. and my late mama, Helen)is the 30A Songwriter's Festival. Details are here

This is in gorgeous Walton County, Florida, home of the fantastic Dread Clampitt, Waco Ramblers, and Green Hit. AND IT IS ONLY $40 FOR THE WEEKEND.Volunteers get half off.

(It's kind of pricey to stay/eat/drink around there, so be forewarned and be prepared for some North Florida sticker shock.)

This is Nashville on the Coast. We're talking about some major songwriters, including The Indigo Girls, Rodney Crowell, John Oates from Hall & Oates, newgrass God Sam Bush, Susanna Hoffs of girl-pop sensation The Bangles, Gary Louris from The Jayhawks, Shawn Mullins ("What a Beautiful Wreck You Are"), Mike and Ruthy of The Mammals, Nashville songwriting powerhouse Jeffrey Steele, Matthew Sweet of The Thorns, and country darling Chely Wright, just to name a few.

Your ticket gets you a wristband, and the performances are spread out among venues -- some bars/restaurants, some ampitheatres -- up and down 30A. Kickoff party happens Friday night at the cool and delicious Bud & Alley's restaurant.

Says the website: Plan on three days of non-stop, intimate concerts including solo performances and multi artist "in the round" singing and storytelling sessions. Your ticket/wrist band will allow you to travel up and down the Beaches of South Walton and freely access all shows in beautiful venues in Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach, Seaside, Miramar Beach, WaterColor and Grayton Beach.

I am beyond thrilled for this event, and ever so thankful to Jen Saunders and others for making it happen!

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!!