Showing posts with label fest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fest. Show all posts

Thursday, January 31, 2013

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:









Tuesday, January 17, 2012

See Some Great Jam Cruise Performances Here



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.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Ticket Bargains!




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.


Monday, March 22, 2010

Here's The Whole Spring Lineup,Y'all!

Here's a rundown of the springtime fests I've previewed so far, all in one place so you can plan your ROAD TRIPS to see some of the best music in the southeast and support these wonderful promoters and perormers who put on such fun shows for us all right here in the Southeast!

Suwannee Springfest March 25-28. Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, Live Oak, Fl. Most beautiful venue!

Keel Family Function, April 2-3 at Dawg's Cherokee Farms, which is in Georgia up near Chattanooga, Tennessee.Featuring flat-picking champion Larry Keel.

Sheddfest, April 9-11, Sylvania, Georgia (Haven't been there yet, but note this from the promoters: In regards to leaving the festival site: We do not recommend leaving the festival site but if you choose to you will be charged a $20 re entry fee.)

String Break, Sertoma Ranch, April 16-19, Brooksville, Fl. Sweet little family friendly fest beautiful camping

Wanee, Spirit of the Suwannee April 16-19, Music Park, Live Oak, Fl. Bigger crowds, unbelievable lineup this year. Lovely shaded camping and RV hookups.

New Orleans Jazz Fest April 23-25 & April 29-May 2, the Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans.

Earth Day Jam, April 24, Bradfordville Blues Club,Tallahassee, Dread Clampitt headlines.

Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, April 30-May 2, St. Augustine, Fl.

The Hangout Festival, May 14-16, Gulf Shores, Alabama. Killer lineup, including  festgrrl fave ALO, all the way from San Francisco!!

Hoopee Jam, May 13 -16 in Norristown, Ga. Norristown, GA, about halfway between Savannah, and Macon, GA, a few miles north of I-16, outside Swainsboro, Ga.

Orange Blossom Jubilee May 21-23 at Sertoma Ranch, Brooksville. New fest, looks jammy and cool.

Florida Folk Festival May 28-30  (Note: You can't camp at this state-run festival unless you're volunteering) White Springs, Fl. There is a nearby campground and a motel.

The Acoustic Cafe, May 28-29, outside Birmingham, Alabama. Some of the best string players anywhere, family friendly, intimate venue.

Monday, February 8, 2010

More Acts Announced for Bear Creek!

They just keep making that lineup better and better for Bear Creek Music and Arts Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park Nov. 12-14!  Tickets are still just $99 until February 17. There's just no excuse not to buy early at that price. Here are the additions to the (already funkalicious) lineup:

Maceo Parker Band


The New Deal

The New Mastersounds x 2

Perpetual Groove x 2

The Everyone Orchestra

Elliot Lipp

Alex B

Brock Butler

Josh Phillips Folk Festival

Orgone

Friday, January 22, 2010

Wanee Festival Tickets on Sale Today


People get your Wanee tickets today. They are -- ouch! -- $180 (including the service charge,) but you'll be paying $210 at the gate when the fest happens at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park April 15 - 17. Get that credit card out, suck it up, and KNOW you'll be happy you did!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

New Fest on Spring Lineup



Fabulous Afrobeat Funkateers 3rd Stone, above, will play.

Hey folks, check out the Orange Blossom Jamboree, May 21-23 at the gorgeous Sertoma Youth Ranch in Brooksville (home of Riverhawk and String Break)

Looks like a great lineup with Gainesville-based 3rd Stone, Orlando's Funk Us (both bands have new CDs out, BTW), and the excellent Dead cover band, Crazy Fingers, among others.

This is a really nice park to camp at, with lots of bathrooms and showers, a pretty lake and a pretty creek running through it. It's also a small venue, very intimate, festgrrl recommended!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Extra Early Bird Tickets for Suwannee Springfest On Sale For One More Week


That's Tanya Elizabeth from The Duhks and Rushad Eggleston from Tornado Rider jammin' it HARD at Magnolia Fest. Believe it or not, Suwannee Springfest is just around the corner, March 25-28, 2010, at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl.

I wanted to give everyone a HEADS UP up that Springfest extra-early bird tickets (which used to be $99) have gone up to $125. You can get the $125 tickets until December 16 here. What a nice present for someone you love -- stellar music, and a wonderful long weekend away in paradise among kind folk.

Friday, September 4, 2009

FULL MOON FEST!



What a nice Labor Day weekend treat! For just $20, 3 days of world beat, ska, jam, funk, and steppy bluegrass at the Farm To Family Full Moon Fest. This month it has a new location at the Lion's Club Music Park in the lovely old town of High Springs. African jams tonight, Friday, bands from noon-10:30 Sat., and noon to late night Sunday.

This is a bargain! And though festgrrl isn't so excited about this part, they will have big screen TVs to watch the Gators play... whoever they play.

But the music will be fine! Burnin' Smyrnans on Sunday night not to be missed. I'd describe them as a Klesmer punk band and they are definitely high energy and a lot of fun. Also, Boss Lady's funky reggae grooves are bound to please. 3rd Stone is an enormously talented reggae-ish band that shouldn't be missed. I also really like Brian Smalley, a singer-songwriter who will kick things off Sat. at noon.

This is a family-friendly event. Usually there are one or two food vendors and some excellent hippie wares to buy. People are super chill, and Don sets up a tent facing the stage to keep folks out of the sun. Just a lovely group, lovely tunes, and a beautiful weekend to enjoy it!

If you get too hot, you can always head over to the nearby Poe Springs and dip yourself in the Florida's cold, cobalt heart.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

DreadFest





That's Dread Clampitt from Walton County, Florida playing with Sam Bush. Bush is playing on their upcoming CD. On October 3, about 40 miles northeast of Birmingham, Alabama, there's an all-Dread Clampitt festival called Dreadfest.

This festival is being run by Steve Masterson, the genius behind The Acoustic Cafe festival outside Birmingham. (See my posts from May and June for reviews of that wonderful event!)

You won't be disappointed with any show Dread Clampitt puts on. Talent, talent, talent, and a bunch of super-nice folks. This show will be smokin.'

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Bob Wier and Ratdog and Moe., Oh My!



A seriously great show is happening at The St. Augustine Ampitheatre Sunday, July 19... Bob Wier and Ratdog and Moe. co-headlining. $33, show starts at 5:30 p.m. All very do-able and welcome in this economy!

You can camp at the nearby Anastasia Island State Park. (At least that's what my little tribe will be doing.)

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Festgrrl has a new ride!


After looking and looking, Craigslist offered up this gem of a groovy van, so very 80's. Uncle Rico drove one like this in Napoleon Dynamite. (His was orange)

I'm hoping to get many happy years of festing with this vehicle, which I have named Gladys, because the inside has so many floral patterns and bad faux paneling and fishing lure wallpaper (yes! The sportsman's package!) that it reminds me of a London flat. She is 22 years old, maybe she's got a little more life left for the likes of me. She was pretty cheap in any case. I will have my own functional bathroom and shower... YES!!!!!!!

First stop with Gladys: The Avett Brothers in St. Augustine. More on that later...

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Springsteen at Bonnaroo

Here's an awesome review of the Boss' kick-ass show at Bonnaroo last night! I wish I could have seen it.

Here, courtesy of the New Jersey Star Ledger, is the setlist:

Show began at 9:28 p.m. local time.
Patti Scialfa and Max Weinberg were at the show.

Setlist:
1. Badlands
2. No Surrender
3. My Lucky Day
4. Outlaw Pete
5. Out In The Street
6. Working On A Dream
7. Seeds
8. Johnny 99
9. Youngstown
10. Raise Your Hand
11. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (sign request)
12. Growin' Up (sign request)
13. Thunder Road (sign request)
14. Waitin' On A Sunny Day
15. The Promised Land
16. The River
17. Kingdom of Days
18. Radio Nowhere (w/Jay Weinberg on drums)
19. Lonesome Day
20. The Rising
21. Born To Run

Encores:
22 Hard Times
23. 10th Ave Freeze Out
24. Land Of Hope & Dreams
25. American Land
26. Rosalita
27. Glory Days
28. Dancing In The Dark

Interesting to see Bruce play "Rosalita," "Glory Days" and "Dancing In the Dark" at the end. Most shows will get one of those songs to end, some shows get two, but it's very rare to get all three. I bet the huge crowd was into it.


Show over at 12:22 a.m.

CHECK OUT THIS REVIEW OF THE AL GREEN BONNAROO SHOW FROM ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY!!!!!!: Set of the Day&trade goes to the Reverend Al Green, who absolutely owned the mainstage, and only disappointed me by leaving before he could do "Take Me to the River" with David Byrne later. When we got to the photo pit, there was a pile of long-stemmed roses sitting on a road case next to Green's mic stand, and the first thing he did upon emerging, classily besuited despite the heat, was start flinging them out to the ladies. (Later, he would also toss his clip-on tie into the crowd.) "Y'all too far away!" he lamented, in what would become something of a refrain: Al Green really wanted to get off the stage and come hang out with us, he wanted the yellow-shirted security men to go away so we could be together, we ain't here to hurt nobody, God means we don't need security, etc. Everyone was pretty much wetting themselves from the word go here, shrieking through "Let's Get Married," humbly singing along during "Amazing Grace," popping an excitement gasket when he slowly slid into "Let's Stay Together." And the Reverend, too, was having a blast -- I especially loved watching him break it down alongside his two interpretive dancers during "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)," then crack himself up. His voice, for the record, has not lost a note.

"I'm gonna do some songs that'll tell you where I come from," Green said to kick off a medley of hits from a time "when the music was good, the lovin' was good, and everything was good." Thus did we get to hear snippets of "I Can't Help Myself," "My Girl," "Bring It On Home to Me," "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," and "You Are Everything." (That last one was "for the ladies," said Al.) Each and every Motown hit was greeted by euphoria in the crowd, and by the time he closed with "Love and Happiness," if you weren't dancing, there was something wrong with you. "I love you I love you I love you I love you I gotta go!" Green apologized, then took one last lap around the stage while his backup singer informed us that "The man is a legend, and he has sold more than 150 million albums!" There aren't too many modern artists who could get away with being played both on and off the stage while someone recites extravagant stats."

Sigh. Love Bonnaroo's lineup, can't handle the crowd and conditions.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Wanee and Full Moon Fest


BIG WEEKEND!!!!

First off is the amazing Wanee I can't say enough about the off-the-hook lineup for this festival. They've posted the schedule on the site. Thursday night kicks off with New Orleans' kick-ass band, The Radiators, along with a personal favorite of mine, Bobbie Lee Rodgers out of Georgia (of the Codetalkers). Then, my God, a parade of killer music ... Allman Brothers, Col. Bruce Hampton, Derek Trucks, Buddy Guy, Drive By Truckers, Gov't Mule, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Doobie Brothers, Little Feat, the Wailers, Jorma Kaukonen, Keller Williams, Bill Kruetzmann, the Wailers, Ivan Neville, Susan Tedeschi, Lord, that doesn't even tell HALF the story, so go to the link and get the rest of the info.

Wanee ends Saturday night, but there is a special benefit later that day at Spirit of the Suwannee for Zach Deputy, who is one hell of a nice guy and a great player. Somebody ripped off his equipment, so he's raising bucks to replace it. He's a looper like Keller Williams, though his music isn't like Keller's. I LOVED the Deputy show at Bear Creek last year, I couldn't believe how many things he was doing at once. He's funky, he's reggae, he's folky, he's really, really cool.

There are two Zach Deputy shows Sunday, one in late afternoon and another in the evening. The shows are brought to you by the folks at Bear Creek Music festival.

SO.....Get yer butt to Suwannee and rage it!

OK, so if you can't swing the ticket price at Wanee, the kind folks at Farm To Family are holding their Full Moon Fest outside Gainesville. Check the link for the lineup. See previous posts about this groovy little fest that costs $10 to $20, sliding scale.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

The Economy Isn't Hurting Fests



Check out this article from Billboard, which reports that music festival ticket sales are strong. I would argue with a couple of the conclusions -- One, that the cancellation of Langerado in South Florida was a sign of the economic times. Langerado's failure had more to do with the fact that they moved the festival from the wilds of the Everglades into downtown Miami. Nobody wanted to fest in downtown Miami. Billboard also mentions that ticket sales for Rothbury in Michigan are down. I think that has to do with the hefty $250-plus ticket price. Festivals that have kept prices reasonable are thriving, because they are a good value, and that's what folks are looking for these days.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Bear Creek, Baby!



Important reminder, festivarians! Bear Creek Early Bird ticket prices end Sunday, May 31. Get your $99 price now... gate is $165.....

Thursday, May 14, 2009

On the Road Again!


Heading out today to the Mossyheadz fest outside North Florida's DeFuniak Springs. I was disappointed to learn that Dread Clampitt won't be playing as usual, but I am going to tough it out in the wilds of Walton County anyway! Lots of bands I have never heard of, so that should be fun. Looking forward to the Burnin' Smyrnins, Ralph Roddenberry ( I just leanred he's Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's nephew, who knew? All I know is he ROCKS it), Rebecca Jean Smith, Dubconscious, and the excellent band 3rd stone which I wrote about in my last post from the Farm to Family Full Moon fest last weekend. Promoter promises two surprise guests. Wonder who they are??

It's gonna be hot, but there's a spring a short drive away, aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh....

UPDATE: I went, the spring was closed. Boo hiss. The fest site was super super hot, camping was a quarter mile away from the stage. Why????????? I left and stayed at my friend's place on the beach, which was lovely. I later heard bands had to be cancelled on Sunday (which was best lineup) due to poor attendance.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

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.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Special $100 Magfest Tix this week!

That's Rashad from California band Tornado Rider playing with Canada's The Duhks!

So, check it out: Magnolia Fest has a one-week special sale on ticket prices that will save you big-time.

Here’s the info from the folks at Magnolia Fest: "Out of necessity, our MagnoliaFest 09 ticket prices will increase and early bird tickets will go on sale later this month. In the meantime, we have a special offer for this week only. We are offering 500 Extra Special Early Bird Tickets for $100 each. These MagnoliaFest Extra Special Early Bird Tickets are on sale now until 500 are sold or thru Sunday, April 12th, whichever comes first. These are available online only - no phone orders are being accepted as our office will be closed this week. If you are in a position to purchase, we'd be especially grateful if you went online and did so sooner rather than later. We will distribute MagnoliaFest tickets ordered in April May & June in late June.

Click here for MagnoliaFest 09 Extra Special Early Bird Tickets:
http://www.magmusic.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=MTM&Category_Code=FT
We invite everyone to join us Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm central time (8-10pm eastern) for our Internet radio program "The MagMusic Show" on Wildman Steve Radio: www.wildmansteve.com!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

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.