Jambando coming right up!

Here's a bargain and a fun time for sure -- Jambando Sept. 17-19 at Spirit of the Suwnnee Music Park in Live Oak. This is a compilation on jambands and get this -- it's only $25 in advance, $30 at the gate, and that includes primitive camping!

Some great bands are playing and here is the lineup:

The Legendary JC's ( You can;t beat a band with a lead singer who can do the James Brown split multiple times in a row), Cope,Thomas & Olivia Wynn with Chris Bell, The Burnin' Smyrnans, Junkie Rush, funkUs, Middle Rhythm Session, The Funky Seeds, Rob Irie,Marley's Collie, Kaleigh Baker with Nathan Anderson,Green Sunshine, Jeff White with Fancy Pants,Acoustic Swamp Project, Legacy, All Capital KYLE

The shows will be in the ampitheatre, the music hall, and the porch stage -- no meadow for this one. Should be nice and intimate. Here is the schedule

If ya wanna get fancy, The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is offering a special cabin & golf cart deal to guests during Jambando In The Park. 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.

Bonaroo lineup announced today

The folks at Bonnaroo festival amped up the anticipation factor today by releasing their lineup in phases over the day. Here is what's been announced so far:

The Avett Brothers

The Flaming Lips with Stardeath and White Dwarfs perform “Dark Side of the Moon”

Weezer

Medeski Martin and Wood

John Fogerty

Cross Canadian Ragweed

Ingrid Michaelson

Phoenix

The xx

Regina Spektor

Mayer Hawthorne & the County

Wale

Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers

Norah Jones

Bassnectar

OK Go

Monte Montgomery

Jay-Z

Punch Brothers

Thievery Corporation

GWAR

She & Him

Jimmy Cliff

Tokyo Police Club

Kid Cudi

Japandroids

Dr. Dog

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!

Bear Creek Initial Lineup Announced

OK, I know it's not until November, but the Bear Creek Music and Art Festival initial FUNKY lineup is out:

Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk x 2
Lettuce x2
Soulive
George Porter's Running Pardners x2
Papa Grows Funk
Toubab Krewe x2
Zach Deputy x 2
John Brown's Body x2
Will Bernard Band
The Macpodz x2
Garaj Mahal x2
Rebirth Brass Band
Eric Krasno and Chapter 2
Adam Deitch and Break Science
The Dead Kenny G's
Big Sam's Funky Nation
The Tony Hall Band
Brian Stoltz
Dr. Claw
The Sam Kininger Band
Rubblebucket Orchestra x2
DubConscious
Lubriphonic x2
The Nigel Hall Band
The Legendary JC's
Avis Berry's Soul Revue
Matt Grondin w Snarky Puppy
Cadillac Jones
The Malah
Green Hit
Greenhouse Lounge
Burnin Smyrnans
Entropy
Spiritual Rez

Artists at Large
Fred Wesley
Skerik
Mike Dillon
The Shady Horns
Kofi Burbridge

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!

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.

Trombone Shorty at Bear Creek

Check out this bad-ass performance by Trombone Shorty at Bear Creek Music and Arts Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee festival in Live Oak, Fl.

Bear Creek a Week Away

Hey now, one of the best fests in the Southeast is just a week away. This fest features funk and jam, with the emphasis on funk. Lots of New Orleans bands (Ivan Neville, Big Sam)show up for this one, and it's a paaaaahhhhhtttttyyyyy.

Check out the spankin' new schedule here

One of the truly cool things about Bear Creek is there are always sit-ins and surprises to keep things fresh. True to form, there's a Sat. night 'mystery set' planned. Can't wait!

Don't miss Dr. Claw, that was a highlight for me last year. Funk til you can't funk no more!

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!

DreadFest!

If you love Dread Clampitt, then get yourself up to the hills outside Birmingham this weekend, for Dreadfest Just $30 for what will be one hell of a show, mark my words...

A Stellar Time Was Had

I just can't say enough good things about the Farm To Family Full Moon Fest. This one was held at the Lion's Club in High Springs. Standouts were: Brian Smalley, a singer songwriter who is so very talented, he writes like a poet and sings like an angel; The Burnin' Smyrnin's, who mix up Eastern European folk riffs with jazz with ska with punk with rock.....ya gotta hear it!; Femi Kako, killer Afro Beat that had everyone up and dancing; jammy bands Absolute Free and Juniper Spring, both of them with tasty licks; and Boss Lady and the Company, a groovefest for all.

Third Stone, a reggae/funk band out of Gainesville, continues to amaze, with soaring vocals, great messages and an all around cool-as-shit groove.

The fest crowd was small and intimate. The Santa Fe river was within walking distance. I was told there were a bunch of happy hippies in the water in the wee hours under the full moon, singing Amazing Grace!

I can't tell you how many times strangers drove by my camp asking if I needed anything at the store. That's the "family" part, and it warms festgrrl's heart!

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.

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.'

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.)

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...

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.

Bear Creek, Baby!

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

A Lovely Time at Full Moon Fest

The weekend crowd at the Farm to Family Full Moon Fest was pretty small, but the bands were smokin' and the vibe was sweet. It was HOT out there, y'all. Thanks to Don and the organizers for the misters and the generous shade tent.

Standout performances came from 3rd Stone, with fat and funky reggae grooves and killer vocals; The Duppies, kick-ass ska band that that got the crowd up and moving under the glorious moon, and Boss Lady and The Company,whith Boss Lady's strong and heartfelt vocals. The Glass Camels and Crazy Fingers laid it down with two super solid Dead sets late night on Friday and Saturday. Festgrrl also has to prop her fave band, who raged it as usual, Dread Clampitt

I am also loving the little acoustic duo The Bandits!

This was an inaugural show for the Farm to Family folks OFF their usual location, and it was an expanded three-day fest. Since turnout was kind of low, they cut things short on Sunday and asked people for donations to help pay the bands.

I kind of missed the smaller venue, to be honest. Next month it's back to the old farmstead, I'll post the date when I get it.

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.