The Punch Brothers coming to Fla This Spring

One of the most kick-ass, innovative bluegrass acts in the country right now, The Punch Brothers, are heading to Florida in the spring. They will be doing three Florida shows -- March 31 at Orlando's Plaza Theater, April 1 at Jacksonville's Florida Theater, and April 3 at Pensacola's Vinyl Music Hall. A ticket to any of these shows would make a lovely gift this holiday season! Their 2010 release, Antifogmatic would also be a nice present. These guys are ridiculously talented!!!

Springfest Tickets Make Great Gifts!

Oh Yeah, this one's gonna be good. Suwannee Springfest March 24-27 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. Check out this fantastic lineup:

The Avett Brothers, David Grisman Sextet, Jesse McReynolds, Donna The Buffalo, Emmitt-Nershi Band, Travelin' McCourys with The Lee Boys, Jim Lauderdale, Mosier Brothers, Acoustic Syndicate, Danny Barnes, Scythian, Trampled By Turtles, Steep Canyon Rangers, Joe Craven, Pangea with Michael Kang, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Surprise Me Mr. Davis, The Motet, Dread Clampitt, Rowan Cunningham, Tornado Rider, Ralph Roddenbery, Greensky Bluegrass, Galen Kipar Project, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Larkin Poe, Two Foot Level, Sloppy Joe, New 76ers, Saltwater Grass, Amy Hendrickson & the Prime Directive, Grandpa's Cough Medicine, The Whetherman.

 A recent study found that people are happier when they spend money on EXPERIENCES rather than THINGS. So go ahead and get happy!

Early bird tickets are $125 through Jan. 31. Give one to yourself or to someone you love.

30A Songwriters Festival Coming Up

The gorgeous beaches along Walton County's 30A Highway (between Fort Walton Beach and Panama City, FL) will be home to the second annual 30A Songwriters Festival on Martin Luther King Day weekend. (Jan 14-16) festgrrl attended last year and you can see my posts here and here and here and here.

These are intimate, heartfelt shows and I came home excited by lots of new musical discoveries. I love Dar Williams, who is playing this year, and I really dug The Smoking Flowers last year.

This is not a camping festival, and you have to drive between all these different venues spread out along 30A. Tickets that get you in to all the shows -- over 100 artists over three days, plus a kickoff party on Friday night -- are $85.

You can camp ($24-$30 per night with water and electric) or rent luxuriously roomy modern cabins ($110 per night) at nearby Grayton Beach State Park or (a little further but also beautiful) Topsail Hill State Park ($100 a night for cabins, camping $24-$42 a night.) There are also fantastic but pricey houses to rent all over Seaside and surrounding resorts. 

Those in-the-know know that Walton County is home to festgrrl fave Dread Clampitt. Sadly, Dread Clampitt isn't playing this year at this festival. Boo hoo.

The organizers tell me they plan to  have a text messaging service set up to let folks know when a venue gets filled up. Last year, you had the unfortunate occurrence of driving somewhere and not being able to get in. But I saw some great shows that I wouldn't have seen when I went down the road to find a show that wasn't as filled up.

I'd reccommend this interesting festival if you can line up somewhere to stay. It sold out in a heartbeat last year, but they are offering more tickets and more venues this year.

Catch This Radio Interview With Peter Rowan

Bluegrass great Peter Rowan has just done an interview with National Public Radio's Fresh Air show, so you might want to check it out at the link I just included.

We get the pleasure of hearing Rowan's soulful voice every Magnolia Fest and Springfest at Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. -- I especially loved his sit-in this year with Keller & The Keels

Some good Bear Creek videos

Recordings and videos of last weekend's phenomenal Bear Creek Music and Art Festival are popping up on the web. Thanks to our friends at jambands.com for a nice little selection of live performance videos

You can check out this site for some soundboard recordings.Enjoy!

Full Moon Fest Returns!

The Farm To Family Full Moon Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday outside Gainesville near Ginnie Springs. This little low-cost fest is sweet and filled with wonderful folks and great roots music.

This festival has been on a long hiatus due to complaints from neighbors of too many cars and commotion on their dirt road. So they moved it to 120 acres in Gilchrist County. Camping is primitive, no hook ups, but plenty of room for cars, vans, tents, and the RV's . . . there are three camping areas. Back Stage Camping, Remote Camping, and Drum Circle Camping.

In past shows, the promoter has set up couches under and open-sided tent so it's like a living room. This fest is family friendly and there's usually a big bonfire and drum circle. And, of course, it's under the full moon!


The excellent, steppy Gainesville world music band 3rd Stone headlines Saturday night. Tickets are a mere $23 for the weekend, $12 for a day pass. Gates open at 11 a.m. and show starts at 2 p.m. Saturday and goes through Sunday at 6 p.m. A nice, chill way to spend a gorgeous fall weekend.

Fantastic Honey Island Swamp Band in Tally tonight

The Honey Island Swamp Band hits The Engine Room in Tallahassee tonight. festgrrl previewed this band last week, and saw them at Bear Creek Music and Art Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. last week for the first time. She is hooked! Infectious, rootsy grooves for a dance party! Check out their great song "Party 'Til The Money's Gone" on their myspace music player.

Doors open at 9 pm, $10 cover. Gonna be a funky good time.