Purple Hatter's Ball!

Every year, folks from the Tallahassee area celebrate the short life of a sweet fest sister, Rachel Morningstar Hoffman. Her life was cut too short by a senseless murder.

In honor of her favorite fest attire -a purple fuzzy hat, friends throw The Purple Hatters Ball. This year it is May 13-15  at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak. Tickets are $45 advance and $60 at the gate. That includes three days of primitive camping.  Check out the fine lineup.

Rachel lost her life due to the senseless drug war. She wasn't hurting anybody, and nobody should have hurt her.

DANCE  ON SISTER!

Farm To Family Full Moon Fest Next Month!

The Farm To Family full moon gatherings outside Gainesville are just wonderful. You'll see great regional musicians, and the price -- $20 -- can't be beat. That includes primitive camping all weeekend. The next Full Moon Festival is set for the weekend of March 18-20. Acts haven't yet been announced.

festgrrl has been to several of these festivals but has not visited the new venue yet, which is near Ginnie Springs in Gilchrist County. I can tell you that in the past, there were clean porta-lets, and  a covered area in front of the stage with couches. You should bring your own chairs, etc.

The folks who come to Farm To Family are some of the nicest you'll meet, it is a chill atmosphere with one stage, and it is a nice place to bring kids. There are a few vendors (the infamous Grilled Cheese Wagon, for one) for food, but bring your own alcohol/water/drinks for sure. There is usually a nice community bonfire at night. What a wonderful way to spend a spring weekend!!

Hangout Festival Announces Killer Lineup!

The Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama hits its stride this year (it's second -- with last year marred by the f****** BP oil spill) with a heavy-hitter lineup May 22-24; Widespread Panic, Paul Simon, The Flaming Lips, Primus, The Black Keys, My Morning Jacket, Michael Franti, Keller Williams, Medeski, Cee Lo Green, Ween, Martin and Wood, The Warren Haynes Band, The Foo Fighters, Umphrey's Magee, and more....This is not a camping festival, but takes place on the beach.

You can explore lodging options here.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for $159. They go up to $174 after that. Kids age 10 and under are free.

How Cool Is This?

You can check out all the performers who are comg to Suwannee Springfest   at this new Springfest You Tube channel. Except for the hard-to-read yellow background and light type, it's a cool idea and a great way to get psyched for a great time March 24-27 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. Here's a great one from the site:

Suwanee Springfest Early Bird Deadline Coming Up

A  little reminder, festivarians, that Jan. 31 is the deadline for the early bird pricing on Suwannee Springfest at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. .

You definitely want to take advantage of the discount this year (and give yourself something wonderful to look forward to March 24-27.)

A four-day ticket costs $125 now, and it goes up precipitously after that -- $150 Feb. 1, then $165 on March 16, then $180 at the gate.

Students with a valid student i.d. get a special discount -- $110 advance  and $150 at the gate.

If you can't make it for the whole four days, you can get Saturday and Sunday only tickets this year -- which include a night of camping -- for $145 at the gate only.

Here's a little of the magic comin' our way at Springfest this year -- In this gem, David Grisman and his band  cover James Brown!


Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival 2008 - David Grisman Quintet "Acousticity" By WPPTV from WPPTV on Vimeo.

And even more videos from 30A Songwriters Festival!

Here are three more acts that shined at the 30A Songwriters Festival: Cool Canadian female duo Madison Violet, Daphne Willis, and a singer who really stood out: Angel Snow 

Angel has a smoky voice that cuts right to your heart. I immediately bought her CD (which has no tracks printed on it and just has a copy of her driver's license as "cover art") and listened to it repeatedly on the drive home. Snow -- who collaborates with Alison Krauss's brother Victor -- is one to watch.

Enjoy!

Video of Pat Hull at 30A Songwriters Festival

Pat Hull has cool, enigmatic lyrics and an absolutely beautiful high voice.This track is from his excellent 2010 CD, Fable Names. Cody Carpenter accompanies on vocals and keyboard.