Living Jazzfest Vicariously

JazzFest gets off to a rousing, rollicking start

The incomparable Dr. John -- A National Treasure

Oh, Man, I wish I were in New Orleans for Jazzfest! Check out this wonderful rundown of last weekend's magic from HoumaToday.  My fave part:

"Dapper in a panama hat and guayabera shirt, John Boutté held the jazz tent spellbound with his angelic voice, an instrument of stunning purity. The singer paid tribute to the city with Arlo Guthrie’s City of New Orleans and Basin Street Blues. He created a communal warmth with the frisky Good Neighbor and silenced the hall with a slow, deliberate take on Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah."

Sounds like bliss!

Rolling Stone has a Jazzfest blog and a link for live streaming of some of the shows. I'd say it's the next best thing to being there but I don't think there is a next best thing to being there...boogie on, festers!

It's ON this weekend, people!

If you are reading this, get off the computer and get on the road!


The New Orleans Jazzfest, the big daddy of them all, kicks off today.

The Gamble Rogers Festival happens in beautiful  downtown St. Augustine.

The free Festival de Internationale happens in Lafayette, Lousiana, with Keb Mo, Balkan Beatbox, March Forth and more.

String Break happens outside Brooksville, Fl. Wonderful site, nice people, newgrass, Americana,  and folk music.

And if you can't get on the road this weekend, check this link for festgrrl's rundown of more spring musical goodness in the Southeast.

And remember....

Or at least good tunes and good folks...

For Teachers!

Who in the world would ever think anyone (besides a crabby student or two) would demonize teachers as a general group? That's what's happening, incredibly, in politics these days. 

festgrrl is not a teacher, but she appreciates her friends who are, who spend hours and hours trying to get kids to open their minds and get ahead in the world.  What is more important than teaching youngsters? Not much.

So, in this vein, Tallahassee teacher, songwriter, musician (Harvest Gypsies, La Bamba), and hell of a nice guy, Mike Rychlik, is holding an "Empower Educators" rally at the Moon. It happens on
Tuesday, May 3 -- National Teacher Appreciation Day.

Scheduled performers include The New 76ers, Bad Kite, Avis Berry and Scott Campbell, Susan and Snorri Solburg, the SAIL Bluegrass Ensemble, Cicada Ladies, Silver Daggers, and Del Suggs.

Doors open at 6:30. The "Empower Educators" movement will begin at 7:15.


Mike says:  "Our initial objective is to build a coalition to raise public awareness about education legislation. At the rally we will have speakers, musicians, and video clips to inspire folks to join us, as we begin our mission to change the discordant discourse about "failing schools, failing teachers, and failing students."

To empower educators, we must get folks jazzed about what teachers have always valued: the importance of the individual. Each student is different. They learn differently.They think differently. They express themselves in a unique manner. As a nation, we need to celebrate this notion by accentuating and encouraging the individuality of our young people.

Scheduled speakers: Jackie Pons-Superintendent of Leon County Schools, Dwight Bullard-House of Representatives/Miami, Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda-House of Representatives/Leon County, Cliff Thaell-Former Leon County Commissioner, Kristin Dozier---Leon County Commissioner, Rosanne Wood-former SAIL High Principal, Andy Ford--President of FEA, and Debo Powers-Principal of School for Arts & Sciences."

You can connect with others about this at the Facebook page

Funky Pimps of Joytime Hit Tallahassee

The Pimps of Joytime are getting lots of buzz these days and for good reason. They bring the funk! And salsa, and afrobeat, and all things booty-shaking.This Brooklyn-based funkatonkin band hits The Engine Room Wednesday night. Doors open at 9. Stone Street opens. Cover is $10.

Glide magazine says: "Be prepared to dance your asses off, because these guys are the real deal. Their songs are infectious, and they will have you humming along long after the show ends."

Here's a little groovy Pimps for ya:

Bad Day For Bunnies

Some Nice Wanee Videos

The Allman Brothers do Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic:"



Tedeschi-Trucks Band plays Stevie Wonder's "Uptight:"



Steve Miller plays "The Joker:"



Keller Williams plays "High Time:"



Tedeschi-Trucks Band does "Midninght in Harlem:"

Furthur Tickets Tomorrow!

Tickets go on sale 10 a.m. tomorrow for the summer  furthur show at the wonderful St. Augustine Ampitheater July 30 and in Atlanta at Alpharetta's Verizon Wireless Ampitheater on July 31. Atlanta show tickets are on sale now.

Those are the only true southern stops on the tour, which starts June 3 in Callifornia and winds up with the Atlanta show. So get yer keyboard fingers ready and click your way to the show!