Trey Anastasio Band Announced for Bear Creek!

Announced Today: Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio heads our way this fall with his Trey Anastasio Band to headline the fifth Bear Creek Music and Art Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fla. November 11- 13.  Lucky us! The funky Bear Creek Festival already has an unbelievable lineup and  now it's even better. See an excellent article on the TAB addition to Bear Creek at Glide magazine.

Also announced: George Porter Jr's & the Runnin Pardners, Russell Batiste Band, Corporal Boil, Honey Island Swamp Band, and artists at large  Will Bernard, Johnny Vidocovich, Freekbass, Roosevelt Collier, Jaime McLean, Topaz, Scott Messersmith, Nikki Glaspie and Michelle Sarah.

Tickets include primitive camping, and are  -- at the moment, get 'em now, folks -- $135 for three days, $175 for four days and $195 for five days.

Get your Blackwater Early Bird Tix This Weekend

The Flaming Lips  are going to headline the Blackwater Music Festival September 22-24 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl.

Early bird tickets are on sale through Tuesday, May 31 at $110 for 3 days, includes primitive camping. Ticket prices go up to $180 at the gate, so take advantage of the savings now if you can swing it. Kids under age 6 are free.


Other announced acts include Perpetual Groove,  Ghostland Observatory , Zach Deputy, Passafire, and Dub-Steppers The Easy Star All Stars.

Florida Folk Festival, Acoustic Cafe, This Weekend

The state's 59th annual Florida Folk Festival happens along the Suwanee River at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs this weekend, and if you are willing to take a road trip, the incomparable Acoustic Cafe newgrass extravaganza and camping  fest happens in the hills north of Birmingham, Alabama.

The Folk Festival isn't a camping festival (unless you are already registered as a volunteer) but there are campgrounds and motels nearby. Adult tickets are $40 for the weekend, or $20 a day. Kids 16 and under are only $4 for the weekend. The folk festival has neat displays of Florida folk life and lots of country-cookin' food in booths run by various community groups.

I can't say enough wonderful things about Acoustic Cafe. I have seen  some of the finest playing ever there. It is intimate, for music lovers, and family friendly. People LISTEN and players RAGE. Click here to listen to some past sets.

In the past, it's been just one stage, with a second smaller one for sets between main stage sets. Here is a festgrrl post on it from last year. Headliners this year are New Orleans piano maven Marcia Ball, Dread Clampitt, the Red Stick Ramblers, Tennessee Firearms, and the Herb Trotman Band. Tickets are $60 at the gate, and you need to buy a $10 parking pass. Kids 12 and under are free.

Camping is primitive, and you can camp next to your car. There are no hookups for motor homes. They have showers. The picking at this festie is sublime, good thing they have free coffee!

Tallahassee Band Stranger Still CD Release Saturday

Nifty little bluegrass band Stranger Still will play from 7 to 10 at the Mockingbird Cafe in Tallahassee Saturday night to debut their new CD, "Road To Home."

Their shows are always a lot of fun -- Take this chance to go out and support local music!

Hangout Fesitval on the Beach in Alabama This Weekend!

Folks are rolling into the Florida Panhandle for the big-ticket acts at the second Hangout Festival in Orange Beach, Alabama this weekend. The three-day festival passes are sold out, and they won't be selling one-day tickets either. So good luck!

The pre-party starts tonight on a funky note, with Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Moon Taxi, Andrew Duhon, Kristy Lee and Romany Rye. Tickets are $15 and are on sale now HERE.

Headliners include Paul Simon, The Flaming Lips, The Black Keys, Widespread  Panic, and more. No camping on site, you have to book accommodations at Orange Beach.

Last year was the first year for this fest, and it was marred by the oil spill in the Gulf. Organizers donated all profits to help the communities affected by the oil spill. Good to see these folks back this year with a giant beach party!!

Orange Blossom Jamboree this weekend!

Head on out to the Orange Blossom Jamboree this weekend outside Tampa, an intimate, family friendly  fest in a lovely location, the Sertoma Youth Ranch outside Brooksville. This venue has hot showers, bathrooms, and vendors. It's $45 advance and $60 at the gate, kids 12 and under are free. That price includes primitive camping. Water an electric sites are $40 more, and you can pile as many folks on your site as you can fit.

The lineup includes 3rd Stone, the funk/blues world beat group out of Gainesville, talented Dead cover band Crazy Fingers, Orlando jam band funkUs, Tampa jam band Cope, Saltwater Grass, and national up-and-comers, The Heavy Pets.  

Music cranks up at 11 am Friday and goes through 4 p.m. Sunday.

The fest website has a free 3 CD download for your listening pleasure -- nice!

Purple Hatters Ball This Weekend!

Camp out this weekend at the Purple Hattter's Ball, celebrating the life of Rachel Morningstar Hofffman, a friendly fest girl who was lost in a senseless act of violence.

This little festie takes place at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. Tickets are $45 advance and $60 at the gate. SAVE BY BUYING ONLINE THIS  WEEK. Music starts Friday at 5 pm and goes through Sunday at 5:30.

The park is offering a deal for an air-conditioned cabin (sleeps 4) and golf cart for $400 total. Primitive camping is free, and you can contact the park if you want to reserve and electric/water site. This will be a very intimate show, and the river swimming is super fine right now.

Perfomers include Papadosio, Zoogma, Catfish Alliance, The Malah, Russell Batiste Band, Big Gigantic, Burnin' Smyrnans, Dubconcious and more.

The Drug War is stupid and Rachel unfortunately lost her life because of wrong-headed public policy and incompetent authorities.