Suwannee Springfest Was Special Indeed

Suwannee Springfest had about half its usual attendance (2,700  advanced tickets sold, estimated 3,500 in the park.) which turned out to be a special  treat for fans. There was plenty of room and much face time with artists. The whole vibe was intimate and the music was OUTSTANDING. Leftover Salmon's 3-hour Saturday night set was one to remember. Dizzyingly fast picking, tremendous variety, humor, and just a pyycho slamgrass good time. One fan noted: "I  need more time to absorb what I just saw. I'm in a daze!"

Fest newcomer Ruthie Foster was a knockout with driving, Aretha-like vocals. Her slowed-down gospel version of "Oh Susannah" was hauntingly beautiful in the Spanish moss-draped ampitheatre. If she's playing near you, do not miss it.

Other standouts were Nashville's year-old 18 South, sort of a Lyle Lovett-meets-Little Feat-meets-Bonnie Rait vibe with Guthrie Trapp's super cool guitar stylings; Grant Peeples and the New 76ers, with political lyrics and kick-ass vocals; punkgrass talents Tornado Rider; singer-songwriter Jonathan Edwards;  Peter Rowan, Dread Clampitt,  and Donna the Buffalo.

Sunday was an intimate party among artists and friends, tapped off by a wondrous late-night jam between Jeff Mosier (Blueground Undergrass) on banjo and the freakishly talented Rushad Eggleston of Tornado Rider on cello. Mosier says he was so inspired that he wants to do a cello-banjo trance record with Rushad. That would be cool.

The whole experience left fetgrrl filled up with music and love, and reminded her that supporting events like this is more important than ever. Let's keep our scene going long into the future. Every year we get treated to some new awesome talent. Thanks Randy and Beth!

Here's The Whole Spring Lineup,Y'all!

Here's a rundown of the springtime fests I've previewed so far, all in one place so you can plan your ROAD TRIPS to see some of the best music in the southeast and support these wonderful promoters and perormers who put on such fun shows for us all right here in the Southeast!

Suwannee Springfest March 25-28. Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, Live Oak, Fl. Most beautiful venue!

Keel Family Function, April 2-3 at Dawg's Cherokee Farms, which is in Georgia up near Chattanooga, Tennessee.Featuring flat-picking champion Larry Keel.

Sheddfest, April 9-11, Sylvania, Georgia (Haven't been there yet, but note this from the promoters: In regards to leaving the festival site: We do not recommend leaving the festival site but if you choose to you will be charged a $20 re entry fee.)

String Break, Sertoma Ranch, April 16-19, Brooksville, Fl. Sweet little family friendly fest beautiful camping

Wanee, Spirit of the Suwannee April 16-19, Music Park, Live Oak, Fl. Bigger crowds, unbelievable lineup this year. Lovely shaded camping and RV hookups.

New Orleans Jazz Fest April 23-25 & April 29-May 2, the Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans.

Earth Day Jam, April 24, Bradfordville Blues Club,Tallahassee, Dread Clampitt headlines.

Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, April 30-May 2, St. Augustine, Fl.

The Hangout Festival, May 14-16, Gulf Shores, Alabama. Killer lineup, including  festgrrl fave ALO, all the way from San Francisco!!

Hoopee Jam, May 13 -16 in Norristown, Ga. Norristown, GA, about halfway between Savannah, and Macon, GA, a few miles north of I-16, outside Swainsboro, Ga.

Orange Blossom Jubilee May 21-23 at Sertoma Ranch, Brooksville. New fest, looks jammy and cool.

Florida Folk Festival May 28-30  (Note: You can't camp at this state-run festival unless you're volunteering) White Springs, Fl. There is a nearby campground and a motel.

The Acoustic Cafe, May 28-29, outside Birmingham, Alabama. Some of the best string players anywhere, family friendly, intimate venue.

Today's Deadline for Acoustic Cafe Early Bird Tickets

If you like string music, this little festival in Alabama, outside Birmingham, will absolutely blow your mind. Promoter Steve Masterson is a sort of string scholar, and he picks his acts accordingly.  You are going to see some serious talent on the mountain,and you are going to be in a crowd that's really paying attention. The campground picking ain't too shabby either.

This year, Newgrass pioneer Sam Bush headlines the Acoustic Cafe. It also features the Herb Trotman Band, talented young punkgrass maniacs from San Francisco, Tornado Rider, and Walton County, Fl's own Dread Clampitt. Other acts: Missy Raines and the New Hip, The Brickroom Boys, Allen Tolbert, and the Blue Ribon Healers.

 I have gone for two years and seen some of the best and most intimate newgrass and bluegrass shows I've ever seen. The crowd is super sweet, the fest in family friendly, and Steve provides free coffee the whole weekend. The fest has always happened in Steve's yard on the mountain, but this year he's got a new venue 80 miles northwest of Birmingham near Natural Bridge, Alabama.

If you get your tickets today, it's $40 for the whole weekend (plus $10 for parking) After that, it's $50 (plus $10 for camping)

You will not be disappointed with the level of stellar playing you'll see at this fest. Sam Bush and Dread Clampitt will absolutley shred it, and with Tornado Rider in the mix, its gonna be epic!

Another Fest for Spring Lineup - Hoopee Jam

The Hoopee Jam takes place May 13 -16 in Norristown, Ga. Norristown, GA, about halfway between Savannah, and Macon, GA, a few miles north of I-16, outside Swainsboro, Ga. This is the second year for the fest, which happens on a private farm. The lineup looks pretty sweet:

The Lee Boys Jimmy Hall Tommy Talton Band Randall Bramblett Diane Durrett Band Ralph Roddenbery Yonrico Scott Band Tommy Crain & the Crosstown Allstars Little Brown Peach Deep Blue Sun Joe Pitts Band Pedro Arevalo & Friends Incredible Sandwich Lingo Soulhound Chroma The Fly Brothers Phantom Wingo Wil Hodge and Shelia Quattlebaum Dot Line Projekt Willie Mae Sol Junky Lefty Collins Greg Hester Pat the White Laura Lockie & Charles King The Smoking Flowers Michael Buffalo Smith Dahli Mama (featuring Ella Cauthen, granddaughter of Johnny Sandlin) Donna Hopkins – Artist at Large

Here's a review of last year's fest by Bill Thames on the Hoopee Jam  web site:

"The tranquil Little Ohoopee River meanders slowly through the picturesque middle Georgia farm of Renee Wilson, and her daughter Bess. The Hoopee Jam takes its name from an abbreviated version of the river, spoken in local Georgia dialect. The Wilson farm, with spacious grassy lawns, pinewoods, gentle stands of cypress, and towering sweet gums was the perfect site for a laid-back, eclectic, grassroots music festival.


"Normally quiet and idyllic, the Wilson farm became the epicenter of a new and exciting brand of revivalist southern rock for this jam-packed (no pun intended) weekend. The Hoopee Jam offered music fans acres of room in the main stage area to stretch out in comfort to listen to the music."

There are no hookups for RVs, primitive camping only, but you can bring in cars and RVs. There will be food and craft vendors.Weekend passes are $65 advance and $75 at the gate. Kids under six are admitted free. Bring your own beer and coolers, they have no beer vendors. Coolers are allowed in stage areas, no glass.

Road trip, y'all??

Awesome Google Page Today

Google's cool page today is dedicated to Vivaldi, but it makes a great image for us string-lovin' festers, dontcha think? Just a few weeks before we dance to the wailing fiddles at  Springfest, y'all!