Countdown: Suwannee Springfest!

This time next week, lovers of stringed instruments will be seizing life at its finest ---- gathering together in the North Florida woods for Suwannee Springfest, March 20-23 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl.

festgrrl can't recommend this shindig -- now in its 18th year--  enough. Some of the best newgrass acts in the nation will grace the moss-draped stages: incredible North Carolina singer-songwriters and kick-ass performers The Avett Brothers, as well as The Punch Brothers (a band of virtuoso players fronted by MacArthur Genius Grant award-wining mandolin player Chris Thile.) Also on tap is the man considered the father of newgrass, Sam Bush., who always puts on a great show, Donna the Buffalo, The Duhks,  The Del McCoury Band, Greensky Bluegrass, and more. (Click the link or scroll down for the full lineup.)  The daily schedule is here.

Expect lots of campground picking. This is a great fest to bring kids to. Advanced weekend tickets are $170 advanced ($190 at the gate) and include primitive camping alongside your car. There are lots of amenities in the park, including a pretty river beach, a pool, camp store, cabins, golf cart rentals, and a restaurant. Also hotels close by.

festgrrl is particularly excited about the Punch Brothers. They play Friday night at 9:45 in the beautiful outdoor oak-studded ampitheater. Here's a little taste of  Punch Brothers tastiness as part of our Springfest countdown:  

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Here's the full Suwannee Springfest lineup:

The Avett Brothers

Del McCoury Band

Punch Brothers

Sam Bush

Southern Soul Assembly

Jason Isbell

Donna the Buffalo

Steep Canyon Rangers

Jim Lauderdale

Greensky Bluegrass

Willie Sugarcapps

The Duhks

Aoife O'Donovan

Floodwood

Rev Jeff Mosier

Ralph Roddenberry

Rumpke Mountain Boys

David Gans

Honeycutters

Town Mountain

Royal Tinfoil

Holy Ghost Tent Revival

Grant Peeples

Sloppy Joe

Uproot Hootenany

Big Cosmo

Habanero Honeys

New 76's

Jackson Vegas

Quartermoon

James Justin

Roscoe Bandana

SOSOS

Whiskey Gentry

Bibb City Ramblers

2 Foot Level

Henhouse

Come Back Alice

Gypsy Wind

The Stacks

Canary in the Coalmine

Whetherman

Grandpas Cough Medicine

Nook n Cranny

Beartoe

Tammerlin

ARTISTS AT LARGE

Steve Pruett

Lyndsay Pruett

Jon Stickley

Bobby Miller