Check out TDawg's Back Porch Hootenanny Sept. 13-14

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge

TDawg is a South Georgia music promoter who draws excellent talent to his corner of the North Georgia woods, and he creates down-home festivals he calls Back Porch Hootenannys. He's putting on TDawg's Back Porch Hootenanny Sept. 13-14 with flatpicking phenom Larry Keel and his band Natural Bridge headlining.

TDawg has his fests at Cherokee Farm, which is up in north Georgia near the Tennessee and Alabama borders, not far from Chattanooga. Tickets for the weekend are $50 advanced, $60 at the gate, and kids 12 and under are free. Price  includes on-site camping. Daily tickets are also available. 

Here's what TDawg has to say about the lineup. And below that, I've posted the schedule. 

Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, 3-time (MerleFest) Chris Austin Songwriting Competition winner David Via &Grammy winner/Atlanta Music Hall of Fame inductee (2001)/New Grass Revival founding member Curtis Burch, Bobby Miller, and the return of the wonderfully eclectic Strung Like A Horse highlight a lineup full of high octane energy. The roots between Keel, Via & Burch run deep in the history of TDawg events, and any chance to bring together the perfect show with master flat-picker Keel and his darlin’ wife Jenny on bass, with his band of merrymen Mark Schimick on mandolin and Will Lee on banjo is ALWAYS a very special evening! There will be a lot of buddies, old & new, that will be hanging around, so look out!

Schedule

Friday Shed Stage  (Bill Monroe’s Birthday)
9:00 – 10:15   Slim Pickins
10:45 – 12:30   Bibb City Ramblers

Saturday Shed Stage

12:30 – 2:00   Gibson Wilbanks
2:45 – 4:15   Lefty Williams Band
5:00 – 6:30   Dave Jordan & The Neighborhood Improvement Association
7:15 – 8:30   Curtis Burch & David Via
9:15 – 10:45   Larry Keel & Natural Bridge
11:15 – 1:15   Strung Like A Horse

Grateful Fred Stage
Noon – 12:25   Welcome Jam
2:00 – 2:45   Bibb City Ramblers w/ Bobby Miller, Richie Jones & Scott Warren
4:15 – 5:00   Vagabond Swing
6:30 – 7:15   Gibson Wilbanks & Friends
8:30 – 9:15   Ralph & Friends
1:15 – 2:15    HOOTENANNY JAM

Magnolia Fest Was Sublime

Sunny days, cool nights, a full moon, and a ridiculous amount of talent conspired to make the 14th Magnolia Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL. a lovely event. The park was full of happy campers, but as is usually the case, it never felt too crowded.

Suffice it to say -- whether on stage or in the campground in the wee hours, these folks were here to PLAY. Standouts were the super-fast picking of Keller & The Keels, Cornmeal, the transcendent Dread Clampitt-Tornado Rider late-night jam on Saturday night, the slow and easy Seven Walkers set, Wet Willie's rocking vocals and cool sax, the super loose Donna The Buffalo family show Sunday night, and Joe Craven, a unique performer with a big heart.

There was a lot of talk about this being the last Magnolia Fest, and a lot of folks have been asking me about what's next. That remians to be seen. Founders Beth and Randy Judy are transitioning out of their role as main producers. We're all so grateful for the fatastic events they've put on all these years, starting back with Big Cosmo's Sunshine Daydream.

Paul Levine anad Lyle Williams (of Bear Creek Music & Art Festival) are taking over for the March 2011 Suwannee Springfest, and they have already announced that The Avett Brothers will headline.YES!

Paul and Lyle have excellent taste and new energy, so I'm thinking it's all going to work out just fine.

I'll post some Magnolia Fest videos later, but in the meantime, here are some pics from the weekend!

Joe Craven plays the jawbone

Peter Rowan with Keller & The Keels

18 South Rocks It!

Scramble Campbell paints Joe Craven

Peter Rowan tells it like it is

Sam Bush plays with Dread Clampitt

Keel Family Function

Photo: Larry Keel and Jenny Keel at String Break 2009

I'm a big fan of the musical tastes of Georgia promoter T-Dawg. He's putting on the Keel Family Function (named for flat-picking phenom Larry Keel.) It happens April 2-3 at Dawg's Cherokee Farms, which is in Georgia up near Chattanooga, Tennessee. I've heard is a fabulous, intimate farm where strings masters get down. The ridiculously cheap early bird ticket price of  $35 ends tonight, then it goes up to $50.

Here's a look at the lineup:
~ LARRY KEEL & NATURAL BRIDGE ~ DJ LOGIC ~ JOSH PHILLIPS FOLK FESTIVAL ~ COL. BRUCE HAMPTON & THE QUARK ALLIANCE

~ THE MOSIER BROTHERS BAND ~ MICHAEL TOLCHER ~ BOBBY MILLER & THE VIRGINIA DARE DEVILS ~ DONNA HOPKINS w/ JEFF SIPE & CHARLIE WOOTEN ~ THE RAGBIRDS ~ RALPH RODDENBERY & THE SIDE EFFECTS ~ LEFTY WILLIAMS & FRIENDS ~ ZOOGMA ~ GRAYSON CAPPS & GUTHRIE TRAPP ~ POND FARM PICKERS ~ 3RD STONE ~ SUGAR KAYNE ~ SLIM PICKINS ~ DIGITAL BUTTER ~ TREY STEIN

** EYE OF THE DAWG SHOWCASE on Saturday afternoon, 4/3! Featuring Jeff Sipe on drums with Col. Bruce Hampton, Rev. Jeff Mosier, Larry Keel, Donna Hopkins, Josh Phillips, Michael Tolcher, Bobby Miller, Ralph Roddenbery, Caroline Pond, Scott Mecredy, Grayson Capps, Erin Zindle, and some surprises.

** PEPPERLAND KIDS JAM w/ Donna Hopkins, Caroline Pond & Erin Zindle, accompanied by a surprise group of musicians!


** SUNDAY EASTER EGG HUNT @ CHEROKEE FARMS

Love that Larry Keel!

Larry Keel and his band Natural Bridge BROUGHT IT at String Break last weekend. His hands moved so fast they were a blur. We were treated to several performances over the beautiful weekend.

String Break is a wonderful, small festival on some of the prettiest land I've seen. Fantastic, clean facilities, and a little creek for kids to play in.

Nice mix of bluegrass, newgrass, folk,and blues.

This is the same site for the larger Riverhawk festival in the fall. Highly recommended!

Heading Off to String Break!

Looking forward to a great weekend in Brooksville, Fl. near Tampa at String Break. These are the same folks who do the Riverhawk Festival in the fall. It is $85, which includes camping. Music starts at noon Friday. Here's the lineup:

THE WAYBACKS

RANDY MCALLISTER BAND

LARRY KEEL & NATURAL BRIDGE

THE GREENCARDS

HOOTS & HELLMOUTH

THOMAS WYNN & THE BELEIVERS

HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL

RADIO FREE CARMELA & the transmiters

GATORBONE

NOUVEAUX HONKIES

GYPSY WIND

Todd Charles

MUSTANG SALLY & THE HAMJO'S

BUGTUSSLE

HINDU COWBOYS

PICKFORD SUNDRIES

GRANDPA'S COUGH MEDICINE

I'll have a report uopn my return. We head home by way of Orlando, where we'll be seeing Fleetwood Mac!

Here's the whole spring lineup

OK, you asked for it: Here is the entire spring lineup in one post:

Springfest, March 26-29, Live Oak, Fla. You can see the lineup here:

I am loving The Gourds and the legendary Richie Havens on the lineup this year!

Keel Family Function, April 3-5, Lafayette, Ga., Get the info here Colonel Bruce Hampton, Blueground Undergrass, and more.

Springing the Blues Festival, April 3-5, Jacksonville Beach, (not a camping fest, but a free fest on the beach) Info is here

Florida Earth Day Jam, Tallahassee, April 18, info is here

Stringfest, Brooksville, Fla. April 17-19, info is here The Waybacks, The Greencards, and more.

Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, May 1-3, St. Johns County Fairgrounds, more info is here

Florida Folk Festival, May 22-24, Info is here

Acoustic Cafe, May 22-24, outside Birmingham, Info is here. Dread Clampitt and more.

Wannee Festival, June 4-7, info is here. Killer lineup, Doobie Brothers, Allmans, Little Feat and more.

More information on these excellent festivals is available by looking back at my older posts in February and earlier in March.

The music is coming!

Great Ticket Discount for Keel Family Function

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KEEL FAMILY FUNCTION TICKETS TO BE DISCOUNTED TO $30 ADV (from $40 adv) from THURSDAY, MARCH 12 @ 10AM EDT to SATURDAY, MARCH 14 @ 3PM EDT. At that time, tickets will go back to their original fantastic advance price of $40.

This discount is a remarkable 40% off the gate price, so be sure to jump on it if you can!

Visit Ticket Alternative online at www.ticketalternative.com, charge by phone at 1-877-725-8849 or go to one of the outlets listed below if you're in the Atlanta area.
**********
Eye Dawg Productions is proud to announce the inaugural KEEL FAMILY FUNCTION at beautiful Cherokee Farms in LaFayette, GA. We are very excited about this first-time event and plan on having it around for years to come. Once again, we will be featuring the wind/solar power of Tree Power, a subsidiary of Tree Sound Studios and Tree Leaf Music (www.treeleafmusic.com)

The lineup is as follows:

~ COL. BRUCE HAMPTON ~ featuring Jeff Sipe on drums, Ike Stubblefield on Hammond/bass pedals, Grant Green Jr. on guitar, plus a few friends I'm sure. www.bratoganibe.com/
~ BLUEGROUND UNDERGRASS ~ www.bluegroundundergrass.com
~ LARRY KEEL & NATURAL BRIDGE ~ www.larrykeel.com
~ LAURA REED & DEEP POCKET ~ www.laurareedanddeeppocket.com
~ PAPA MALI w/ Jeff Sipe ~ www.papamali.com
~ RALPH RODDENBERY BAND ~ www.ralphroddenbery.com
~ GRAYSON CAPPS & FRIENDS ~ www.graysoncapps.com
~ ANDERS OSBORNE & NEW ORLEANS JUICE ~ www.myspace.com/andersosbornenola
~ DAVID VIA ~ www.davidvia.com
~ CAPTAINS of the INDUSTRY ~ featuring some of New Orleans' finest! ~ STOP DROP & ROLL ~ www.myspace.com/stopdropandrollband
~ CAROLINE POND ~ www.myspace.com/carolinepond
~ SAINT FRANCIS ~ www.myspace.com/saintfrancissong
~ EYE of the DAWG SONGWRITER SHOWCASE ~ Grayson Capps, Anders Osborne, Ralph Roddenbery, Donna Hopkins, David Via, Rev. Jeff Mosier, Larry Keel
~ BLOODY MARY MORNING BLUEGRASS JAM ~ hosted by Stop Drop & Roll, final details TBA soon! ~ THE LOW DOWN THROW DOWN ~ www.myspace.com/thelowdownthrowdown
~ NOTHING & THE NOBODIES ~ www.nothingandthenobodies.com
~ PAST PLUTO ~

Folks, this event promises to be just the right medicine, and we have been mindful to set the price of admission at a fair price so that no one is breaking the bank. We are excited to have Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. on board as a sponsor, along with our buddies Shimon Presents, Wildman Steve Radio and Tree Leaf Music.

http://www.keelfamilyfunction.com

Fest Season Approacheth

The Spring Fest Season is fast approaching and festgrrl is mulling her many options! I outline the options for Southern festers below for your planning pleasure. Yes, times are tough, but still... if you get your advanced tickets, festing is still a pretty good vacation bargain. Magnolia Springfest advanced was $100, that's $100 for four days and five stages!

Springfest, March 26-29, is the first fest on festgrrl's list. You can see the lineup at the link here:

http://www.magmusic.com/lineupspringfest.htm

I am loving The Gourds and Richie Havens on the lineup this year.

The weekend after Springfest, April 3 and 4, is the Keel Family Function in LaFayette, Georgia -- that's way up there near Chattanooga, Tennessee. It's at TDawg's Cherokee farms, and the price is just great -- only $40 for the whole weekend advanced. I have never been to the venue, but friends report great things. The lineup is simply stellar and you can see it here

http://www.keelfamilyfunction.com/

Promoter TDawg knows all about great music. Here's his post on it:


Eye Dawg Productions is proud to announce the inaugural KEEL FAMILY FUNCTION April 3rd- 4th at beautiful Cherokee Farms in LaFayette, GA. We are very excited about this first-time event and plan on having it around for years to come. Once again, we will be featuring the wind/solar power of Tree Power, a subsidiary of Tree Sound Studios and Tree Leaf Music (www.treeleafmusic.com)

Keel Family Reunion
Tickets: Fri-Sat $40 adv/$50 @ gate, Sat Only $30 adv/$40 @ gate, includes camping. Advance tix available online at KeelFamilyFunction.com. Music starts at 7PM on Friday, Noon on Saturday.

The Keel Family Function Lineup:

~ COL. BRUCE HAMPTON ~ featuring Jeff Sipe on drums, Ike Stubblefield on Hammond/bass pedals, Grant Green Jr. on guitar, plus a few friends I’m sure. www.bratoganibe.com/
~ BLUEGROUND UNDERGRASS ~ www.bluegroundundergrass.com
~ DONNA HOPKINS ~ SPECIAL ARTIST-AT-LARGE
~ LARRY KEEL & NATURAL BRIDGE ~ www.larrykeel.com
~ LAURA REED & DEEP POCKET ~ www.laurareedanddeeppocket.com
~ PAPA MALI w/ Jeff Sipe ~ www.papamali.com
~ RALPH RODDENBERY BAND ~ www.ralphroddenbery.com
~ GRAYSON CAPPS & FRIENDS ~ www.graysoncapps.com
~ ANDERS OSBORNE & NEW ORLEANS JUICE ~ www.myspace.com/andersosbornenola
~ DAVID VIA ~ www.davidvia.com
~ CAPTAINS of the INDUSTRY ~ featuring members of N.O. Juice, Susan Tedeschi’s band lineup, Scrapomatic
~ STOP DROP & ROLL ~ www.myspace.com/stopdropandrollband
~ CAROLINE POND ~ www.myspace.com/carolinepond
~ SAINT FRANCIS ~ www.myspace.com/saintfrancissong
~ EYE of the DAWG SONGWRITER SHOWCASE, lineup TBA soon!
~ BLOODY MARY MORNING BLUEGRASS JAM ~ hosted by Stop Drop & Roll, final details TBA soon!
~ THE LOW DOWN THROW DOWN ~ www.myspace.com/thelowdownthrowdown
~ PAST PLUTO ~

Tickets: Fri-Sat $40 adv/$50 @ gate, Sat Only $30 adv/$40 @ gate. Kids 12&under are admitted FREE. Camping included in the cost of the ticket. $10 additional if you wish to come in on Thursday night. Advance tix available online at http://www.TicketAlternative.com/Venues/302.aspx or by visiting the outlets listed above. Music starts at 7PM on Friday, Noon on Saturday. NO DOGS PLEASE.

We are excited to have Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. on board as a sponsor, along with our buddies Wildman Steve Radio and Tree Leaf Music.

Then it's down to Tampa area, for Stringfest on April 17-19. This is the same venue as Riverhawk in the fall. See the lineup here: http://www.lindentertainment.com/StringBreak/SB09/stringbreak_2009
The Waybacks and The Greencards and Larry Keel are standouts in the lineup. This venue, I hear, is very, very sweet. And April is a great time to be in Florida. Tickets are $65 advance for two nights of camping, $85 if you want to stay Sunday night.

That's all for now, I've got another fest to preview and will do it next post.