Killer Fall Festivals Bring Musicians From All Over the World

School's back in session, summer's almost ending, time to think about FESTING. Three killer fall festivals will bring talent from all over the world to our corner of the North Florida woods, specifically, to The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, where you can camp under the trees with your friends, and pick around the campfire under the stars. Aren't we lucky?

Ampitheater Stage

If you do 'em all, it's works out like this: A weekend festing, a weekend off, a weekend festing, a weekend off, and a weekend festing. You just keep all your camping stuff in a pile and do a load of laundry every other weekend.  Ride this lucky live music train while it lasts people, ride it while it lasts.

Magnolia Fest happens Oct. 17-20 with Willie Nelson, John Prine, Mavis Staples, Kris Kristopherson, Stephen Marley, Railroad Earth, Drive By Truckers, The Travelin' McCoury's, Keller Williams, The Duhks, Donna The Buffalo, Tornado Rider, Col. Bruce Hampton, Honey Island Swamp Band, and more. This Americana festival could not be more sweet. It's family friendly, lovely in the fall, and, as you can see,  has some real towering musical giants playing this year.

A 4-day weekend ticket , which includes primitive camping, is $155 and the price goes up September 1.

Suwaneee Hulaween happens Oct. 31-Nov. 2. This fest  is hosted by the incomparable  improvisational band, The String Cheese Incident. These cats can PLAY, and they will -- all three nights. Also playing: Emancipator, Conspirator,Steve Kimock & Friends, Suwannee Bluegrass Surprise, Future Rock,Brock Butler, Jennifer Hartswick, Van Ghost, Moon Taxi and Applebutter Express, One of the coolest things about this festival will be the special electric forest light and art installation along the park's already beautiful cypress lake in the campground. The promoters say: "Fans can expect an epic fusion of dazzling lights, art installations and performance art that morphs the Spirit Lake waterfront and adjacent forest into a vivid dream-like space that fully engages the senses. Working with some of the Southeast’s most talented sculptors, fire/metal workers, painters, performance artists and lighting designers, the Spirit Lake Promenade will also host a Silent Disco and other astonishing Hulaween creations." So you're going, right? Right?

Weekend ticket is $159, and that includes primitive camping.

The cypress lake

Da Bears

Bear Creek Music and Arts Festival, Nov. 14-17 (It actually starts on Nov.13 with a special musical benefit for $25 that includes camping with The New Mastersounds, The Revivalists, Toubab Krewe and more.) Bear Creek is the creme de la creme of Southeast festivals if you like to dance. It's a funky throwdown of epic proportions. Lineup is: The Roots, Bootsy Collins and the Funk Unity Band, Galactic x2, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe x2, Lettuce x2, Bonobo Live Band , Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk x2, The New Mastersounds x2, Antibalas, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Zach Deputy x2, Toubab Krewe x2, George Porter Jr's Runnin Pardners, The Motet x 2 , Jennifer Hartswick Band x2 , Break Science , Mike Dillon Band, Pimps of Joytime x2, Robert Walter's 20th Congress x2, Bernie Worrell Orchestra, Roosevelt Collier Band, Dr. Klaw, The Revivalists, Kung Fu x2 , The Werks , The Malah x2 , Space Capone x2 , Nth Power , Flow Tribe , Dopapod , The Legendary JC's , Ron Haynes Game Changers x2 , Brownout x2 , Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes x2 , Jaime McLean Band , The Monophonics , Ghost Owl , Greenhouse Lounge, Cope , Chris McCarty and the Underground Movement , The Resolvers , Profit , Suenalo , Lucky Costello, SOUNDUO Artists at Large:, Oteil Burbridge , Karl Denson , George Porter Jr. , Skerik , Mike Dillon , Roosevelt Collier , Jennifer Hartswick , Natalie Cressman , Dave Watts , Joey Porter , Jans Ingber , Clay Watson, Pee Wee Ellis , Ron Haynes.

Four-day weekend pass is $155, that includes camping, and the price starts going up Sept. 15.

So excited to get to Suwannee for the fall!!

Camping on the cypress lake

Kung Fu Can FUNK! At Aura Music and Arts Fest This Weekend

Wow is all I gotta say about the funk/fusion band Kung Fu, which pays Aura Music and Arts Festival at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park  (in Live Oak, Fl) this weekend. Tickets are still available for the fest, so get 'em and come on.

Kung Fu plays Friday 10:45 pm to midnight and Saturday with Nigel Hall (of the killer New Orleans funk powerhouse Ivan Neville's  Dumpstaphunk) from 4:30 to 6 p.m. -- the Saturday show is a tribute to Stevie Wonder! I defy you to sit still for this one:

Catch Perpetual Groove While You Still Can at Aura Music and Arts Festival This Week

This weekend may be one of the last times you'll get to see Georgia's Perpetual Groove lay down their licks at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. The national touring band is going on an indefinite hiatus in April.

But this weekend they'll be gracing the Aura Music and Arts Festival stage Friday (midnight to 1:30) and Saturday (9:30 to 10:45. ) Founding member Brock Butler plays solo 11 a.m. Sunday.

The sad news for PGroove fans came on January 13th: The band announced it would be taking a hiatus in April. Here's the skinny on that announcement:

"Albert, Matt and Adam will continue touring and recording under the new name Ghost Owl. Brock apologized to fans saying he needs time off to break bad habits and create new good ones. Brock stated that a reunion is not out of the question at some point but he cannot promise or give any time frame."

So it will be some bittersweet jams this weekend, no doubt. Here's some PGroove  to get you primed:

Email newsletters for bands at ReverbNation.com

Aura Festival This Week: Check out Dopapod

So excited for the Aura Music and Arts Festival this week. This camping fest kicks off Friday and runs through Sunday night at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. Tickets are $129 plus fees, and that includes free primitive camping Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Water and electric spots are extra.

Perpetual Groove, Conspirator, Papadosio, and the Heavy Pets headline the weekend. (Full lineup and links to the bands below)

This week, Let's take a look at some of the interesting bands who will be raging for us on the beautiful Aura stages in the woods. Today, we'll listen to the excellent  Dopapod. They've got a funky, electronic, psychedelic, jam, jazz, dubstep thing going. At times it sounds a little like the lightning-fast jazzadelic riffs of the band Yes. They can work a groove.

Dopapod plays Saturday at 7 in the ampitheater and 6 Sunday night on the porch stage.


Check out this one, Trapper Keeper.

Here is the full Aura lineup with links from our friends at Jambase:

* Papadosio
* Conspirator
* Perpetual Groove
* The Heavy Pets
* Dopapod
* Kung Fu
* RAQ
* The Lee Boys
* Greenhouse Lounge
* DrFameus
* Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band
* Stokeswood
* Consider The Source
* Break Science
* The McLovins
* Jeff Bujak
* Brock Butler Solo
* Lingo
* Former Champions
* The Main Squeeze
* Newton Crosby
* Todd Stoops
* Nigel Hall
* Roosevelt Collier

Two Great February Fests Coming Up

Virginia Key Beach Park

February is upon us, and (at least in Florida) fest season begins again...

I've already previewed the first Florida fest of February, the funk-jam-jazz-and live electronica dance party that is Aura Music and Arts Festival (President's Day weekend, Feb. 15-17, at the beautiful Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak.) Tickets are available at the bargain price of $119 for the weekend.

Now I give you heads-up for February's second cool Florida fest -- the Virginia Key Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance, happening in a coastal park outside Miami February 21-24. This is a super-interesting eclectic fest with world-beat, Cajun, Latin, blues, old-time, and reggae on the lineup. Much-touring jamband Donna the Buffalo hosts this fest, now in its second year. The great Rusted Root is also on the bill.

This is a camping festival -- primitive sites only -- and there are a bunch of different things you need to know -- car passes, carpooling deals, etc. It's $50 a night to bring in your car and tent-camp, $25 a night to tent camp if you don't bring your car in. RV passes are $150, and there are no hookups. No campfires are allowed.

Four day tickets to the fest are $100, and there are daily ticket options as well.

Here is a great video from the fantastic Spam Allstars, who are playing the festival:

Get Your Tickets Now for Next Month's Aura Festival

All the funky dancers are getting ready for the next stop on the Southeast fest lineup: The Aura Music and Arts Festival!

It's happening February 15-17 this year at the Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. 

Although the festival has been happening in Florida since 2010, this is the first year it is being held at Spirit of the Suwannee, a most excellent venue. 

This is a camping fest, and features an eclectic mix of live electronica, funk, jazz, rock, reggae, jam and hip-hop. Three-day tickets, which include primitive camping, are $119 online right now. (They started at the sweet early bird deal of $75) Single-day tickets are also available. Gate price is going to be $150, so buy now to save.  

It's usually an awesome time for camping in North Florida, and although festgrrl has not had the pleasure of attending Aura before, fellow festivarian reviews of past Aura fests have been wildly enthusiastic. 

Aura headliners include national touring bands Perpetual Groove, Conspirator, Papadosio, and the Heavy Pets. (festgrrl likes the funk -- her pick is Kung Fu's tribute to Stevie Wonder with Dumpstaphunk's Nigel Hall Saturday afternoon in the ampitheater; also Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band out of North Carolina.) 

Late-night will feature DJ's Silent Disco.

You can check out the full lineup below, and the schedule here. 

* Papadosio
* Conspirator
* Perpetual Groove
* The Heavy Pets
* Dopapod
* Kung Fu
* RAQ
* The Lee Boys
* Greenhouse Lounge
* DrFameus
* Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band
* Stokeswood
* Consider The Source
* Break Science
* The McLovins
* Jeff Bujak
* Brock Butler Solo
* Lingo
* Former Champions
* The Main Squeeze
* Newton Crosby
* Todd Stoops
* Nigel Hall
* Roosevelt Collier

Blackwater Music Festival: 10 Things To Know Before You Go

Blackwater Music Festival hits Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. this weekend. Here's 10 things you need to know:

1. There will be shade for your tent.

2. You can camp for free on a beautiful cypress lake -- choose primitive "lake camping." Reese Lake, lined with cypress trees, is close to the stages, it has nearby Port-o-lets, and the lake bathhouse and showers are a three-minute walk away.

3. Don't be discouraged by the roundabout kooky drive to get to lake camping. Keep a level head. Persevere. You'll find it. It's worth it:

4. Bring a baby pool for your campsite instead of firewood - fall's not here yet, y'all.

5. In the morning, the on-site Suwannee Music Park restaurant has a good breakfast buffet. They have nice bathrooms. Also a really cool hand-painted mural of local wildlife.

6. You can get fresh ice at the camp store next to the restaurant.

7. The Suwannee River beach is not to be missed (see top pic.)There's a rope swing. The river's a long walk from the fest site -- grab a ride or a golf cart.

8. The Suwannee River water is dark (dyed by tree tannins), but it is spring-fed and the river bottom is clean and sandy.

9. There's a giant bat house. It is just beyond lake camping in the field -- ask other campers where it is. At sunset, you can grab a beverage and go watch incredible numbers of bats fly out!

10. Bring a hammock. The ampitheater is full of trees!

The Flaming Lips

The Blackwater Music Festival hits Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. this weekend. This fest draws a youngish crowd, with electronica acts STS9, Girl Talk, Eoto and Ghostland Observatory on the top of the bill.

Tickets are $165 through Wednesday, and $180 at the gate. That includes free primitive camping. (You could have bought 3-day tickets in May for the bargain advanced price of $110.)

You can get a one-day pass (no camping) for $40 Thursday, $60 Friday, and $70 Saturday.

The headliner is the incomparable psychedelic band The Flaming Lips, which puts on one of the best live shows on Earth. If you watch the excellent documentary about the band, Fearless Freaks, you'll learn that they used a motorcycle running on stage in tiny dive clubs to get a smoke-on-the-stage effect.

These days they have all the stage toys they can handle -- a plastic bubble to roll over the crowd with, clever cameras, confetti machines -- I'm writing this and it doesn't sound nearly as awesome as it is. Trust me, this will be one of the best live rock shows you will ever see.

Here's a little interesting video story about their shows featuring lead singer Wayne Coyne.

Get Your Mag on Before The Price Goes Up

The price increases tomorrow for one of the loveliest festivals in these parts -- Magnolia Fest, Oct. 20-23 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Llive Oak, Fl. . Magfest is moving a little away from its pure-bluegrass/newgrass roots, with jamband moe. as a headliner this year, performing two shows. The price is $150 today and $165 tomorrow.

This is a family-friendly fest in such a gorgeous time of year. I always make the most of it by showing up Wednesday and staying through Monday morning. Sunday day and night is especially sweet, with just one stage and Donnna The Buffalo and special guests closing out what becomes and intimate party.

Performers include Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, Lucinda Williams, Railroad Earth, Keller Williams and The Traveling McCourys, 7 Walkers, Tornado Rider,  Infamous Stringdusters, Toubab Krewe, Honey Island Swamp Band, Cornmeal, and more. Seeing banjo great Bela Fleck -- especially with the Flecktones, is always a treat. Enjoy this performance, and get those tickets today!