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.

Time-Lapse Video of Jazzfest!

This is pretty cool!

New Record and a Cool Radio Interview With Warren Haynes

Warren Haynes debuted his new band -- the Warren Haynes Band -- at the Wanee Festival last month at Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. A veteran player with The Allman Brothers, Government Mule, and the Dead, Haynes' new solo CD, "Man in Motion"  focuses on his soul roots.

It's official release is this Tuesday. His all-star band that performed on the recording includes several New Orleans musicians -- Meters bassist George Porter, Jr., keyboardist Ivan Neville and drummer Raymond Webber -- as well as Austin-based keyboardist Ian McLagan ("The Faces,") singer Ruthie Foster and tenor saxophonist Ron Holloway.

Today's National Public Radio show, Weekend Edition Sunday, had  this conversation and performance by Haynes. Check it out!

Streaming Jazzfest This Weekend, Plus Two Nifty Down-Home Tally Shows

Allen Toussaint, one of NOLA's best songwriters

This weekend is the second and final for New Orleans Jazzfest, and Rolling Stone magazine is offering a live webcast of selected shows Saturday and Sunday, starting at 6 p.m. both days. (I've posted the lineup below.)

You can also stream the great New Orleans radio station, WWOZ, to hear some Big Easy sounds from Jazzfest this weekend.

In Tallahassee, there are also a couple of good shows to check out:

Tonight, local newgrass band Two Foot Level plays The Warehouse, show is at 9:30 and it is $5.

Saturday night, Free Hugs  (featuring stellar players Aaron O'Rourke, Mickey Abraham, Mark Russell & Erik Alvar) open for The Sarah Mac Band at The American Legion Hall, show starts at 8 p.m, tickets are $8 advance and $10 at the door.

If you're staying in, here is the lineup for the Rolling Stone webcast:

Saturday May 7th

Jumpin' Johnny Sansone
Fredy Omar con su Banda
Renard Poche'
Soul Rebels Brass Band
We Landed on the Moon!
The Dixie Cups
Zachary Richard
George Porter Jr. & Runnin' Pardners
Wayne Toups & Zydecajun
Jon Cleary
Bonerama
Jeff Beck
Galactic
Wilco
Arcade Fire

Sunday May 8th

Gov't Majik - the Dirty South Arfo-Beat Arkestra
Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes
Vivaz!
Russell Batiste, Jr. and Friends
Anders Osborne
Marcia Ball
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Cowboy Mouth
Voice of the Wetlands All Stars
Lucinda Williams
Irma Thomas
Better Than Ezra
Allen Toussaint
Robert Plant & The Band of Joy
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band
The Neville Brothers

Dancy Thursday

Live electronica and dub fans might want to head over tonight to hear Greenhouse Lounge  at The Engine Room in Tallahassee with Jacksonville jam band, The Fritz  and DJ Bomber. Doors open at 8:30 pm. Not sure of the cover charge, they haven't posted it.

Gonna be a dance party to get you set for the weekend.

Funk Me Silly!

One of the best shows at last fall's Bear Creek Music and Art Festival  - fabulous funkateers Lettuce at the Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park's ampitheater stage-- is online for streaming or downloading.

Thanks generous tapers, and thanks Internet Archive!

Shakin' my booty to House Party during that awesome show was one of the highlights of my year!

Living Jazzfest Vicariously

JazzFest gets off to a rousing, rollicking start

The incomparable Dr. John -- A National Treasure

Oh, Man, I wish I were in New Orleans for Jazzfest! Check out this wonderful rundown of last weekend's magic from HoumaToday.  My fave part:

"Dapper in a panama hat and guayabera shirt, John Boutté held the jazz tent spellbound with his angelic voice, an instrument of stunning purity. The singer paid tribute to the city with Arlo Guthrie’s City of New Orleans and Basin Street Blues. He created a communal warmth with the frisky Good Neighbor and silenced the hall with a slow, deliberate take on Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah."

Sounds like bliss!

Rolling Stone has a Jazzfest blog and a link for live streaming of some of the shows. I'd say it's the next best thing to being there but I don't think there is a next best thing to being there...boogie on, festers!