Magnolia Fest to highlight Grateful Dead music this weekend
Magnolia Fest to highlight Grateful Dead music this weekend
OCTOBER 22, 2008 - Grateful Dead guitarist/leader Jerry Garcia has been dead for years, but many members of his legendary band will be at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park this weekend to bring back the spirit of that era during the 12th Annual Magnolia Fest. They will be
joined by a host of other American Roots music headliners who will rock the park from Thursday through Sunday.
The weekend will kick off Thursday evening with Donna Jean (former vocalist for the Grateful Dead) and the Tricksters. It just gets better and better after that, rising to a crescendo Sunday afternoon as musicians from the various groups who have gathered for this reunion weekend coming together on stage for a rollicking good time.
Other entertainers include Bill Kreutzmann, Oteil Burbridge & Scott Murawski, Sam Bush Band, The Avett Brothers, Melvin Seals & JGB Band, Donna the Buffalo, Peter Rowan, The Duhks, The Lee Boys, Grammy winner Jim Lauderdale, Joe Craven Duo, Blueground Undergrass. Col. Bruce Hampton & The Quark Alliance, Moonalice, David Gans, Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, Dread Clampitt, Ralph Roddenbery Band, Inca Maya, Rushad Eggleston & Tornado Rider, Ford Turrell with Bryn Davies, The WaCo Ramblers, Umoja Orchestra, Little Brown Peach, TNS, The Golden Ticket, Annie Wenz, Quartermoon, Sloppy Joe, Tom Nelly, Tania, John Miller,
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| Blueground Undergrass with Jeff Mosier |
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Scramble Campbell and others. There will be kids’ events and on Saturday morning there will be a New Orleans style parade through the park with decorated bicycles, golf carts and participants. It’s a hoot and designed for the pure enjoyment of participants and observers.
Magnolia Fest begins Thursday, Oct. 23 and concludes Sunday, Oct. 26 at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park where there‘s always music playing somewhere. It’s guaranteed to be 100 percent pure organic Americana music brought to you with fiddles, mandolins, banjos, guitars, stand-up bass and some of the best music and musicians around. You’ll see tie-dyed dresses and shirts on young and old, white-haired fans who have brought their grandchildren for the experience and young professionals there to hear the great music, make some memories and enjoy the laid back event. What you will hear is bluegrass influenced music that is sweet to the ears.
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| Sunday afternoon jam at the Magnolia Fest with Peter Rowan (center). |
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On Sunday, the legendary Peter Rowan will lead the annual tribute to the late Vassar Clements who was a regular at the Magnolia Fest until his untimely death several years ago. Clements was one of the best fiddlers in the world.
If you come, be prepared to enjoy the spontaneous jam sessions that happen all over the park throughout the event. Bring your own instrument and join in. And don’t forget to bring your fold-up chairs and spend the weekend - you’ll be glad you did.
All events on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Music Hall will be associated with the Magnolia Fest. All park entry will be by festival tickets only during this time. There will be no public events in the Music Hall during this weekend.
