Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Suwannee Roots Revival featuring some of the finest in Americana, Bluegrass, Newgrass, Zydeco, Blues, and more! The event takes place Thursday, October 11 - Sunday, October 14 at the magical Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, FL. Featured acts include Keller Williams' PettyGrass Featuring The HillBenders, Donna the Buffalo, The Seldom Scene, Samantha Fish, Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, Rev. Jeff Mosier, The Lonely Heartstring Band, Tornado Rider, Joe Craven & The Sometimers, The Lee Boys, Sauce Boss, Belle and The Band, Whetherman, Quartermoon, Sloppy Joe, and Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus.
With multiple stages (Amphitheater Stage, Porch Stage, Dance Tent, Music Hall, and Music Farmer's Stage) Suwannee Roots Revival is jam-packed with stellar music and dance! A handful of bands will perform multiple sets and some artists will be participating in workshops throughout the weekend. This family-friendly festival includes four days of music, camping, yoga, a Kids Tent, as well as campground pickin' sessions hosted by Sloppy Joe at Slopryland and Quartermoon at Bill Monroe Shrine as well as throughout SOSMP! Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf, and biking.
Live For Live Music's Rex Thomson says, "Attendees of Roots have a long tradition of acknowledging greatness when they see it." Greatness is what they will get!
The extremely talented and innovative Keller Williams has thrilled Suwannee audiences many times over the years and Roots attendees will remember The HillBender's mind-blowing performance of "The Who's Tommy" in our first year. Coming together as Keller Williams' PettyGrass Featuring The HillBenders, they pay tribute to Tom Petty who was a
GAINESVILLE native, a great fit for Suwannee with sing-alongs that some people didn't even know they knew!
Donna the Buffalo, known for their distinctive, groove-heavy, and danceable music, serves as the pillar of our weekend and returns for three days! Donna the Buffalo has performed at Spirit of Suwannee every Spring and Fall for over 20 years and their songs are part of the living amphitheater itself always closing out the Amphitheatre Stage on Sunday bringing up a plethora of special guests musicians from the weekend!
The Seldom Scene is an award-winning bluegrass band established 1971 and they have been instrumental in starting the progressive bluegrass movement as their shows include bluegrass versions of country music, rock, and even pop. The band has a long history with the Spirit of the Suwannee indirectly through the Cornett family's iconic Festival of the Bluegrass held annually in Lexington, KY. Established in 1974 by the same family that owns SOSMP, this family-run festival is June 7- 10, 2018. The Seldom Scene will now bring their talented musicians, signature sound, solid repertoire and sheer sense of fun to Suwannee Roots Revival.
Samantha Fish makes her Suwannee debut! She is a rising star in the contemporary blues world with sublime acoustic guitar skills as well as rootsy, emotionally resonant songwriting. This charismatic young singer-guitarist-songwriter has earned a reputation as a guitar hero and powerful live performer.
GRAMMY-award winner Peter Rowan is a singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades. From his early years playing under the tutelage of Bluegrass veteran Bill Monroe, to his time in Old & In the Way and his breakout as a solo musician and bandleader, and now his project, The Free Mexican Airforce, is flying again! This is Peter Rowan plugged in, a real treat!
Jim Lauderdale has done and said everything you can say about bluegrass and Americana three times over and he still has plenty of fresh takes and inspiration pushing him ever forward. His appearances at SOSMP, be it as his own featured singer-songwriter sets of his varied and amazing sit ins with all of his many friends on the line-up, particularly those Americana rockers Donna the Buffalo. Come see what GRAMMY voters, fans radio program and music lovers in general have all agreed... Jim Lauderdale is an artist not to miss.
For over thirty years, Verlon Thompson has been making his path as as a professional songwriter and traveling troubadour. Singer... songwriter... storyteller... Few are true masters of any one of those disciplines, but Verlon has put his stamp on each. As a solo performer, and as the trusted sidekick of Texas Americana songwriting icon Guy Clark, Verlon has viewed the world from stages everywhere from Barcelona to Binger (his hometown in Oklahoma). Thompson has a potent future head of him as an elder statesman of Americana itself. Simply put... when he speaks all should listen.
The de facto spiritual leader of our music festival community here at the Spirit Of Suwannee has to be Rev. Jeff Mosier, and we're totally fine to help him spread his vision and guidance through his communing with the divine. His quantification of the spiritual state of the Spirit of Suwannee nation is always spot on, and his sonic sermons on Sundays have left indelible marks on his fans, old and new alike. Scrugg's-style banjo picker, Mosier is one of the earliest music
PIONEERS who merged bluegrass instruments and traditional tunes with the magnetic energy of rock and roll, founded the jamgrass band Blueground Undergrass (BGUG) in 1998 after years of crafting his banjo skills in various bands, playing everything from bluegrass with his brother Johnny (Good Medicine) to experimental rock (Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit) to jazz-fusion (The Ear Reverents).
Be on the lookout for additional artists to be added to this already incredible line up, including a group of bands designed specially to get you out on the Dance Tent Floor. We'll have Contra, Cajun, and more - maybe even a little Salsa thrown in there for you! The festival is sure to inspire some special moments moments whether on stage or off and, as always, pays tribute and remembers our beloved artists who have passed on with our memorial Vassar Sunday.
Hosted by long time friends of the park, Randy Judy and Beth Judy, Suwannee Roots Revival focuses on amazing roots music that ties together a weekend laced with community based fun, growing friendships, laughing families, and that feel good feeling you get from hanging out in such a beautiful natural setting.
"Indeed, emotion and enjoyment have equal standing at the Suwannee Roots Revival," writes No Depression's Lee Zimmerman. "As festivals go, it's close to pure perfection."
SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded Camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of
GAINESVILLE and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.
A limited number of Early Bird Tickets are on sale now for $140 for a 4-day Weekend Pass which includes music, primitive camping (where is most cases you can camp right by your car!), all taxes, and handling fees. Kids age 12 and under are invited to join for free when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who buys a multi-day ticket. There are also military and student discounts available.
Suwannee Roots Revival is encouraging folks to "Bring A Friend" that has never been to Suwannee Roots Revival. One of the rewards of bringing a new to Roots friend is a Bean Spence Signature Hat Pin - numbered and only available by this program. Complete "Bring A Friend" program details are forthcoming. See all rates and tiers and get tickets at www.suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets. While you are there, sign up for our Suwannee Roots Revival Newsletter to make sure you get
UP TO THE MINUTE information on festival happenings.
Suwannee Roots Revival Initial Lineup 2018
Keller Williams' PettyGrass Featuring The HillBenders
Donna the Buffalo
The Seldom Scene
Samantha Fish
Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce
Jim Lauderdale
Verlon Thompson
Rev. Jeff Mosier
The Lonely Heartstring Band
Tornado Rider
Joe Craven & The Sometimers
The Lee Boys
Sauce Boss
Belle and The Band
Whetherman
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe
Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus
More to be announced...
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