Aura made the grand move from St. Cloud up to Live Oak's adored Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park and we love them for it. Joining Bear Creek as another epic Florida winter festival full of campfires, blanket cuddle puddles, madtastic costumes and bringing folks down from northern snow bound states to enjoy a break from serious winter cabin fever.
With a massive deeply rooted following of loving fans in attendance Papadosio truly mesmerized the crowd. Their unique blend of crushing crowd loving pulsing livetronic sound and spirits so kind yet full of intense peaceful revolution are guaranteed too always leave you uplifted and blissed out. Saturday night's performance was top shelf which Papa began with Find Your Cloud while Sunday brought the more intimate feel of Rootwire, their homegrown festival, to Suwannee.
Perpetual Groove's Brock Bulter seemed to be sharing his whole entire soul with the crowd while Adam brought an unmistakable intensity. Perpetual Groove plans to a hiatus from touring for awhile making this a special moment everyone lucky enough to have shared will be unlikely forget. Saturday their powerful "It Starts Where It Ends" was an emotional journey that definitely tugged at all our hearts.
Dopapod straight killed it on Saturday night really ushering in that massive hyped nighttime party vibe. Trapper Keeper and French Bowling definitely seemed to spread out calling everyone in from the woods. They just released a new album, Redivider, which can be downloaded for free online.
In all honestly every this was a weekend full of amazing music ranging from Conspirator awe-inspiring sets and lasers, Break Science's hard tight perfection, RAQ's amazingly wicked comeback, and Dr Fameus's on fire drummer. There's was to much to goodness to easily describe. Hopefully you were there, if not I highly suggest making sure not to miss out next year.
While Aura's music was out of this world let's take a second to revel in the other side of this perfect weekend. If it not for all the sweet, kind, wonderful folks who come out no festival would be anything more than a lot of noise in the woods. All those beautiful souls dancing their rumps off are such glorious eye candy and really lift the mood into an entirely different dimension. Here's a toast to all those who let loose - be it grooving on your own, twirling poi, spinning fans or beauteous hoops! Everyone of you contributes to the abundant joy bringing all the rest of us with you.
There was also an amazing group of live painters providing a seriously sweet backdrop for all the massive festy fun including Christian Jaxtheimer, Reinier Gamboa, Michael Garfield, Andrew Wagner, Brian Barnard, Andy Reed, Emily Kell, Laura Sellers, Stephen Barry and many many more. If you didn't get a chance to check out their work make sure to do so. These are some beautiful people who bringing joy everywhere they travel and spread more good vibrations then the Beach Boys.
Tribal Council both provided a fantastic space to relax as well as organized many amazingly gifted speakers covering a wide range of subjects as well as instructors in Yoga and mediation. Michael Garfield and Anthony Thogmartin were some of artists in attendance who were gracious enough to speak. Both of whom provided delicious rich nurturing moments that fed the mind/soul with many good thoughts and positive vibes.
Camping at Suwannee will spoil you silly and leave you questioning if other festivals are worth the heat and inconvenience. Generally I'll always say yes to any weekend of music but I'll be completely honest and say for Suwannee I go beyond that taking every opportunity to return for any possible weekend of relaxing in my favorite home away from home and I can promise I'll be at Aura next year, hope to see you there.
Upcoming -
Buku Music & Art Project on March 8 - 9 in New Orleans, La with headliners including Kidi Cudi, two sets of STS9, Major Lazer, Calvin Harris, Primus 3D, Passion Pit, Kendrick Lamar, Public Enemy, Flux Pavilion, Lettuce, Action Bronson, St. Lucia, Nero, Zedd, Sander Van Doorn, Flying Lotus, Big Gigantic, R3HAB, Birdy Nam Nam, Flosstradamus, Daedelus, shlohmo, Best Coast, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, RAC and many many more. A diverse lineup like this promises to be an unforgettable weekend in the legendary party city.
Suwannee SpringFest on March 21 - 24 in Live Oak, Fl at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park with headliners including Leftover Salmon, Jerry Douglas, Keller & The Keels, Donna The Buffalo, Old Crow Medicine Show, Petter Rowan, Mike Marshall, Darol Anger, Travelin McCourys, Scythian, Cornmeal, Elephant Revival, Jim Lauderdale, Red Baraat, Tornado Rider, Dread Clampitt, The Mosier Brothers and many many more. Come out and celebrate beautiful Flordia spring weather at this amazing family friendly festival while enjoy some of the best bluegrass and jambands around.
Wannee on April 18 - 20 in Live Oak, Fl at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park with headliner including The Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, Gov't Mule, Tedeschi Trucks, Jaimoe's Jasssz Band, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Leon Russell, Tower of Power, Les Claypool's Duo De Twang, Electric Hot Tuna, Maceo Parker, Steel Pulse, North Mississippi Allstars, Blackberry Smoke, Galactic and Friends, The Greyboy Allstars and many more. Always the festival to be at Wanee never disappoints.
Sweetwater 420 on April 19 - 21 in Atlanta, Ga at Candler Park headliners include George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Black Joe Lewis & The Honey Bears, Anders Osborne and many more. This is a free outdoor festival with no camping that promises to be a great time.
Purple Hatters Ball on May 10 - 12 in Live Oak, Fl at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park with headliners including Lettuce, The New Mastersounds, Quantic, The Malah, DubConscious, Roosevelt Collier & Nigel Hall's Sunday Gospel Surprise, Greenhouse Lounge, Catfish Alliance, Trial By Stone, Chroma, Sir Charles & more. Come out and celebrate the life of Rachel Morningstar whose story should never be forgotten and beautiful soul should always be remembered.
Orange Blossom Jamboree on May 16 - 19 in Brooksville, Fl at Sertoma Ranch with headliners including The Heavy Pets, COPE, Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio, Beeb$ and her Money Maker$, The Legendary JC's, Greenhouse Lounge, Wester Joseph's Stereo Vudu, Funky Seeds, The Applebutter Express, Sosos, Uncle Johns Band and many more. This is a wonderful family friendly weekend that showcases many amazing Florida bands as well as others. I highly recommend it as a slightly smaller festival with a amazing laid back low key vibe full of friendly folks and great music.
Wakarusa on May 30 - June 2 in Ozark, Ar at Mulberry Mountain. This is going to be an epic since this is Wakarusa's 10 year anniversary with headliners including Widespread Panic, Dispatch, STS9, The Black Crowes, Amon Tobin, Snoop Lion, Umphrey's McGee, Yonder Mountain String Band, Gogol Bordello, Zeds Dead, Of Monsters and Men, GROUPLOVE, SOJA, Rebelution, Quixotic, Galactic, Shpongle presnts The Masquerade, Tipper, MUTEMATH, Son Volt, Ozomatli, EOTO, SAVOY, RJD2, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Gramatik and so many more. This is personally a favorite of mine since it is always an incredible weekend in an amazing location but with this being their 10 year anniversary it is my number one pick for 2013.
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