Springfest roundup 1

Part 1 of Dancin' Dave's Suwannee Springfest report:

'Tis nice to start the spring off in northern Florida! Especially when there's a gathering of a festival community such as the type that gathers at the Suwannee Springfest. And it's like any other festival....the community is made of ALL kinds of folk, from the silly to the sublime...>g< I love it.

And many many magical musical moments as well! I can't thank all of those musicians enough for sharing their talents. My personal musical highlights were:

Joe Craven!!!! There was hardly a band that he didn't play with and I even ran into him pickin' in a little booth. I read once that David Grisman considers Joe to be the best musician he's played with. Joe played the Main Stage with Bobby Lee Rodgers, a guitarist that I hadn't heard of and who certainly has practised alot in his life! Joe is simply amazing...

Crooked Still....this young band is at the very top echelon of my favorites. The sad thing about the Duhks not making it to the festival 'cause of visa problems was very well balanced by the fact that Tania, the Duhks fiddler, used their stage slots to hold a hot smokin' jam that included Joe, Crooked Still, and Dan Frechette. (a Canadian friend of the Duhks who is a real hoot...) So----more Crooked Still is always welcomed!

Ray Wylie Hubbard....never had heard of him but my good buddy MapleAl told me to be sure to check him out. And Ray is a hoot as well! Great songwriting and a wonderfully humorous attitude and I will be checking him out further by purchasing some cds.
Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks.....another band that has been around a long time and another one that I wasn't aware of. Super music! It was a riot watching the folks in the audiance dancin' around, singing along to the songs that they've known forever. Another band that I have to look into deeper. (like I need another one...>g<)

Sycthian....a rockin' cajun/irish/bluegrassy kind of band with super high energy and one that will get folks dancin'! What a riot....
Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams...who knew? I think I heard that they are from the Philadelphia area? I only caught part of two sets of theirs, and I sure did have fun with the parts I caught....

I wish I would have caught more of the Biscuit Burners. It was just a timing thing....they were up against the Infamous Stringdusters one time and Crooked Still another. What I did hear I was very impressed with.

And the Infamous Stringdusters! Hotter than hot and another young group who is blowing me away. Righteous! I can't wait to see and hear more of them.

And of course there was Peter Rowan and Tony Rice and their Quartet and it seems as if I'll be able to get a charge out of these guys no matter how many times I hear them! Besides their set they also host the Bluegrass Jam on Sunday....(gee, did Joe show up at that? >g<)
The weather was perfect, the dancin' hot and all the old and new friendships precious. I am a lucky guy to be able to have so many wonderful festival communities to enjoy....
Peace, David