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Phase one lineup announced for February 16-17 2019 event at Suwannee Music Park

Today Brainquility Music Festival has announced the phase one lineup for its 2019 event. Set within its new home of The Spirit of Suwannee Music Park, the festival will once again offer a unique fusion of scene defining live and electronic music with immersive art and community-driven experiences.

From its inception, Brainquility has focused on delivering a diverse musical assemblage for its budding community spanning funk, electronic, rock and beyond. The 2019 event will be soundtracked by one of the jam world's most celebrated acts, Lotus. The band's groove-based improvisation and electronica roots has cemented them as a pillar of the North American festival scene over the last 20 years. 2018 saw the band return to the studio to deliver their journey inducing 19-track album, Frames Per Second. It is their balance of unadulterated rawness and multi-instrumental polish that has earned them their massive influence over generations of fans and rising bands alike.

Electronic music listeners will also find their home at Suwannee this February as Brainquility welcomes one of the reigning kings of psychedelic bass music, OPIUO. With an unmatched ear for wonky, bass-heavy productions, OPIUO's sets are revered for their shear unpredictability delivered in a one-hundred percent live format. Armed with a range of global influences and a true understanding of the sonic journey, no two performances are ever the same.

2019 music curation continues with All Good Records mainstay Russ Liquid, experimental beatsmith Flamingosis, modern funk icons Zach Deputy and The Heavy Pets plus standout acts like Chachuba, LeSpecial, Roosevelt Collier, Space Kadet, Side Trakd, and more.

The Brainquility experience beyond the music with its dedication to showcasing the art and creativity of the alternative festival community in its own backyard. Attendees will be treated to live glassblowing and woodworking, awe-inspiring installation art, and encouraged are to participate in activities like jam-sessions, scavenger hunts, and surprise activations happening throughout the 2-day camping event.

It is the grassroots mentality of the OnTap Music family that Brainquility has quickly fostered its own unique faction of doers and dreamers in its short, but impactful lifespan. Join them in February to jump into one of the nation's most promising festival communities.

Phil Lesh, String Cheese Incident, Keller Williams, Karl Denson & many more!

Across-the-Way Productions, Inc. invites patrons to 'Voyage Home' to FloydFest 19, the latest annual offering of the Southeast's premier summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 24 to 28, 2019, at Milepost 170.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Floyd, Va. Phil Lesh & the Terrapin Family Band, The String Cheese Incident, Brandi Carlile, Tyler Childers, Margo Price, Fantastic Negrito, Keller Williams' Grateful Grass featuring Love Canon, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Acoustic Syndicate, Songs From The Road Band, Kaleta & Super Yamba Band, Trout Steak Revival, Jon Stickley Trio, Nora Jane Struthers, Front Country, Pert Near Sandstone, Old Salt Union, The Yawpers, Bella's Bartok, Circus No. 9, Honeysuckle, and 2018 FloydFest On-the-Rise Competition winner, Magnolia Boulevard, and runner-up, Travers Brothership, round out Across-the-Way Productions' initial artist announcement for the 19th annual event, with more lineup announcements coming soon.

Across-the-Way Productions released early-bird tickets for FloydFest 19~Voyage Home at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, via its brand-new www.floydfest.com, and, today, releases a sampling of the artist lineup that will descend on Floyd, Va., July 24 to 28, 2019. Early-bird tickets are available through Dec. 31, 2018, with the first price increase scheduled for Jan. 1, 2019. Patrons will notice a simplified ticketing structure for 2019, based on patron feedback.

"Our 2019 theme speaks to returning to the source of where we all come from, mother earth. It is there where we find ourselves most at home. Welcome to the Voyage," Kris Hodges, co-founder and CCO, explained.

Recently receiving top accolades from TIME Magazine, Blue Ridge Outdoors and Fox News, among others, FloydFest 19's initial artist lineup celebrates the first trip to the mountain for Grateful Dead-founding member and Roll & Roll Hall of Famer Phil Lesh, who will perform alongside his Terrapin Family Band, as well as the first trip for The String Cheese Incident as a full band.

"'Without love in the dream, it'll never come true,' Robert Hunter, lyricist for The Grateful Dead, once wrote. And it's true. I haven't bailed from this ship of fools or love or heart ... whatever you wish to call it, but the truth remains that there's no place like home and that home is where the heart is. That's why we'd like to welcome you back home, to FloydFest. And we all know there's no better place to call home than this -- this voyage of love. Welcome to FloydFest 19~Voyage Home. Your crew is waiting," Hodges shared.

Like so many other musical endeavors that Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead has been a part of, the Terrapin Family Band grew naturally and spontaneously out of something special. In this case, it was the unique environment that he fostered at Terrapin Crossroads, the music venue that he recently opened in Marin County, Calif. Using the Grateful Dead songbook as a springboard for reinterpretation and as inspiration to create original material, the TFB musicians were inspired as much by one another as they were by the diverse group of influences that they brought to the table; as a result, the music conveys friendship, respect, warmth and companionship for listeners and performers alike.

Although members of the Colorado-based The String Cheese Incident have played at previous FloydFests, 2019 will mark the first full 'FloydFest Incident' for the 25-year-old grouping, which has emerged as one of America's most significant independent bands. Born in 1993 in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, SCI has since released 11 albums, seven DVDs and countless live recordings from their relentless tour schedule. Their history is packed full of surreal experiences, epic moments, groundbreaking involvement, huge accomplishments and a dedication to artistic live expression.

Joining Lesh and family and The String Cheese Incident are fan-favorites Brandi Carlile and Tyler Childers, who topped many patron survey wish-lists. Carlile's new album, By the Way, I Forgive You, was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album, and she recently appeared in A Star Is Born, alongside Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. Childers' star was born almost simultaneously with his 2018 performance at FloydFest 18~Wild, inspiring many attendees to request a return trip to the mountain.

In 2015, Margo Price was a country underdog just trying to keep enough gas in the tank to get to the next gig, but by the end of 2016, she was one of the genre's most celebrated new artists and a ubiquitous presence on late night television and at major festivals around the world. Named Americana Music's 2016 Emerging Artist of the Year and winner of Americana Music's 2018 Song of the Year, Price makes her first trip to FloydFest for 'Voyage Home.'

Music that speaks of rebirth and life after destruction arrives with the addition of Fantastic Negrito, 2017 Grammy Award winner for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Fantastic Negrito is a man's truth told in the form of black roots music. Each song is a real story about a musician from Oakland who experienced the highs of a million-dollar record deal, the lows of a near fatal car accident that left him in a coma, and is now in the midst of a rebirth that took from the streets to the Grammy stage. On the way, he won the NPR Tiny Desk Contest and toured the world with artists like Chris Cornell, Temple of the Dog and Sturgill Simpson.

FloydFest-ambassador Keller Williams returns with 80s- and 90s-acoustic rock troubadours Love Canon in tow for a special 'Grateful Grass' set, and Across-the-Way Productions managed to steal away Karl Denson from The Rolling Stones' current touring band for a set with his Tiny Universe.

After performing at many of the first FloydFests, Acoustic Syndicate is jumping on the ship to 'Voyage Home,' along with FloydFest 18~Wild-standouts Songs From The Road Band and Kaleta & Super Yamba Band. A hand-picked grouping of innovative artists rounds out the purposeful programming for FloydFest 19's initial artist announcement. 

The next scheduled round of artist additions will be released Dec. 11, with more to follow in late-December, January 2019 and February 2019, according to Hodges. In addition to FloydFest newsletters, and new for 2019, patrons can also opt-in for the FloydFest 19~Voyage Home Text Club by texting "FF19Home" to 36000 on their mobile device. The Text Club will send lineup additions and other special announcements directly to patrons' smartphones.

The unforgettable magic that was FloydFest 16's (Dreamweavin'), FloydFest 17's (Freedom) and FloydFest 18's (Wild) Buffalo Mountain Jam returns in 2019 for its fourth-annual installment, with more details due for release in the coming months. Known for its impromptu artist collaborations, super jams and special guests, the Buffalo Mountain Jam's lineup is shaping up to be an exceptional moment in musical history for the 19th annual event -- not to be missed.

As always, FloydFest will also include vibrant and varied vendors, quality craft brews and chews, healing arts, workshops and whimsy, camping and children's activities, onsite art installations and a final lineup featuring more than 100 artists performing on eight+ stages.

Voted 'Best Outdoor Music Festival,' FloydFest is also selling tickets to its Outdoor Adventure programs during the early-bird ticket on-sale, including its popular On-the-Water Guided Float Trips and Belcher Mountain Beatdown mountain-bike excursion. 

FloydFest is located at Milepost 170.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Floyd, Va. Detailed directions are available by clicking to www.floydfest.com.

Lettuce and Turkuaz 11.01.2018

Posted by: leeway | November 2nd, 2018

Lettuce tore the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, NC to pieces on Thursday night with a high-energy set of booty-shaking grooves and deep, layered funk.

Guitar virtuoso Charlie Hunter even joined for a few jams, bursting out thrilling solos over their tight and relentless grooves. The colorful soul-funk explosion of Turkuaz was the perfect opener to widen everyone's eyes and loosen their bootstraps for the dance inferno to come.

- Paul Kerr

- Photos by Justin Barnett

Hulaween 2018

Posted by: leeway | November 2nd, 2018

The Suwannee Hulaween festival is lauded far and wide as one of the greatest music festivals on the map, and it inhabits one of the most renowned and revered venues in the country.

The gorgeous and dreamlike Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park sits alongside the Suwanee River in Live Oak, Florida amidst 800 acres of oak and cypress trees draped with Spanish moss. Hosted by the String Cheese Incident, the 6th annual event took place Oct. 25-28 with an exceptional lineup of over 75 bands playing on 5 lavishly decorated stages over 4 days of almost perfect weather. The 20,000 tickets sold out to passionate fans across the country long in advance.

We asked Kai a few questions about the state of Garaj Mahal and their big set coming up at Hulaween.

After 11 years of hard touring, the band took a hiatus in 2011.  What have the members been up to since that time?

Fareed Haque since released an album of Garaj Mahal music played by the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music big band entitled "In Search of Garaj Mahal".  Besides being professor of jazz at Northern Illinois University he has been keeping up a steady touring schedule as leader and sideman. One of his main gigs has been the Billy Cobham band.   

 

Sean Rickman has rejoined the Steve Coleman band besides starting "the Rick Lessons" - an online teaching platform for drummers.  Another project worth naming was the tribute to Miles Davis band featuring Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter.  "The Rick" also released a second solo album and is currently concentrating on presenting a band with him as front man, singer and guitar player.

 

Alan Hertz left the band many years ago, but has been back in the picture since we played our first reunion show in Canada last year.  He has since moved away from the Bay Area to settle in Los Angeles where he runs a recording studio that frequently collaborates with  "Bollywood" - the world of Indian pop music.   He main touring gig has been the Scott Henderson band. 

 

Eric Levy was recruited into the rock band Night Ranger right after Garaj Mahal originally disbanded.  He has been touring  with them extensively and is currently still very busy with this ensemble.   He still resides in the Bay Area with his wife who gave birth to their second daughter last year.  Eric is also a producer involved in several side projects. 

 

As for myself, I released my solo album right after Garaj Mahal stopped touring and created an online  teaching platform called Alternative Bass.  Touring bands include Aspada, a world music band mainly touring in the US and India, the Stanley Jordan band and the Kai Eckhardt band. I have also become an activist for Artists United and am currently the president of the board of directors of a non-profit based in Oakland.  I do workshops and clinics in Europe and teach at California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, CA. 

 

Q: What brought the band back to the stage recently?

It was really the fans in Canada that literally insisted on our reunion.   After we got a very serious offer from British Columbia, I decided to call the original members and negotiate conditions under which we could play again.   To our surprise our legacy had grown in our absence because of the large amount of live recordings circulating.  Besides our Harmonized Records albums many tapers helped spread Garaj Mahal music for over a decade.  Getting the band together was a complicated affair, but we managed to reconcile and find our way back to the stage. 

 

I know that all the original members aren't always available for each show.  What will the lineup be for Hulaween?

The line-up for Hulaween will be Fareed and I from the original band joined by two younger musicians.   Drummer Dana Hawkins comes from the world of gospel and funk.  He is known for his work with Snarky Puppy and Esperanza Spalding. Dana was featured in Modern Drummer and also guested on my solo album.  

On keyboards is Osam Ezzeldin, born in Cairo Egypt and now living in the United States, having received his US citizenship based on his artistic merits.  He entered Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship and then went on to record with Billy Cobham and Zigaboo Modeliste.  His latest work has been composing an orchestra concerto for the legendary Indian tabla maestro Zakir Hussain.  

 

What artists are you personally excited to see at the festival?

If I had the choice to see a few bands, I'd love to reconnect with old friends of mine. Those include the String Cheese Incident, Lettuce and STS9.  On a musical note, Jamiroquai should be a lot of fun.  There is also a band called "Knower" which I discovered recently. Their videos are all outrageously funky and entertaining.  Hopefully the timing will line up, so we can mix into the crowd and have some fun. 

 

What stands out as your favorite or most memorable Garaj Mahal show?

For me personally there are three shows that share the number one spot.  Our new years gigs at the Boot Pub in Whistler, SmileFest in North Carolina and our epic late night set at High Sierra where Sabine Kabongo from Zapp Mama sat in with us.  We started at 2 am and ended at 8 am when the sun came up. Those were magical moments for us. 

If a newbie is reading this right now - what Garaj Mahal song and/or album should they listen to first?

As for the more polished musical side of Garaj Mahal, I think they should start with Mondo Garaj our first official studio album, followed by Blueberry Cave and Woot.  More Mr. Nice Guy has some incredible playing as well.  However when it comes to the raw experience the Live Albums Vols 1, 2 and 3 are a really good representation of the live energy we bring to the stage.  

I'd like to express my special thanks to Harmonized Records.  You have been our backbone for all these years and it is because of you that we managed to spread our music world wide. We even have a fan base in Sweden as we just learned.    We are grateful especially to Lee Crumpton and Brian Asplin and are psyched to put on a great show at Hulaween 2018 !  

Thanks Kai! Looking forward to seeing you at Hulaween! - Lee Crumpton

Artists announced for two night event

Warren Haynes' Annual Christmas Jam will once again descend upon Asheville, NC for a weekend full of holiday spirit and cheer. Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, this year's jam will expand to a two-night spectacular taking place Friday, December 7 and Saturday, December 8 at the U.S. Cellular Center, serving up another incredible line-up full of surprises and unforgettable musical pairings benefitting the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity.

December 7th will feature sets by (in alphabetical order)Dark Side of The Mule, Grace Potter, Jamey Johnson, Marco Benevento and Mike Gordon (of Phish), and December 8th will welcome(in alphabetical order)Dave Grohl and friends play "PLAY", Eric Church, Gov't Mule, Jim James (of My Morning Jacket) and Joe Bonamassa. There will be many special guests throughout both nights including Audley Freed, Fred Eltringham, Jen Gunderman, Jimmy Vivino, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Mike Barnes, Robert Kearns, Ron Holloway and more.

Pre-sale tickets, including a limited number of discounted two-day passes and VIP/Travel packages, will be available Friday, October 19 with tickets going on sale Friday, October 26. An increased number of reserved seats in the balcony of the arena will be made available during both the pre-sale and public on-sale, offering a guaranteed seat for the entire 7+ hour shows.

"I can't believe that it has been 30 years since myself and a few friends held a small event in a local club so we could all play together around the holidays and donate a small amount of money to charity. Never in our wildest dreams did I, or anyone in attendance that night, expect that our little show would evolve into the event that it has, taking place over 2 nights at the arena where I saw so many great shows as a teenager. It's gone from being a local event to an international one and we couldn't have done it without the help of all the great artists, bands, and musicians that have donated their time through the years. I am thrilled and humbled that so many incredible musicians are going to help celebrate this milestone. This is truly going to be the biggest and best Christmas Jam yet,"says Warren Haynes.

Curated by Grammy Award-winning vocalist-songwriter, producer and revered guitarist Warren Haynes, the Christmas Jam is one of the most celebrated and longest-running live concerts in the U.S. Held each year in Haynes' hometown of Asheville, NC, performing artists, volunteers and friends from all over the country come together to raise funds for the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. For the 20th year in a row, proceeds from the Jam will go toward constructing energy-efficient new houses (41 houses have been built so far) as well as purchasing and developing land for entire Habitat subdivisions. To date, the Jam has raised over 2.3 million dollars for the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. This year's Christmas Jam House will be built in Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity's newest neighborhood, Curry Court in Candler, which will become home to 12 families and will include both single family homes as well as townhomes. Proceeds from past concerts were put toward the infrastructure and development of Curry Court, will fund the construction of the first house in that neighborhood (the 2018 Christmas Jam House) and will provide a challenge match grant on each of the 12 lots.

"Xmas Jam By Day" events and concerts will pop up around Asheville and feature special collaborations alongside some of the best local musicians plus the annual art show.Attendees will also have the opportunity to give back during the annual "Before The Jam, Lend A Hand" event where fans, staff and artists come together and volunteer to help build the houses made possible by Christmas Jam donations. Stay up-to-date on Christmas Jam info as more details are announced on the website www.xmasjam.com, Facebook (www.facebook.com/xmasjam), Instagram (www.Instagram.com/XmasJam) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/xmasjam). 

About Christmas Jam
Curated and presented by Grammy Award-winning vocalist-songwriter, producer and revered guitarist Warren Haynes, the Christmas Jam is a one-of-a-kind music marathon. Since its inception 30 years ago, the concert has provided an opportunity for the performing artists, audience and the local community to give back during the holiday season as Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity's largest annual contributor. Over the past 20 years, Haynes - an Asheville native - has worked closely with the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. To date, 41 houses have been built with proceeds from the Jam and more than 2.3 million dollars has been raised, includinga record-breaking half-million dollars marking one of the largest-ever contributions to the organization. In addition to supporting the construction of new energy-efficient homes, proceeds also go towards purchasing and developing land to build entire Habitat neighborhoods - such as the 25-house Hudson Hills neighborhood in West Asheville (the subdivision was named in honor of Warren and his wife Stefani's son Hudson), a 21-house community in Arden (South Asheville) and Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity's newest neighborhood, Curry Court in Candler which will be home to 12 families.

Christmas Jam's rich history continues to grow year after year and has seen unforgettable musical moments from past performers including The Allman Brothers Band, Ann Wilson, The Avett Brothers, Blackberry Smoke, Blues Traveler, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Bob Weir, Branford Marsalis, Coheed & Cambria, Counting Crows, Dave Matthews, The Doobie Brothers, Gov't Mule, Grace Potter, Hot Tuna, Jackson Browne, Jason Isbell, John Paul Jones, John Scofield, Johnny Winter, Michael Franti, Michael McDonald, moe., O.A.R., Peter Frampton, Phil Lesh, Ray LaMontagne, Sheryl Crow, Steve Miller Band, The String Cheese Incident, Taj Mahal Trio, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Trey Anastasio, Umphrey's McGee, Widespread Panic and many more.

About Warren Haynes

Visionary Grammy Award-winning vocalist-songwriter and producer Warren Haynes is a cornerstone of the American music landscape and revered as one of the finest guitar players of the modern era. Haynes is a beacon of creativity that inspires his fans as well as fellow musicians. Throughout his prolific career as part of three of the greatest live groups in rock history - Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule and the Dead - and a lauded solo artist, his virtuosic artistry has led to thousands of memorable performances and millions of album and track sales. Gov't Mule's acclaimed 10th studio album Revolution Come... Revolution Go is out now - PRESS HERE to listen. For more on Warren and Gov't Mule, visit www.mule.net.

About Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity

Founded in 1983, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity was the first Habitat affiliate in North Carolina. Through Habitat homeownership and home repair programs, nearly 1,600 adults and children in Buncombe County have achieved the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build a better future. A decent place to call home and an affordable mortgage enables Habitat homeowners to save more, invest in education, pursue opportunities and have greater financial stability. Learn more about Asheville Area Habitat, a Charity Navigator 4-star non-profit, and how you can get involved at ashevillehabitat.org.

Perpetual Groove - 09.26 & 09.27 Raleigh, NC

Posted by: leeway | October 2nd, 2018

PGroove rocks a 2 night stand at Lincoln Theatre

Perpetual Groove rolled into Raleigh for a two night stand in the middle of a World of Bluegrass (a festival that was going on all over town). Their psychedelic rock anthems were a a nice change of pace from all the acoustic picking going on elsewhere.  Browse the setlist below and enjoy the photo gallery from Justin Barnett of JRAWK Photograhpy.

 

Setlist 09.28.2018

Neville Jacobs

Harmonized Records scores a grand slam with the new Neville Jacobs release.

Lockn' Festival 2018

Posted by: alex-marsh | September 2nd, 2018

Never miss a Sunday (or Thursday, Friday and Saturday) show.

This year's Lockn' Festival got off to a great start, with a clear weather forecast and a stellar line-up of top-tier musicians. Now in its sixth year, Lockn' has established itself as one of the premier destinations for fans of improvisational, collaborative music. What's both exciting, and occasionally frustrating at Lockn,' is that the music is unpredictable. Your favorite band on the main stage may be having an off night, but that after-midnight show by a band you've never heard of, is mind-blowing!

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