November 10-13, 2011 ~ Live Oak, FL
By Chris Robie
Photos By Brad Kuntz
It's almost that time of the year again. The time of the year when families, neighbors, friends and music lovers from all over gather to the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. They will come for the love of music, to hang out with old friends and to be a part of the wonderful vibe the Bear Creek Music festival is known for. It's a festival that goes beyond the music. It's just so much more than that. If you've ever been to a Bear Creek music festival before then you know what I'm talking about.
I attend a decent amount of festivals each year. Sure, they all do their best to bring you the best lineup of bands. That's what it's all about, right? No, not really. Most festivals feel as though you've been thrust into a washing machine that's been stuck on spin cycle. Familiar faces move about all around you but you don't even know who they are. And when it's all over and done with the only friends you will have are the ones you came with. It's basically the only good time you would hope to expect. It's the only good time that you're familiar with. A great festival is not just an amazing lineup of bands. It's also about being among family and friends. What could possibly be better than seeing the music you love in the company of family and friends? There are a few festivals that cater to this experience but if I had to pick a favorite it would most definitely be Bear Creek. At Bear Creek you'll meet complete strangers who will most likely turn out to be your most cherished friends. The overall vibe and quality of music is simply unmatched for a festival of this magnitude.
The feeling of being among family and friends begins with the Bear Creek staff. It has pretty much been the same ol' group of folks since the very beginning. And I'm proud to say that I have been a part of this wonderful staff of people. Together, watching it grow in to what it is today. The kindred vibe can be felt among everyone, including the musicians. The energy generated from the stage to the audience is pretty freeakin' magical. And as far as the music goes on any given night you should always expect the unexpected. You just never know who's going to end up making a guest appearance. Rest assured this will happen on multiple occasions throughout the weekend, musicians sitting in with other bands. It is a common ritual at Bear Creek.
The Bear Creek lineup has always been exceptional. Paul Levine and Lyle Williams have both done an outstanding job in putting together a solid lineup of some of the best jazz and funk bands in the country. Each year just keeps getting better and better and this year looks to be the best lineup of musicians yet. There's the Trey Anastasio Band, Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood, Lettuce, The New Mastersounds, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Soulive, Galactic, Garage A Trois, Orgone, Pee Wee Ellis, George Porter Jr., Dr. Klaw, Robert Walter, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Pimps of Joytime, The Funky Meters, The Lee Boys, Freekbass, Will Bernard, Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band, Zach Deputy, Break science, Juno What?! and the Anders Osborne Trio. There will also be an appealing mix of other diverse acts such as Beats Antique, Big Gigantic, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Michal Menert, Papadosio, Strange Arrangement, Cope and Zoogma.
And to make this annual event the total package that it is, the beautiful back drop of Suwanee Music Park. It is hands down the best outdoor music venue on the East Coast. There's the historic tea-colored Suwannee River, campgrounds in the shade surrounded with Spanish moss dangling from the trees, out door amphitheaters and an in door Music Hall.
The grounds include 500+ acres for camping, hiking, canoeing, bird watching, jogging, observation at the world's largest bat house, putt putt golf and pro-quality disc golf, a honey bee observation exhibit, beautiful rental cabins (and custom built cabins for sale), RV parking with full hookups, electric and water sites, A swimming pool, shower and bath houses, full service restaurant, golf cart rentals, the Arts and Crafts Village, Country Store and much, much more. Or, you can just hang your hammock between two trees, put your feet up and relax as you listen to the music all around you. It doesn't get much better than this.
An interview with Paul Levine, co-founder and promoter of Bear Creek Music Festival
HGMN: How did Bear Creek get started?
Paul: In 2007 after Lyle Williams and I wanted to get the event started in north Florida. It came after the end of "Music Down On The Farm". Lyle and I got together after that came to a conclusion.
HGMN: Were both of you a part of MDOTF as well?
Paul: No. I had started MDOTF but Lyle during those years wasn't in the area as much. He knew about what we were doing and was planning on getting involved with MDOTF before it ended. At that time as he was getting more interested in the industry and that came to a conclusion, he and I were introduced by a few mutual friends. That's when we decided to move forward and start Bear Creek.
HGMN: The name Bear Creek, was that the name chosen because of where the original location was supposed to be?
Paul: Yeah. The other location had a creek running through it that was called Bear Creek. That location was a wonderful location but the community there came together and revoked our permit.
HGMN: This upcoming Bear Creek looks to be the biggest one yet. What are you most excited about this year?
Paul: I'm excited to see all my friends get back together out here in this place.
HGMN: That's what I really love about Bear Creek. The vibe that it has and you always feel that you're among friends.
Paul: Everywhere you look.
HGMN: From staff, the bands, fans and even the community you just feel that "good" vibe. Was this a goal for you here at Bear Creek or did it just kind of happen that way?
Paul: Well, you can't really plan for that. All you can do is put together a production, work with great people. The Bear Creek staff, everyone's been the same. Even from the MDOTF days, some of those people are still the same staff. We started with a group of young people down in north Florida coming of age in college who were really into the movement to help me get the event going. It's in those types of elements when people work together for long periods of time and they get to know each other. People keep coming back each year because it's kind of a reunion for them. It just adds an amazing family vibe to the event. And that's really the most organic way to start something like that. But there's really no formula for doing that.
HGMN: I actually feel that you guys have started a formula that other festivals should follow. Whether you realize that you have a formula or not you have created something great here. Other promoters should take notes on what you're doing.
Paul: I appreciate that. I'm really proud of how far it's come. But going back to what I'm most excited about, I'm excited about an awful lot. Having Trey here is going to be incredible. We're excited about everything that's going on. Obviously, the incredible things Trey has done in his career, to what he has contributed to our festival scene. It's exciting that he's coming. Our staff feels it and they're looking forward to doing the best job they have ever done.
HGMN: Bear Creek has deep roots with jazz and funk music. Was this the plan from the very beginning?
Paul: The real goal is to put on some great live bands. Bands that really kick ass live. I was personally deeply influenced by Jazz Fest in New Orleans and the late night shows that would happen there. I think that Bear Creek feels a little bit like that. People would move around from club to club to see great show after great show after great show. There's just so much going on. You can't see everything because there's way too much for everybody to see but the energy is insane. And whatever path you take it's a good one. Bear Creek is a little bit like that.
HGMN: I'm pretty excited about Stanley Mouse doing the poster this year. How did that come about?
Paul: Well, we've gone down the path recently of trying to work with great artists to do our poster each year. It is another tribute to the New Orleans jazz festival. They always have somebody new each year doing their poster and it's always someone with incredible artwork. I love the idea because we're not just a music festival. We have a wonderful art program. We want to recognize somebody new each year. Stanley Mouse is a legend and I grew up admiring his work with the Dead. To be able to work with someone that helped pioneer the concert poster art work scene as we know it today is amazing for us. We'll continue to do that each year.
HGMN: looking back on all the events at Bear Creek what would you say is your most memorable moment?
Paul: There were many. I don't even remember all of them. But it would be hard to top the Lettuce set after Nigel Hall got married and Derek Trucks coming in and sitting in unexpectedly. That was pretty exciting. It's a tough one because there were so many unique moments of collaboration. There have been a lot of those moments over the five years.
HGMN: Any special surprises in store for this year that you are aware of?
Paul: (laughs) Not that I'm aware of. Um, Warren Haynes does have a day off on Saturday...
HGMN: You never know. I mean, he does have a teleport machine on his bus. That's how he magically appears everywhere.
Paul: I know that they're driving from Charlotte to Orlando.
HGMN: You never know.
Paul: You never know. That would be fun.
