It's a New Year's Weekend Party of Arts and Music. Dec. 29 through Jan. 2, 2012 in sunny Lake County , Fla., we will be burning bright with the sounds of The North Mississippi All-Stars, George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic, the New Mastersounds, Papadososio, Zach Deputy, Soulive, Dangermuffin, Jerimah Puddleduck, The Lee Boys...50plus bands, live art performances and daily exciting jams hosted by artist-at-large Bobby Lee Rodgers. There will be two main stages, a central grand bonfire, fireside jams till sunrise nightly, on-site camping, morning yoga, and an eclectic array of cuisines to suit any tastes....both in food and entertainment. An affordable, heady dreamland for the art and music community to count in the New Year without worries, sharing the love, joy, and passionate, colorful journey of the rhythms and vibes...and there's even a cannonball drop! And don't miss Home Grown's setup: Leeway's Home Grown Music Network is sponsoring a tented stage in the campground that will run late nights after the main stages have finished. Bands scheduled to play include BIG Something, COPE, Ultraviolet Hippopotamus and Big Daddy Love.
What can I say except, Wow! It's going to be a diverse, dynamic, pumping thrill the whole long weekend. Based on my experience with summer and fall festivals in Live Oak, Fla., we should all anticipate enjoying bikini and shorts weather during the day and be prepared for the quick, drastic drop in temperature as soon as the sun starts to go down. But, hey, we'll have a huge fire to gather around, continue to groove and bond!
If you haven't gotten tickets at early bird prices, it's still a deal at the gate for $175 for four days and camping. I stumbled on a few places to look for discounts and giveaways that I can't verify but will share. Try Ultraviolet Hippopotamus on Facebook where they say you can use the promo code UVHIPX2 to get tickets until 12/29 for $137.50. Also try Bond Fire Arts and Music Festival on Facebook where I see a few who are selling their tickets.
The promoters have put together an intimate art and music delight in a sensory-igniting, homegrown package sure to make us smile with recollection at the good times created and treasured in our memories for years to come. Check out more at official site: www.thebondfirefestival.com
- By Janice Wilson Boyles