Growing up in the southeast, I became accustomed to traveling to Atlanta to see my favorite bands at an early age. Weekend excursions to The Tabernacle became a regular occurrence by the time I was in high school, with plenty of trips to The Fox Theatre and Variety Playhouse mixed in as well. Just last year, I finally made plans to attend SweetWater 420 Festival, which was clearly becoming one of the premier festivals in the country. Following that weekend, it was clear that this would become my latest annual tradition. No excuses.
After a lineup which featured two nights of Widespread Panic, Trey Anastasio Band, moe., Ween, and Dark Star Orchestra (just to name a few), festival organizers had their work cut out for them. When the initial lineup dropped in mid-October, it almost felt like they were reading my mind. Umphrey’s McGee, Sturgill Simpson, and Tedeschi Trucks Band sat atop this lineup, along with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Vulfpeck, Papadosio, Anders Osborne, Spafford, and many more. The second wave would ultimately include The String Cheese Incident, Greensky Bluegrass, Ghostland Observatory, The Infamous Stringdusters, and the young phenom Brandon “Taz” Niederauer.
Once the schedule was released, plans were made to arrive earlyon Fridayafternoon. Southern Avenue was rocking the Planet 420 Stage in full force, and The Record Company was getting started on the main stage shortly after. We made a point to catch a nice segment of both sets and couldn’t have asked for a better way to start the weekend. This was my first opportunity to see either of these bands live, and I’ll definitely be making a point to see both again.
If you follow the festival scene at all, you’ve surely seen the hype surrounding Spafford. This band has taken the jam world by storm, selling out just about every venue on the schedule. This would be my first live experience with them as well, and I was totally floored. The band came out swinging the “Backdoor Funk” and “The Remedy” and continued with killer takes on “Windmill,” “Lovesick Melody,” and “Minds Unchained.” They closed out the set with Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” and I think everyone was wishing we had a second set. I was fortunate enough to attend to Spafford’s late night show at Variety Playhouse, which seemed to be the hottest ticket in town. This set included some amazing takes on “Electric Taco Stand,” “All My Friends,” “Salamander Song,” “All In,” and a cover of Men at Work’s “Down Under.”
Watch Spafford perform "You Don't Know How It Feels" here:
Sturgill Simpson was up next on the main stage. This would be he and his band’s first performance since October 14th, and it was clear that these guys were ready to rock. Highlights from this set included originals such as “Turtles All The Way Down” and “Keep It Between The Lines,” while the cover of Freddie King’s “Going Down” really got the crowd moving. While Sturgill has one of the most unique, powerful voices I’ve ever heard, his guitar playing is equally impressive. He’s one of the most talented performers I’ve ever watched, and it’s exciting to think about what the future holds.
The String Cheese Incident has been very kind to Atlanta in recent years. The past two summers have featured some amazing two-night runs at Chastain Park Amphitheatre, and expectations were high forFridaynight’s headlining spot. The band got off to a hot start with “Sirens,” “Let’s Go Outside, and “Song In My Head.” The Motet’s Lyle Divinsky and Dave Watts, along with local Atlanta vocalist Rhonda Thomas, joined in on “Get To You,” before a cover of Jamiroquai’s “Space Cowboy” and “Believe” closed out the set.
Cheese returned to the stage with young star Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, who traded licks with Michael Kang and Bill Nershi throughout “Close Your Eyes.” Second set highlights also included “Beautiful,” “Joyful Sound,” “Rollover,” and “Restless Wind.” The crowd had a chance to sing “Happy Birthday” to drummer Michael Travis during the encore, and Taz + Rhonda Thomas would return for the closer, “I Saw The Light.”
Saturday may have been my favorite day of the weekend, and there are a number of reasons why. One of my favorite regional bands, Funk You, kicked things off with an amazing set on the main stage. The band welcomed The Brotherhorns for the entirety of the set, and the Augusta natives brought out an impressive crowd for the early set. Funk You delivered a number of killer originals before closing things out with The Village People's "Kung Fu Fighting" with a little help from three dancers dressed as Gumby. Why not?
Watch Funk You perform "Kung Fu Fighting" here:
Anders Osborne was up next on the main stage, and I could listen to this guy for days. Anders has one of the most soothing voices you will find, and his songwriting is tough to beat. As is the case at most festivals, you're forced to cut several sets earlier than you'd like, and I knew I couldn't miss a minute of Marco Benevento. As a longtime fan of the Benevento Russo Duo, it's been remarkable to watch Marco's career flourish. This was my first chance to see his solo band, and it was easily one of the weekend highlights. This set was jam packed with energy from start to finish, and I was floored by bassist Karina Rykman. They gave us an amazing cover of Butthole Surfers' "Pepper" and had the entire crowd going wild as they closed out with "At The Show."
Brandon "Taz" Niederauer was arguably the star of the weekend. While he made guest appearances with all three headliners, he and his band provided an incredible set on Saturday afternoon. The last time I'd seen Taz in Atlanta, he was tearing through a guitar solo as his mentor Col. Bruce Hampton tragically passed away on stage. Watching him perform "I'm So Glad" in Bruce's honor was a truly special moment. While his guitar playing is essentially indescribable, this "kid" can really sing too.
While this weekend had many peak moments, Joe Russo's Almost Dead was my personal main event. Thankfully, the second wave of artist announcements included a second set for JRAD, which set us up for an unforgettable evening. A lengthy jam led into "Cats Down Under The Stars," while "Feel Like A Stranger" would follow. A beautiful take on "The Wheel" led into a rockin' "Estimated Prophet," which segued perfectly into "He's Gone" to close the set. The second set was as strong as anything I've seen from these guys. "Shakedown Street" set the tone right off the bat and moved straight into "I Need A Miracle." The set continued with "Ramble On Rose," and "China Cat Sunflower" > "I Know You Rider," before "Not Fade Away" and "One More Saturday Night" closed out the set on the highest of notes. I could go on for days about this band. Here's to hoping that they become regular performers at this festival.
While I hated to miss The Infamous Stringdusters and Ghostland Observatory, we solidified our spot front and center for Tedeschi Trucks Band. This was the most intriguing storyline of the weekend for me, as I knew this JRAD > TTB sequence would be outrageous. To no one's surprise, TTB came out firing with a downright spiritual set which included classics such as "Made Up Mind," "Part of Me," and "Midnight in Harlem." Susan Tedeschi led a beautiful combo of "Angel From Montgomery" > "Sugaree," and young Taz made his way onto the stage for a monster cover of "Statesboro Blues." Watching he and Derek Trucks trade licks on the Allman Brothers' classic was a moment I'll never forget. Taz would also join the band for the encore which featured Sly & The Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song" > "I Want To Take You Higher."
Sunday's weather looked questionable all week, and the rainy forecast became a reality early on. This was a familiar situation for those who attended the festival last year, and a little dancing in the rain is good for the soul. Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds kicked things off with a super soulful performance. Greensky Bluegrass would follow with their wildly entertaining serving of jamgrass. This would give us yet another cameo from Taz, who took the lead on the Allman Brothers' "Midnight Rider." We then made our way to the Planet 420 Stage to catch the tail end of TAUK. This band is one of the most talented, dynamic bands on the scene, and we caught them just in time for an incredible cover of Rush's "Tom Sawyer."
Watch Greensky Bluegrass perform "Midnight Rider" with Taz here:
The bouncing between stages continued as we prepared for Vulfpeck on the main stage. Frequent collaborators Antwuan Stanley, Joey Dosik, and Corey Wong were each on hand for the funky occasion. The set was highlighted by classics such as "Animal Spirits," "1612," "Funky Duck," "Back Pocket," "Christmas in LA," and even a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Boogie On Reggae Woman." Bassist Joe Dart would lead the way through "Dean Town" to close out a high-energy occasion with Vulfpeck. Meanwhile, Papadosio was closing out the Planet 420 stage in powerful fashion. We walked up just in time to catch a sequence which included "Cue," "Garden," and "We Are Water." The energy was palpable as the rain picked up, and the Papadosio dance party was a sight to see.
The final performance of the weekend belonged to Umphrey's McGee, and they closed out a magical weekend in fine form. They kicked off the set with "Half Delayed" and "Remind Me," before "Booth Love" really got the party moving. "Preamble" would follow before what would become a massive "Mantis" sandwich. The sequence of "Mantis" > "Wife Soup", "Lenny" w/ Taz, "Draconian" > "Mantis" would definitely need to be on any list of weekend highlights. "Wappy Sprayberry" and "Ringo" would put an exclamation point on a wild, rainy set from Umphrey's. The encore began with a very fitting cover of Led Zeppelin's "Fool In The Rain," which was followed by "Ocean Billy" and "The Silent Type." While there were quite a few heavy hitters on this lineup, Umphrey's most certainly justified their spot in closing out the festivities.
As you would expect, there was wide variety of afterparties around Atlanta each night. While many made their way to Variety Playhouse for TAUKing McGee on Sunday night, our crew headed over to one of my favorite venues, Aisle 5. Local favorites Bird Dog Jubilee were set to perform 'A Picture of Hoist' which consisted of songs from the two Phish albums ('A Picture of Nectar' and 'Hoist'). From start to finish, these guys absolutely killed it and provided a perfect ending to our 420 Fest experience. It's always a pleasure catching a show at Aisle 5, and Sunday night was no different.
I've said more than enough at this point, but I'll conclude by saying that I truly believe this was my favorite festival experience to date. You couldn't ask for a better lineup, and Centennial Olympic Park is perfectly structured for a festival of this magnitude. There were a handful of sets that I really wish I could've seen, but it's impossible to catch them all. Festival organizers and the entire staff did an absolutely phenomenal job, and things couldn't have run any smoother. I'm not sure how they will top this year's experience, but I have no doubt that they will.
SweetWater 420 Festwill return to Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park on April 20th-22nd. SweetWater Brewing Company have revealed the initial lineup for next year’s event, which is quickly becoming one of the premier music festivals in the country.
Today's announcement includes headlining act Umphrey’s McGee(two sets), as well asTedeschi Trucks Band,Sturgill Simpson,Vulfpeck, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Papadosio, Anders Osborne, Spafford, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, Southern Avenue. Stay tuned for additional lineup announcements, including a second headliner, in early 2018.
SweetWater 420 Fest also features a 5K run, the Planet 420 Eco-Village, the 420 Disco, the 420 Lyrics & Laughter presentation of comedians and up-and-coming local acts, an Artist Market and Food Village. Terminal West, Aisle 5, and other local venues are known for hosting some heavy hitting late night parties as well.
Atlanta-based jamtronic act Space Kadet has just released its latest studio work in the form of a five-song EP titled Ultra Funkular. Mastered by Papadosio'sAnthony Thogmartin, Ultra Funkular perfectly captures the atmospheric, jazzy funk that this four-piece has become known for since its inception in 2014. One of our favorite elements about this band is its ability to navigate between improv jam and electronic boundaries, making way for a uniquely diverse final product.
The EP's title track features Louisiana-based trumpet player / producer Ryan Viser, who provides some additional adrenaline into an already impelling dance tune. Ultra Funkular's first single, "French Elevators," has an funky, old school Sector 9 to it, and the vocal samples from The Temptation's "I Wish It Would Rain" will undoubtedly catch the attention of any potential listener. Drummer Rohan Prakesh and percussionist Phil Ordonez hold down a wildly tight beat throughout "Junsuina," and Thomas Garret's jazzy guitar influence certainly shines throughout the track. The final track, "BTSD," seems the most electronic of the bunch but still maintains a notably melodic, groovy bass line (via Alex Etheridge) at its core.
Overall, Ultra Funkuluar more than lives up to its catchy title, and there's no doubt that Space Kadet offers something that just about any music fan can get down to. See below to stream the EP in its entirety. Space Kadet's next show will be at Imagine Festival at Atlanta Motor Speedway (September 22nd - 24th). More dates will be announced in the near future, including an STS9 after party in St Augustine, FL on October 7th with Artifakts at The Elk Lodge.
Listen to Space Kadet's 'Ultra Funkular' here:
Space Kadet explores many genres on the electronic instrumental spectrum with a deep emphasis on creating a spacey funky atmosphere and sound, always leaving the listener in a trance. The band taps into a variety of genres ranging from high energy driven electro-funk to hip hop infused drum and bass into trap, deep dub, house, break beats and more. Recently, the band has shared the stage with praised acts such as The Russ Liquid Test, Zoogma, Sunsquabi, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, The Werks, Govinda, Higher Learning as well as playing acclaimed festivals such as Purple Hatters Ball, Imagine Festival, Sweetwater 420 festival and Zen Awakening. Space Kadet came together to form an always changing, never ending, groovy space odyssey.
Space Kadet is: Rohan Prakash (Drums and Production), Alex Etheridge (Bass and Production), Thomas Garret (Guitar) and Phil Ordonez (Percussion).
Jam/funk rock sensation Pigeons Playing Ping Pong has announced a 17-date spring tour which will span across the East Coast and into the Southeast. Following a winter tour which is heavily focused on the Midwest and West coast, much of the bands loyal following, "The Flock," can rejoice that their beloved band will be returning to many of its most familiar venues in the spring. The spring dates kick off on March 29th in Rochester, NY and continue with stops all down the coast. Supporting bands include Aqueous (Ithaca, Northampton, Burlington, Portland (ME), and Providence), Hayley Jane & The Primates (Brooklyn), Organ Freeman (Brooklyn), ELM (Washington, DC), and BIG Something (Norfolk). The Pigeons will be supporting Papadosio for a two-night run at the Madison Theater in Covington, KY on April 28th-29th.
Earlier this week, the band launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund their latest studio effort, Pizazz, due for release in September 2017. They are also releasing their first ever live album, in coordination with the Kickstarter campaign. The live album, The Great Outdoors Jam, features highlights from the band’s performance at The Great Outdoors Jam Festival in Mount Dora, FL from July 2016. Each and every contributor to the Pizazz Kickstarter campaign will receive a digital download of The Great Outdoors Jam on February 10th if the campaign reaches its goal of $18,000.
Check out the video below for their Kickstarter campaign and help Pigeons Playing Ping Pong reach their goal!
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong’s Full Winter/Spring 2017 Tour Dates:
1/27 Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre * 1/28 Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater * 1/29 Steamboat Springs, CO @ Schmiggity’s 1/31 Durango, CO @ Animas City Theatre 2/2 Jackson, WY @ Pink Garter Theatre 2/3 Bozeman, MT @ Eagle’s Ballroom 2/4 Missoula, MT @ The Top Hat 2/8 Spokane, WA @ Big Dipper 2/9 Seattle, WA @ Nectar Lounge 2/10 Eugene, OR @ HiFi Music Hall 2/11 Portland, OR @ Goodfoot 2/12 Bend, OR @ Volcanic Pub Theatre 2/15 Crystal Bay, NV @ Crystal Bay Casino ^ 2/16 Chico, CA @ Lost On Main ^ 2/17 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent ^ 2/18 Los Angeles, CA @ The Mint ^ 2/19 San Diego, CA @ Casbah ^ 2/22 Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit Live ^ 2/24 Austin, TX @ The Parish 2/25 Houston, TX @ Raven Tower 2/26 Dallas, TX @ Sundown at Grenada 2/28 Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck 3/1 Columbia, MO @ The Blue Note ” 3/2 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection ” 3/3 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection ” 3/4 Columbus, OH @ Express Live ” 3/29 Rochester, NY @ Flour City Station 3/30 Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt$ 3/31 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl~ 4/1 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl ^ 4/7 Washington DC @ 9:30 Club # 4/8 Norfolk, VA @ The NorVA @ 4/12 Knoxville, TN @ The Concourse 4/13 Birmingham, AL @ Workplay 4/14 Charlotte, NC @ Visulite Theatre 4/15 Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre 4/19 Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street $ 4/20 Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground $ 4/21 Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall $ 4/22 Providence, RI @ Fete Ballroom $ 4/27 Lexington, KY @ Cosmic Charlie’s 4/28 Covington, KY @ Madison Theater & 4/29 Covington, KY @ Madison Theater &
* – w/ Dopapod ^ – w/ Organ Freeman “ – supporting Lotus $ – w/ Aqueous ~ – w/ Hayley Jane & The Primates # – w/ ELM @ – w/ BIG Something & – w/ Papadosio
Papadosio have announced the release of their new EP, Pattern Integrities Vol. I, due out September 21st, 2016, and phase one of the Pattern Integrities tour, kicking off with three nights headlining the Resonance Music Festival in Thornville, OH and concluding with two shows at Brooklyn’s iconic Brooklyn Bowl.
The Pattern Integrities tour introduces a new concept from Papadosio: The Pattern Integrity, or “P.I”, set. The P.I. set is in tribute to the great mind of Buckminster Fuller, and features live looping, sequencing, sampling, improvisation, and synthesis. The P.I. set is an effort to do something original, not just with the music itself, but the way in which it is performed. Fans can get a sneak peak of the P.I. set in the just released EP teaser video by watching below.
Papadosio will dedicate the first night to the P.I. set in cities with two shows; and the first set in cities with one show. Fan club presale for nonfestival shows starts Thursday, July 28th. Local onsales begin on Friday, July 29th.
Watch Papadosio's Pattern Integrity teaser video here:
The Pattern Integrities Tour: A musical exploration of the endless pattern of life.
Sept 22, 23, 24 – Resonance Music Festival, Thornville OH
Sept 30 – Bear Creek Bayou Festival, New Orleans LA
Oct 6 – Union Transfer, Philadelphia PA with TBA
Oct 7 & 8 – The Sinclair, Cambridge MA with TBA + JAW GEMS
Oct 9 – Higher Ground, Burlington VT
Oct 11 – Mr. Smalls, Millvale PA with Broccoli Samurai
Oct 12 – Mainstage, Morgantown WV
Oct 13 – Bell’s Eccentric Café, Kalamazoo MI with Flightwave
Oct 14 & 15 – Concord Music Hall, Chicago IL with Flightwave & EGI
Oct 16 St. Andrews Hall, Detroit MI
Oct 27 – Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh NC with Consider The Source
Oct 28 & 29 – 9:30 Club, Washington DC with Consider the Source & Soohan
Nov 11 & 12 - Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn NY with Consider the Source & Mike Dillon Band
Last month, funky friends from across the southeast gathered at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park for the annual Purple Hatters Ball, a festival that was established as both a memorial and celebration of the life of Rachel Morningstar Hoffman. The festival is known for its diverse lineup and intimacy, and this year was no disappointment. Featured artists included The Floozies,Papadosio, The Polish Ambassador, Earphunk, Roosevelt Collier Band, The Mantras, Sunsquabi, and more. Dynamic lineups always bring interesting crowds—there were those who fell for the allure of The Floozies’ funky style and Polish’s eccentric performances as well as those who mainly came to catch Earphunk rock the stage and groove to some late night Dosio. Regardless of who people “came to see,” every stage at every set was booming and bustling with dancing bodies.
Thursday night was a reunion of sorts. Old friends embraced and sat on the deck of the music hall to share cigarettes and stories of daily life that happensin between festivals. In hospitable Suwannee fashion, new folks were just as readily welcomed. Around midnight, Sunsquabi began drawing a crowd inside for the pre-party headlining set. The couple hundred or so people who had managed to get work off on Friday and get to Suwannee a night early gathered in the music hall to drink and boogie into the late night.
The days at Hatters were long, bright, and beautiful. Once more people arrived at the festival, the river became the place to be during the day. After snagging a golf cart ride, I made it down to the river just in time to catch Funk You at the Beach Stage, which was jam-packed with jams all weekend. 14 bands played that spotover two days, and shorter half-hour/hour long sets kept the atmosphere everevolving and interesting. Down on the water, beer, sunlight, and laughter kept attendees dizzy and joyful. Everyone piled together onto huge floats in the middle of the river. A few friends decided to maximize their chill factor by floating the river in their beloved blowup festival couch. I’ve seen that same couch several times around Suwannee, but I had to double take and chuckle when I saw it come drifting on the current, touting three guys comfortably in its seat. Jacksonville’s MZG took the opportunity to film a new music video on the river’s beach, featuring hundreds of smiling faces and a few hilarious tumbles down the giant slip n’ slide.
As the sun settled its way low into the sky each day, people headed back to their campsites to prepare for the night of music ahead. Friday evening treated us to delicious jams from The Mantras and an absolutely raging set by Earphunk. Part of my face may still be at the Amphitheater stage after lead guitarist Paul Provosty proceeded to shred it off with riff after wailing riff. Papadosio provided the crowd with a smooth set that seamlessly traversed between faster and slowed down psychedelic grooves. Every note was carried on the beat of drummer Mike Healy,who skillfully controlled the group’s tempo and vibe.
Saturday night was nothing short of dance party. Following The Hip Abduction and MZG, The Polish Ambassador did not disappoint, keeping things interesting as always, right down to the classic mid-set outfit change. The Ambassador also stopped to share some powerful and reflective words on death and Rachel’s legacy before taking the crowd back into a celebration of life and music. The Floozies closed the night with their signature sound: funky samples, distortion, and irresistibly danceable beats. The Amp stage crowd became a flowing sea of moving people—not a single body was still.
The Polish Ambassador
When the last band left the main stage each night, by no means did the party stop. In fact, it seemed to mark the official start of all late-night shenanigans. For those who couldn’t kick off their boogie shoes, the Silent Disco was popping until the sun rose. Those who wanted to adventure explored the grounds on golf carts, acting as a taxi service to random strangers who became friends within minutes. People gathered again on the beach, but the mood was much different at night. The Suwannee River flowed slowly in still silence, reflecting the moss-laden trees that tower over it in a perfect mirror image. Creatures of the night swam in the river, bathed in the moonlight, and reveled in the pure natural beauty that surrounded them.
On Sunday, Rachel’s mother shared some words before releasing butterflies into the air to honor a sweet spirit taken too soon. The gravity of death, especially young lives lost, always spurs many thoughts and emotions. I think most people can agree that life is too short, and we should use what we’ve been given to know and love as many people as we can. Though her time on earth was brief, Rachel lived her life in that way, and everyone who knows her attests to that. All weekend long, I watched relationships blossom before my eyes. While this isn’t uncommon at music festivals, there was something special in the air at Hatters—call it the Spirit of Suwannee, call it Rachel’s legacy, call it the magic of music, but the unadulterated love and joy that drifted on the wind that weekend was truly ethereal. Purple Hatters Ball reminded us to stay positive, present, and loving, and I hope people will carry that message with them and pass it along… Until next year, Purple People!
Purple Hat Productions has released the daily schedule for the ninth annual Purple Hatter’s Ball (PHB) taking place at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park(SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida June 17-19, 2016.
PHB 2016 will utilize four stages including the famed Amphitheater Stage, a Beach Stage located along the wild black water Suwannee River and a Campground Stage, which will morph into the Silent Disco late night, keeping the party going until the wee hours of the morning.
Closing out each night on the Amphitheater Stage is Papadosio on Friday, The Polish Ambassador followed by The Floozies on Saturday, andMelvin Seals and JGBon Sunday.
The Thursday Pre-Party will take place in the SOS Music Hall right after the Action Day with activist The Polish Ambassador where PHB attendees are invited to unite in action with their choice of awesome activities and tangible regenerative projects that will make SOSMP a better place for everyone. As a thank you for their work, Action Day participants are invited to attend the Thursday Night Pre-Partyfor FREE. To sign up for the Action Day visit:http://bit.ly/1spyFKg.
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The Yoga & Art Village Program will offer 25 fun, informative and healthy living activities and classes including: Kirtan Morningstar; BoomYoga Spiritual Warrior with Joaquin Antonio; Sound Healing Meditation; West African Drumming with Luke Quaranta; Live Music Vinyasa Flow; Creative Expressions Drawing; AcroYoga; Contact Hooping and many more.
Purple Hatter’s Ball benefits The Rachel Morningstar Foundation (a non-profit 501c3organization) in honor of longtime SOSMP friend and music festival lover Rachel Morningstar Hoffman.You can learn more about the horrific story of her loss in this feature,“How One Mother Turned Tragedy /Into Triumph: The Rachel Morningstar Hoffman Story”which includes a touching one-on-one interview with Rachel’s loving mother, Margie Weiss (aka Mama Margie). Rachel’s story has been featured on 60 Minutes, Dateline, and 20/20.
The most memorable moment of the Purple Hatter’s Ball weekend is when Mama Margie leads an emotional ceremony celebrating her daughter’s memory. Each year, they released 24 monarch butterflies – 23 to represent Rachel’s age when she was taken from this world and 1 for her spirit that lives on.
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Purple Hatter’s Ball 2016 features organic livetronica artists Papadosio, cutting edge producer/guitarist and drummer duo The Floozies, jumpsuit wearing musician and activist The Polish Ambassador, Jerry Garcia Band founding member and longtime collaboratorMelvin Seals and JGB, New Orleans’ prog-funk five-piece Earphunk, the conscious world-reggae sounds of DubConscious (Rachel’s favorite band), progressive rock and jam band The Mantras, the one-and-only sacred steel master Roosevelt Collier and his band, rising stars The Hip Abduction, and many more.
Purple Hatter’s Ball is the perfect opportunity to experience the beautiful Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park festival grounds, famous for hosting Wanee, Suwannee Hulaween, AURA, and more, during a laid-back and intimate event. Festivalgoers are encouraged to take advantage of the park’s endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, biking, and disc golf.
The park also offers guest comforts including a general store, a full-service restaurant, showers and water stations. To join the wait list for cabins, golf cart rentals, and RV hook-ups, please contact SOSMP at (386) 364-1683.
Tickets are currently on sale atwww.PurpleHattersBall.com along with Morningstar Miracle VIP Packages that include VIP area access, dinner (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), an official poster and t-shirt.
Purple Hatter’s Ball 2016 Lineup:
Papadosio
The Floozies
The Polish Ambassador
Melvin Seals and JGB
Earphunk
DubConscious
The Mantras
Roosevelt Collier Band
The Malah
The Hip Abduction
Sophistafunk
Voodoo Visionary
Catfish Alliance
Trial By Stone
Scott Campbell band with Avis Berry
Funk You
MZG Live featuring Allen Aucoin
Flat Land
Herd Of Watts
Kaleigh Baker with The Groove Orient
The Corbitt-Clampitt Experience
Post Pluto
Squeedlepuss
SPORE with Zahira
Bedside
Leisure Chief
Heather Gillis Band
Late Night Silent Disco + Beach Stage:
Ancient Deep
Big Bucks Crew
Cat Party
Charlie Hustle
Combustible
Cuddlefish
Damballa
Dazey
Elliot Mess
Jeff Randall
Leginge
Paten Locke
Ricky Raw
Sir Charles
Skythye
Taste Tester
Triclops I
Vlad the Inhaler
Zachy Nix
Thursday Night Pre-Party:
Sunsquabi
Savi Fernandez Birthday Band
Space Kadet
Gypsy Elise
About The Rachel Morningstar Foundation: The Rachel Morningstar Foundation exists to help the public understand the benefit of guidelines for law enforcement's use of confidential informants (CIs). Currently each state, county, city, college campus or law enforcement agency sets their own standards, laws or guidelines as it relates to recruiting and using CIs. The efforts of this foundation are dedicated to the memory of Rachel Morningstar Hoffman(December 17, 1984 – May 7, 2008) a 23-year-old Florida State University graduate. She was murdered while acting as a police informant during a drug sting that started on May 7, 2008.The first of its kind in the U.S.,Rachel’s Law, a Florida law that went into effect on July 1, 2009, established new guidelines for law enforcement when dealing with confidential informants.
Those who follow the jam/festival scene can vouch for the fact that there is currently an endless amount of talent to choose from. With new, exciting acts knocking on the door each year, The Werks, Papadosio, and Dopapod have established themselves as mainstays in the circuit. Back in 2009, The Werks founded The Werk Out Music & Arts Festival and have since solidified the annual event as one of the premier jam rock festivals in the country. Both Papadosio and Dopapod have been a part of the festival on multiple occasions.
Today, we are looking back on a major highlight from The Werk Out 2014, which featured members of The Werks, Papadosio, and Dopapodperforming the iconic Pink Floyd album, Dark Side of the Moon, in it's entirety. Members of each band rotated on and off stage throughout the set, which even included a cameo from Zach Deputyduring "Great Gig in the Sky." If you haven't had the privilege of watching this epic performance, we recommend setting aside 45 minutes, getting extra relaxed, and enjoying the video linked below.
Watch The Werks, Papadosio, and Dopapod perform 'Dark Side of the Moon' at The Werk Out 2014 here:
Founded in Columbus, Ohio in 2005, The Werks is best known for its quick rise into the jam band music scene and appearances at major festivals and events across the US and abroad. In early June 2011, the band rose to prominence when it hit the number 2 top searched artists on the leading online jam magazine, jambase.com, behind the band Phish and again in early 2012 when they hit number 1.
Originally from the creative collegiate hotbed of Athens, Ohio, Papadosio is now centered in Asheville, North Carolina. Hitting virtually all major and secondary U.S. music locales and select festivals across North America, Papadosio tours on a massive scale but maintains a close intimacy with their fans.
The Boston born, now generally Northeast based, but ever on-the-go Dopapod has come a long way from their college basement, DIY party roots. The past 4 years have individually held the weight of about 150 shows, and included numerous festival appearances like AURA Music & Arts Festival, Wakarusa, Summer Camp, Electric Forest, Camp Bisco, Peach Fest, & Gathering Of the Vibes, and Bonnaroo 2015.
Jamtronica act Papadosio has officially released their highly anticipated fourth studio album, Extras in a Movie. The album is available today for download, and can also be purchased on CD and vinyl. All major online media outlets, i.e. Spotify and iTunes, will also have the new album available
“Never before have we kept so much new material a secret,” the band shares. “Extras In A Movie is as diverse as it is, and at the same time closer to home than ever before.”
The five-piece–Anthony Thogmartin (lead vocal, guitar, production), Mike Healy (drums), Rob McConnell (bass, vocals), Billy Brouse (keys, synth, vocals) and Sam Brouse (keys, guitar, vocals)–seamlessly melds progressive rock with psychedelia;folk with electronica; and dance music with jam.Extras in a Movie features 16 never-before-heard tracks, written, recorded and produced by the band themselves, thanks in large part to their devoted fanbase and a successfully funded Kickstarter campaign.