New Festival to Benefit Wonderful Charities: A Feast of Funk & Soul Food
Perhaps you are one of us who really, really missed camping in the woods in November at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park last year. That slot had been filled for years by Bear Creek Music and Arts Festival, which cancelled for 2015 and moved to New Orleans for 2016 (with incredible music).
But still. November. SoSMP. Magical music. Wonderful vibes. Family. We missed it. A lot.
Just in time, we have an answer. And not just an answer, but a true answer to our prayers, as we welcome a brand new event, A Feast of Funk and Soul Food, November 18 & 19 (Friday and Saturday). We’ll discuss the music in a moment, but first read this awesome press release, jammed full of information:
“A Feast of Funk & Soul Food is a new event taking place at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park November 18 & 19, 2016. It is a combination of funky music, delicious soul food, and Florida breweries, joining forces to raise money for local charities Love Inc., Hope Notes and Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp. It’s the prefect opportunity to come together with friends and family at an intimate Spirit of the Suwannee event, giving thanks and love the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Produced by Purple Hat Productions and Southern Soul BBQ, A Feast of Funk & Soul Food features some of best funk and soul music in the scene. Headlining the first annual event is Earth Wind & Power, a tribute to the music of Earth Wind & Fire performed by The Nth Power and featuring artists Jennifer Hartswick, Skerik, Farnell Newton, James Casey, Daniel Sadownick, and Brian Thomas. The weekend will also feature music from The Nth Power, Jennifer Hartswick Band, The Roosevelt Collier Band, The Groove Orient, Leisure Chief, and Scott Campbell Band.
Equally exciting is the addition of a food program headlined by five internationally acclaimed chefs including James Beard Award winner Art Smith, (cookbook author and former private chef for Oprah Winfrey), Harrison Sapp (owner of Southern Soul BBQ, St. Simons Island and Live Oak, FL), Chris “Shaggy” Davis (New Orleans Crawfish Boil King), John Minas (The Edison, Tallahassee) and Samuel Forbes Edwards (Edwards Brothers BBQ). Foodies can purchase tickets that include meals prepared by each of these culinary legends.
Alongside the incredible food and music, A Feast of Funk & Soul Food welcome two of Florida’s best breweries to the show – Dunedin Brewery and 81Bay Brewing Co.
During the weekend Patty and Wahoo Young will host a Disc Jam Golf Tournament. Prizes include tickets to Suwannee Hulaween and food tickets, among other things.
All GA tickets include music and camping for the weekend. VIP food packages and VIP food, cabin and golf cart packages are available at www.feastoffunk.com.
$2 per ticket will be donated to Hope Notes and Suwannee Kids Music Camps. Hope Notes is a new park -ed program that raises money to provide instruments for local school music departments. Kids Music Camps provides four annual free music education programs for kids. Concertgoers are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to contribute to the food drive benefiting Love Inc.”
Seriously. Charity. Music. Food. Beer. Fun. Family.
What else do you need to know?
The music? At the top of the list, a very special collaboration called Earth Wind & Power (the music of Earth Wind & Fire performed by The Nth Power featuring Jennifer Hartswick, Skerik, Farnell Newton, James Casey, Daniel Sadownick, and Brian Thomas).
Which means that The Nth Power will be there to funk us in the way nobody else can. The Nth Power are Nikki Glaspie, Nick Cassarino, Nate Edgar, and Courtney J’Mell Smith. They’ve just released a great new live album, To Be Free, and started their current tour last week, and it will close at A Feast of Funk and Soul Food.
Jennifer Hartswick is one of the most in-demand trumpet players anywhere. The Trey Anastasio alumna is bringing her band this time. She absolutely killed at AURA Music and Arts Festival at the park last March and was pure magic at the recent Bear Creek Bayou.
Mr. Live Oak will be there to represent. Actually, there are two Mr. Live Oaks: Paul Levine, who is hosting this wonderful party, and his twin brother Roosevelt Collier, who will return home after crushing some Hendrix sets in New York and more. He will likely be joined by the spectacular rhythm section of Matt Lapham and Anthony AC Cole.
The Groove Orient, an excellent quintet from Orlando, have been throwing down great rock shows at festivals and concerts all over, including a great set at Orange Blossom Jamboree, another at Purple Hatter’s Ball, and a tour that took them to Colorado and back this summer. The groove Orient are Chuck Magid on guitar and vocals, with Harry Ong (lead vocals, bass), David Vanegas (percussion, bass, vocals) and Aaron “Bucky” Buckingham (drums). The band’s secret weapon is Tommy Shugart, a wizard on Hammond B3 organ, electric piano and guitar.
Another great Orlando quintet, Leisure Chief, are masters of funk, jazz, hip-hop and much more. Leisure Chief are Derek Engstrom (drums, vocals), Chris McMullen (bass, vocals), Keegan Matthews (organ, Rhodes, keyboards), Christian Ryan (alto & bari sax, vocals), and Jordan Garno (guitar). They too have been regulars at SoSMP at events such as Hulaween, Purple Hatter’s Ball and Summer Splashdown.
Scott Campbell is one of Tallahassee’s original rockers, revered and appreciated by all who know him. He and his band have just released a superb new album, An Old Photo, and they’re played lots of events including Purple Hatter’s Ball. The Scott Campbell Band are Randy Barnhill, Leon Anderson, and Avis Berry, and they play “blues, rock, country, soul, jazz, funk, folk – yeah, music for folks.” Berry is a remarkable vocalist who delights new fans each time she sings.
You can listen to Campbell’s new album by clicking Music Player on his Facebook page: click here.
There is no better way to prepare for Thanksgiving than to spend it with friends and family in a heavenly location with great music, beer and food, all for a wonderful cause. MusicFestNews will see you there!
Read much more on the official festival website: click here.