Sleep is Overrated at Wanee. Wake Up & Listen to the Music!
Look, I get it. Music runs late each night at Wanee, and then there are campfires and walkabouts and this and that. Understood.
But sleep at Wanee is highly overrated, and you really ought to consider getting up early each morning (or at least one of them) to hear some great music. Because there is a ton of superb music occurring early on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park for this 13th edition of the Wanee Music Festival.
Did I say early? Albert Simpson will be playing Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning in the Music Hall along with the wonderful breakfast served at the cafe. He performs from 8 to 11. Make requests. He has lots of excellent originals and knows a bunch of other songs as well.
Now let’s get serious. On Thursday, Crazy Fingers hits the Mushroom Stage at 11 (everything except DSO is on the Mushroom Thursday), and Brothers and Sisters plays at 12:15. If you missed them on Wanee Wednesday (and missing Wanee Wednesday is NOT recommended, by the way), this is your opportunity to see them both. And the superb Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio has the 1:45 slot; if you have not experienced his magnificent jazz-rock-fusion stylings, may we suggest that you step right up!
Friday starts with a bang (after Albert, of course). If you’ve been fortunate to see the Marcus King Band, then you already know why you need to get up. Warren Haynes saw early on the depth of this young man’s talents (he turned 21 last month). Everyone has been raving about his rave-up shows. How that old-soul voice comes out of that young man is a wonder. Marcus plays at 11, and then the band will jump on the Traveling Stage at 1:45 for a ride from the Canoe Outpost to the lake.
Bobby Lee Rodgers and trio have a half-hour slot at 12:30 on the Peach (and perhaps there is somebody in this universe who knows why they are playing at 12:30 and not at noon; there is NO music from 12:00 to 12:30). Devon Allman Band is on the Mushroom at 12:30, with Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band firing up at 2:30. Devon threw down an astounding set last year, as did Jaimoe; you don’t want to miss Junior Mack and Bruce Katz — just sayin’. Back at the Peach, Matisyahu has a 1:30 set in advance of Shabbat.
Saturday is just as slammed. The Yeti Trio has another early slot; last year’s was stunning, not to mention Butch and grandchildren on the rail! BLR3 are on the Peach at 12:30 (????), followed by Nite-Tripping Dr. John. OK, it could be day-tripping!
The Mushroom Stage is ridiculous all day, but the early fare is incredible. Massive fusion quintet Kung Fu plays at 12:30, and their compatriots Pink Talking Fish are on at 2:30. But wait! There’s more — later! Pink Talking Fu smokes the midnight set on the Mushroom Stage to bring Wanee 2017 to a close and Wanee 2018 schedule and lineup questions to the starting line.
I know, right?
See you at the park! If you see one of us from MusicFestNews, ask for a sticker!
[NOT A RED BULL OR 5-HOUR ENERGY SPOKESMAN.]
