Punta Gorda’s Peace River Revival Celebrates Americana And The Beauty Of An Iconic Waterway
A new generation of musicians with impeccable pedigrees and roots running deep through the South will be celebrating Americana on the banks of one of the region’s most iconic rivers at The Peace River Revival on Saturday, April 7, at Laishley Park in Punta Gorda, Florida.
Bearing their legendary fathers’ surnames and talent, The Devon Allman Project with Duane Betts and Lukas Nelson And The Promise Of The Real will headline the daylong festival along with Louisiana bluesman Eric Lindell and roots musicians Donna The Buffalo. Love Canon, Rivers and Rust, and Michael Haymans and His Hibiscus Band will also be playing support across two stages so the music never stops.
2018 marks a return to the road for Devon Allman after taking nearly a year off to mourn the deaths of his father, Greg Allman, who died in May, and his mother, Shelly Jefts, who died in December of 2016. The latest incarnation of The Devon Allman Project is a six-piece ensemble that features Allman on guitar and vocals; two percussionists, John Lum and R. Scott Bryan; guitarist Jackson Stokes; bassist Justin Corgan; and organist Nicholas David. Devon Allman’s childhood friend Duane Betts and son of The Allman Brothers Band founding member Dickey Betts joins the band on stage for what is sure to be a powerful and emotional show.
Lukas Nelson has been making his mark as a singer/songwriter apart from his famous father Willie Nelson, with nearly a decade of touring and several albums under his belt, including his most recent effort, the critically acclaimed and self-titled Lukas Nelson and The Promise of The Real. The band currently consists of Nelson on guitar and lead vocals, bassist Corey McCormick, percussionist Tato Melgar, Corey McCormick, steel guitarist, Jesse Siebenberg, and drummer Anthony LoGerfo.
After Hurricane Irma, which barreled through Florida on September 9, forced cancellation of Punta Gorda’s The Big Orange Music Festival, where Eric Lindell was scheduled to appear, the Alligator Records recording artist will be making his long-awaited return to the area, bringing his gumbo of blues, rock, doo-wop, soul and roots music with him. A frequent performer at The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Lindell’s 20-year career as a singer, songwriter and harp player includes eight albums and many collaborations including Dragon Smoke, his side project with Dumpstaphunk’s Ivan Neville and Galactic’s Stanton Moore.
With a fan base calling themselves “The Herd,” Donna The Buffalo couldn’t possibly be anything else but infectious fun. While they hail from upstate New York, the sextet takes its cues from old-world Southern music festivals that drew whole communities together. Their mix of danceable Cajun, Zydeco, and roots music has been creating adoring fans countrywide for nearly 30 years now. Donna the Buffalo is Jeb Puryear on vocals and electric guitar, the multi-talented Tara Nevins on vocals, fiddle, guitar, accordion and scrub-board, David McCracken on organ, clavinet & piano, Kyle Spark on bass, and Mark Raudabaugh on drums.
Charlottesville, Virginia’s, Love Canon has been remaking ’80s pop hits in their own rowdy, bluegrass-infused image since 2010 and have played with jam heavyweights such as Warren Haynes, Bruce Hornsby and Keller Williams. Now the band, made up of Jesse Harper on guitar, Adam Larrabee on banjo, Adam Thacker on mandolin, Darrell Muller on bass, and Jay Starling on dobro, will be bringing its sense of humor and exceptional musicianship to The Peace River Revival.
Bluesy Texas songstress Shelia Marshall and former Matchbox Twenty guitarist Kyle Cook form the duo Rivers and Rust, whose raw mix of rock, soul and Americana burst onto the scene in 2014. They’ll also be among the openers along with local folk and American artists Michael Haymans and His Hibiscus Band.
There will be plenty of food and craft vendors on the banks of the Peace River – one of the most beautiful settings to take in some music and a blazing sunset. For tickets and more information, click on the links below.
