We are making our way back to the happiest place on Earth, Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Magnolia Fest was a blast and almost more than we could have hoped to experience. We met a nearly ninety-year-old blues man who personifies grit, discovered the soulful bluegrass of Grits and Soul, and had the doors blown off by Lake Street Dive.
Springfest, Mag Fest’s sister event, is right around the corner and we have your definitive guide to navigating the weekend. The lineup is heavy on roots legends and promises to thrill throughout the weekend. Like last time, just pull this up on your phone, bookmark it, and then refer back any time you need some help deciding who to see at a given time.
Thursday
The Broadcast
Like Lake Street Dive meets Grace Potter. Lead vocalist Caitlin Krisko can sing. Thursday is always a blast, and they don’t go on until 6:00, which gives you time to find a good campsite and get yourself situated.
Mandolin Orange
These folks have a good chance to be the ones creating buzz. An Americana duo with natural harmonies; and guitar and mandolin, fiddle at times, creating a moving, haunting aesthetic that is also recognizable.
Grandpa’s Cough Medicine
Shows I Go To favorites were the talk of Springfest 2015. Catch the boys early and then enjoy them sitting in with other acts throughout the weekend.
Grits and Soul
Damn fine pickers and all around good folks. Anna, John, and Dakota made a ton of new fans at Mag Fest 2015. Anna’s ballads and John’s fiddle songs continue to win over crowds
Jon Stickley Trio
Jon Stickley Trio made one of the most important roots records of 2015. It did not win a Grammy, like Jason Isbell’s masterpiece, or receive the well-deserved buzz of John Moreland’s High on Tulsa Heat, but the genre-incinerating Lost at Last is a gorgeous record. You’ll get a few chances to see JST and its members during Springfest. Avail yourself of them all.
Friday
The Applebutter Express
Tampa-area favorites are worth waking up for. Their set at Gasparilla Music Festival 2016 drew a more robust than usual morning crowd full of energy.
Grandpa’s Cough Medicine or The Broadcast
You knew Springfest was gonna hit you with a scheduling challenge at some point. Did you catch them both on Thursday? If so, catch the one you enjoyed most. If not, go see The Broadcast. GCM is wonderful, but who knows when North Florida will get another peek at The Broadcast?
Cabinet and Nikki Talley
Nikki Talley always brings an incredible set to Suwannee. Cabinet is likewise wonderful. We will probably split time between the two. You won’t miss.
Horseshoes and Handgrenades
A friend recently raved about seeing Trampled by Turtles for the first time, and then said he was making his first trip to take in J.J. Grey and Mofro. Attention piqued, I shut up and listened to what else was on his playlist, not expecting to be introduced to a new band. Then he played Horseshoes and Handgrenades. Don’t miss this set. It’s bluegrass music, but certainly not something that will blend in among the greats at Springfest. Horseshoes and Handgrenades deserve your full attention.
Jeff Austin Band and Grits and Soul
Easy choice if you saw Grits and Soul earlier in the weekend. Not so easy if you get there late. Jeff Austin Band is the bigger name, but Grits and Soul are gonna get you movin’ and thinkin’. Let your availability dictate.
The Larry Keel Experience and Jon Stickley Trio
Larry Keel’s flat-picking is tough to pass up, but Jon Stickley Trio is still our pick for the weekend. You can catch the Keels Saturday afternoon. This is one of those nice problems to have.
Del McCoury Band
Arguably the best touring bluegrass band on the planet. There are no scheduling conflicts, thus no reason to miss this set.
Brandi Carlisle’s version of Americana-soul is a wonderful compliment to the bluegrass-forward Springfest lineup. Brandi Carlisle is a living legend. No need to hype you for this set. Just be sure to pace yourself so as not to miss a minute.
Railroad Earth was hand picked by Warren Haynes to be his backing band for the excellent album Ashes and Dust. This weekend they will be playing the late night set. This Springfest lineup is laughably good.
Saturday
Nora Jane Struthers
Jacksonville’s Canary in the Coalmine is an outstanding band featuring the gorgeous, piercing vocals of Jessica Pounds accompanied by the virtuosity of Arvid Smith on guitar and Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra concertmaster, Philip Pan, on fiddle. Make it to this set.
The Larry Keel Experience
The Keels are brilliant, and getting to see them more than once in a weekend is the treat Suwannee affords a couple times a year.
Dave and Dave
This is a set about which we are supremely fired up. Trampled by Turtles took Gasparilla Music Festival by storm last year, putting in one of the weekend’s best sets. Dave Simonett and Dave Carroll have been at this music thing at the highest level for a long time together. This is no time for a nap or beer run.
The Infamous Stringdusters and Jim Lauderdale
Are you in the mood for outstanding, supremely brilliant bluegrass, or outstanding, supremely brilliant singer-songwriter music? This may be another where we catch half of each. Lauderdale plays Suwannee twice a year, but he is just so damn good. The Infamous Stringdusters are ridiculously cool. Fortunately, you can catch both, without conflict, on Sunday.
Cabinet and Della Mae
As always, this is a nice problem to have. Della Mae is playing Sunday, so that makes our decision. Cabinet is gonna play a blazing bluegrass set and make a few new fans. The musicianship at this year’s Springfest is truly special.
Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers is one of those bands we seem to miss every time they come through town. Their funky Americana will leave you dancing to the sound of heartbreak. We are extremely excited about this set.
Del McCoury and Stickley and Book
Brilliance abounds during this scheduling conflict. We are gonna catch Jon Stickley (Jon Stickley Trio) and Travis Book (The Infamous Stringdusters) because both are doing such innovative things at the moment. But Del McCoury is a legend. Don’t beat yourself up, whichever you choose.
John Prine
John Prine, y’all. His set at Magnolia Fest a few years ago was everything we hoped it would be. This is the guy every songwriter is looking to become. Jason Isbell credits him as a major influence, and you can hear it in Isbell’s most recent brilliance. John Prine is it.
Donna the Buffalo
You can’t ask for a better late night comedown than Donna. You’ll get a little politics, a little dancing, and a lot of love from “The Herd.”
Sunday
Sunday is the day where the magic happens. The folks leftover get treated to otherworldly musicians sitting in with more otherworldly musicians. There is a lineup but expect the unexpected.
Della Mae kicks off the morning with their harmonies, followed by Jim Lauderdale’s wonderful songs. Then we get back to back sets of ridiculous picking. The Infamous Stringdusters give us another chance to catch them amongst the live oaks, and the genius of Keller Williams gives us his Grateful Dead-influenced bluegrass that comes out wholly Keller. You don’t need to get back to work that bad. Once again, Donna the Buffalo puts a bow on what is sure to be a Springfest for the ages.
Okeechobee Music Festival seems to have poached a few of the bigger acts from Florida’s festival circuit. There have certainly been bigger names on the bill at Suwannee. Hell, Mavis Staples, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and John Prine all played the same Mag Fest a couple of years ago. But in terms of continuity of quality, this may be the best lineup Suwannee has offered.
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Guide to Suwannee Springfest 2016 by Jason Earle.
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▼ SHOWS TO GO TO ▼
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- The Commission Beer Chamber
- Kingfish Records (Clearwater)
- Nora's Sugar Shack!
- Park Ave CDs
- Montgomery Drive Presents
- RT-Art Printing
- The Mary Jane 'High-Quality' Art Gallery
- The Owl's Attic Vintage Shop
- Broken Strings Brewery
- American Combat Club
- Lazy Moon Pizza
- Ten10 Brewing
- Leguminati
- Mutiny Ocala
- The Tipsy Skipper
- Conrad's Beer Shanty
- AKT Shirt Printing
- Smartpunk Records & Shop
- No Clubs Presents
- DaddyKool Records
- Galactic G Skateshop
