Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is the hippie hideaway of Florida. From up and down the coast, live music enthusiasts gather to frolic in the woods and hula hoop in the fields. Fans of Florida's version of Jazz Fest, Bear Creek, make the annual trip in November to get their horny fix, among other musical delights. In the springtime, there's Wanee, a mix of retired bikers and next generation retro jammers who love nothing more than a dose of "Sweet Melissa" from the famed Allman Brothers Band. Toss in a few other intimate audio gatherings, and Suwannee's bill has its regular loyal following intact.
And, while this haven in Live Oak, Florida delivers some unforgettable performances in an unparalleled venue (it's top three on my festival escapes list in the country), it's also known for its high presence of shakedown sheriffs. That's right, undercovers clad in Grateful Dead T's might even pass you a joint, just to catch you in the act. Which brings us to today's big news: 311 Pow Wow Festival, Thursday, August 4 through Saturday, August 6. The first-ever festival of its kind, the initial lineup features Nick Hexum and the gang from 311, Sublime with Rome, Deftones, G. Love, SOJA, the Dirty Heads, Reel Big Fish, Ozomatli, Streelight Manifesto, The Supervillains, Ballyhoo, DJ Soulman and DJ Trichrome.
The delicate grounds of Suwannee are about to receive an amplified stomping like never before. And, while the hippie kids certainly are no stranger to the term "rage," they have a respect for nature we're not so sure these semi-skankers heading to the Pow Wow will quite be able to identity with.
It seems an unlikely venue, with a lineup catered to fans who aren't so much the camping type. Post Deftones, the last thing I can picture is a bunch of punk kids gathering around the campfire singing to acoustic guitars. This crew is much likelier to bum rush the bat house and howl for the night creatures' dissent. A wise word to Suwannee: You might want to reneg the golf cart privileges on this one. If DUIs via golf cart didn't exist before, I'm sure they will now.
Three cheers for Suwannee diversifying itself, but the staff might want to implement an extra-large cleanup crew rowing up and down the Suwannee River. Hold on to your stashes and stay clear of the 5-0. Try not to trample the chipmunks. Hopefully, the tainted aura will wash itself clean by the time the regulars return in the fall.
Dear author,
ReplyDeleteHave you every listened to 311's lyrics?! Yes, us fans may love to rage but we have no less of an understanding of the beautiful essence of the forest. I went to Pow Wow and Wanee and rest assured Pow Wow was much cleaner than after the Widespread Panic set at Wanee.. I could have cried. The place was trashed. Tainted aura? Way to spread positivity. Atleast at Pow Wow I didn't have racist old creeper southerners yell at me to get the fuck out of their way at the show.. being a 19 year old brown girl. Pow Wow had better vibes than Wanee and Bear Creek.
If you think the spirit of suwannee could ever be destroyed you should be.
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