As you may know, my granddaughter, Kendall Cecilia, was born Friday, May 8th. After we got through the "at risk" issues attendant to the birth I left my very capable nurse / wife, Judy, in charge and headed out from Tallahassee at nearly midnight. You see, I had another important date to keep - performing in the Second Annual SteveFest in Port Charlotte / Punta Gorda honoring my friend and one of Florida's greats, Steve Blackwell. I was going to be a long drive and, since I was wide awake after all the birth excitement (and stress), I thought I'd bite a chunk off before bedding down for the night.
I made it about 3 hours (halfway) and grabbed a cheap hotel room somewhere in the Ocala area. Didn't take me long to fall asleep, believe me! And, that wake up call came WAY too early. But, I needed to get to the festival site around noon to have time to run a few tunes with the Roadside Revue gang who were going to come up and play some with me during my hour long set. Plus, Still Friends, who backed me on my upcoming album on Welcome Home had agreed to join me on stage for that as well at the end of my set and we wanted to run through that as well. So, get'cher butt up and get on the road!
I hit the festival area at the Charlotte Harbor Amphitheater on Bayshore at Noon on the button. I didn't take long to find an excellent parking space in view of the gate keepers and to track down Dan Leach. All systems go - everyone was ready for a little quick rehearsal and then time to chill until we did sound checks.
This was a great spot for the festival. It's right on the water with a good breeze blowing. The sun was hot and the shade was scarse, but this Punta Gorda crowd is hardy and undaunted by that kind of thing. The crowd began to gather as the volunteers hustled with last minute odds and ends. The pavillion at the far end of the performance area was set up with a vendor area for food and drink, performer merchandise, etc. The volunteers had also outdone themselves in providing a continuous buffet for the performers, etc. and a bar for adequate hydration (beer has water in it, right?). Perfect.
The stage was outstanding as well. A full performance rig had been brought in by truck complete with high lighting trestles and professional concert sound. Very nice. I was so glad to be included in this event and was really looking forward to getting to play with some of the greatest folks I know.
I kicked off the music at just after 2 pm looking out over the grassy seating area, the pavilion and Charlotte Harbor to my right - beautiful. This is a perfect setup for songwriters and performers since you get a full hour set to develop your material instead of the usual short festival sets of 20 - 30 minutes. What a treat! I told my stories, joked with the crowd and played my songs as the crowd continued to build on a glorious Florida spring afternoon. As I mentioned, The Roadside Revue (Ron & Bari Litschauer, Dawn DeWitt and Stan Geberer) joined me for a couple of tunes (Teppintine, Steam Train and Withlacoochee Dreamer, I think) to tremendous crowd response. And then for the grand finale of my set, Still Friends (Carrie Blackwell-Hussey, Dan Leach, Japhy Blackwell, Andy Leach and Tiffiny Coffey) came up and we performed Welcome Home for this gathering committed to the memory and honor of Steve Blackwell. What a perfect way to end my set!
MILLER TIME!! I made way for The Roadside Revue and headed back to that wonderful hospitality area I mentioned for a cold one (or three) as I listened to Ron, Bari, et al kick it in gear. As I've mentioned frequently, I love to watch these guys on stage and they had their best material all set to go, including their well loved rendition of Steve's song Gravel Road. They were followed by another good friend and astounding songwriter, Mike Jurgensen. Mike was one of Steve's close friends and has been part of the efforts to preserve his memory and music through this festival, an upcoming songbook of Steve's work and more. Mike put on an awesome show as the crowd continued to build as the sun climbed down the western sky towards the water.
I was, of course, stuffing my face with all the great food provided by the volunteers - truly wonderful stuff. I loaded up a plate of goodies, got another beer, and headed to the front row of the setaing to enjoy a great bluegrass group (whose name, I'm embarrassed to say, I can't recall). First rate traditional bluegrass. I was sitting with my Roadside Revue buds plus Tami and Paul of Hannah's Whirl. At some point we managed to appoint Dawn DeWitt our impromptu buxom waitress and sent her for another round of beer and wine -- yeah, we were getting to the rowdy, silly stage.
The magnificent Mindy Simmons came on next with a powerful set of material from the emotional and moving to the sublimely ridiculous. I love Mindy's "Peggy Lee" show, but I really enjoy her best when she's doing her own material and kicking back with the crowd. This was a rare chance to get a full hour to appreciate the versatility and talent of a great artist.
Then Still Friends came on for their much anticiapated set. This is a highly talented group from top to bottom. Carrie's voice is one of those that stops you dead in your tracks everytime you hear it. I swear she could sing the yellow pages and make my hair stand on end. Her song Sugar Cane really shows off her bluesy vocal chops. Dan Leach is the glue of the group holding them together with tasteful work on both guitar and mandolin. Dan's tune Everbody Sometimes is one of those that gets in your head and you find yourself humming it involuntarily. Andy Leach - man what a bass player! This guy lays such a stellar groove behind the material. None of us should be surprised. From the time he was a pre-teen Andy was hanging around the fringes of the campfires creating lead lines on the guitar and shyly adding to the songs his mom and dad were playing. Now he's center stage material and can play bass with the best of them - wow! Japhy Blackwell's sax gives Still Friends a signature sound like no one else in Florida Folk. Japhy skillfully lays in fills and leadl ines that bring a special punch and feel to all ofthe material. And, Tiffiny Coffey has added a dimension to the group that fills them out as a stage presence. Solid rhythm guitar and sweet harmonies, plus great tunes to boot! Her song Go Easy is a real crowd pleaser. However, I confess that my favorite tune on their new album, Rise Up, is Steve's tune Beluthahatchee about Stetson Kennedy's home place up near St. Augustine - one of Steve's best and his last. An exceptional set.
The final group before the finale was Steve's longtime friend Michael Haymans and his group of wildmen playing vaarious originals, some of Steve's and well known covers. For the occasion Michael had created a Timacuan costume and applied generous and ornate face paint. Unfortunately, the face paint was not waterproof and in the heat of the stage lights combined with the physical exertion of the performance the paint ran into Michael's eyes virtually blinding him - and quite painful too! However, Michael was undeterred and soldiered on for the rest of the set and the evening as well, red burning eyes and all.
Of course, no one wanted to leave when it was over and we gathered under the pavillion with coolers, guitars, jokes and music. However, the very hours of sleep I'd gotten the night before soon bore down on me. The organizers had arranged housing for me with "Blind" Michael Haymans in a guest cottage he has next to his home in Punta Gorda and we headed that way. I learned that this cottage served as home for Steve and Sue for over a year after Hurricane Charlie tore their home to shreds in 2004. So, on top of getting to participate in the great event honoring my friend I also got to absord the good juju and kind spirits lingering with me as I settled in for an exceptional night's sleep. Ahhhhhhhh . . .
My very special thanks go to Sue Blackwell, Phoebe, Robin Leach and the rest of the Punta Gorda Guitar Army that made me so welcome. I hope I get to come back again to this very special event as it grows year after year into another thriving celebration of Florida Folk music. Steve is well pleased I know.
I hit the festival area at the Charlotte Harbor Amphitheater on Bayshore at Noon on the button. I didn't take long to find an excellent parking space in view of the gate keepers and to track down Dan Leach. All systems go - everyone was ready for a little quick rehearsal and then time to chill until we did sound checks.
This was a great spot for the festival. It's right on the water with a good breeze blowing. The sun was hot and the shade was scarse, but this Punta Gorda crowd is hardy and undaunted by that kind of thing. The crowd began to gather as the volunteers hustled with last minute odds and ends. The pavillion at the far end of the performance area was set up with a vendor area for food and drink, performer merchandise, etc. The volunteers had also outdone themselves in providing a continuous buffet for the performers, etc. and a bar for adequate hydration (beer has water in it, right?). Perfect.
The stage was outstanding as well. A full performance rig had been brought in by truck complete with high lighting trestles and professional concert sound. Very nice. I was so glad to be included in this event and was really looking forward to getting to play with some of the greatest folks I know.
I kicked off the music at just after 2 pm looking out over the grassy seating area, the pavilion and Charlotte Harbor to my right - beautiful. This is a perfect setup for songwriters and performers since you get a full hour set to develop your material instead of the usual short festival sets of 20 - 30 minutes. What a treat! I told my stories, joked with the crowd and played my songs as the crowd continued to build on a glorious Florida spring afternoon. As I mentioned, The Roadside Revue (Ron & Bari Litschauer, Dawn DeWitt and Stan Geberer) joined me for a couple of tunes (Teppintine, Steam Train and Withlacoochee Dreamer, I think) to tremendous crowd response. And then for the grand finale of my set, Still Friends (Carrie Blackwell-Hussey, Dan Leach, Japhy Blackwell, Andy Leach and Tiffiny Coffey) came up and we performed Welcome Home for this gathering committed to the memory and honor of Steve Blackwell. What a perfect way to end my set!
MILLER TIME!! I made way for The Roadside Revue and headed back to that wonderful hospitality area I mentioned for a cold one (or three) as I listened to Ron, Bari, et al kick it in gear. As I've mentioned frequently, I love to watch these guys on stage and they had their best material all set to go, including their well loved rendition of Steve's song Gravel Road. They were followed by another good friend and astounding songwriter, Mike Jurgensen. Mike was one of Steve's close friends and has been part of the efforts to preserve his memory and music through this festival, an upcoming songbook of Steve's work and more. Mike put on an awesome show as the crowd continued to build as the sun climbed down the western sky towards the water.
I was, of course, stuffing my face with all the great food provided by the volunteers - truly wonderful stuff. I loaded up a plate of goodies, got another beer, and headed to the front row of the setaing to enjoy a great bluegrass group (whose name, I'm embarrassed to say, I can't recall). First rate traditional bluegrass. I was sitting with my Roadside Revue buds plus Tami and Paul of Hannah's Whirl. At some point we managed to appoint Dawn DeWitt our impromptu buxom waitress and sent her for another round of beer and wine -- yeah, we were getting to the rowdy, silly stage.
The magnificent Mindy Simmons came on next with a powerful set of material from the emotional and moving to the sublimely ridiculous. I love Mindy's "Peggy Lee" show, but I really enjoy her best when she's doing her own material and kicking back with the crowd. This was a rare chance to get a full hour to appreciate the versatility and talent of a great artist.
Then Still Friends came on for their much anticiapated set. This is a highly talented group from top to bottom. Carrie's voice is one of those that stops you dead in your tracks everytime you hear it. I swear she could sing the yellow pages and make my hair stand on end. Her song Sugar Cane really shows off her bluesy vocal chops. Dan Leach is the glue of the group holding them together with tasteful work on both guitar and mandolin. Dan's tune Everbody Sometimes is one of those that gets in your head and you find yourself humming it involuntarily. Andy Leach - man what a bass player! This guy lays such a stellar groove behind the material. None of us should be surprised. From the time he was a pre-teen Andy was hanging around the fringes of the campfires creating lead lines on the guitar and shyly adding to the songs his mom and dad were playing. Now he's center stage material and can play bass with the best of them - wow! Japhy Blackwell's sax gives Still Friends a signature sound like no one else in Florida Folk. Japhy skillfully lays in fills and leadl ines that bring a special punch and feel to all ofthe material. And, Tiffiny Coffey has added a dimension to the group that fills them out as a stage presence. Solid rhythm guitar and sweet harmonies, plus great tunes to boot! Her song Go Easy is a real crowd pleaser. However, I confess that my favorite tune on their new album, Rise Up, is Steve's tune Beluthahatchee about Stetson Kennedy's home place up near St. Augustine - one of Steve's best and his last. An exceptional set.
The final group before the finale was Steve's longtime friend Michael Haymans and his group of wildmen playing vaarious originals, some of Steve's and well known covers. For the occasion Michael had created a Timacuan costume and applied generous and ornate face paint. Unfortunately, the face paint was not waterproof and in the heat of the stage lights combined with the physical exertion of the performance the paint ran into Michael's eyes virtually blinding him - and quite painful too! However, Michael was undeterred and soldiered on for the rest of the set and the evening as well, red burning eyes and all.
Of course, no one wanted to leave when it was over and we gathered under the pavillion with coolers, guitars, jokes and music. However, the very hours of sleep I'd gotten the night before soon bore down on me. The organizers had arranged housing for me with "Blind" Michael Haymans in a guest cottage he has next to his home in Punta Gorda and we headed that way. I learned that this cottage served as home for Steve and Sue for over a year after Hurricane Charlie tore their home to shreds in 2004. So, on top of getting to participate in the great event honoring my friend I also got to absord the good juju and kind spirits lingering with me as I settled in for an exceptional night's sleep. Ahhhhhhhh . . .
My very special thanks go to Sue Blackwell, Phoebe, Robin Leach and the rest of the Punta Gorda Guitar Army that made me so welcome. I hope I get to come back again to this very special event as it grows year after year into another thriving celebration of Florida Folk music. Steve is well pleased I know.
