Spirit of Suwanee Music Park Preview

A Bears Picnic Presented By Festival Family

Spirit of Suwanee Music Park Preview

The Spirit of Suwannee Music Park is an amazingly beautiful place of natural splendor. Quite frankly, I wish I was there right now. Sitting here in frozen Louisville, Kentucky, I dream of Summers return and the beginning of festival season. I dream of Suwannee! Situated near Florida's northern border, the park is home to five major festivals a year and to a variety of smaller music shows year round. With the near perfect weather enabling year round events and picturesque and stunning 800+ acres, Suwannee has something for everyone.

I arrived in the dead of night on my first visit to the park. I set up base camp a few hundred yards away from one of their shower houses - a real rarity at festivals, actual indoor plumbing! After making use of repletion honed skills to set up my tent in pitch blackness, the wind whispering through the mighty cypress trees lulled me into joining Nemo in Slumberland. I awoke to find the bluest sky I have ever seen. Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I was literally dumbstruck, so awed was I at my surroundings. As far as the eye could see; majestic trees with Spanish moss hanging like natural tinsel, horse runs and just at the periphery the S.O.S. music hall.

The Suwanee Music Hall is one of a group of buildings centered near the entrance to the park itself, a cavernous building with stages on opposite sides of the main room. A restaurant operates out of the front of the structure, a favorite of locals and the parks year round residents. That’s right, besides the insanely spacious camping areas, there are a clutch of cabins, some available for rent during the many shows and festivals, and some that serve as year round homes! That’s right, there is a festival that you can live at! Hallelujah! Sign me up!

So, having only visited the park for the first time last year, I decided to talk to some of my fellow festival family staff about their experiences and love for the park. To that end, I contacted Natasha and Justin, veterans of more than a dozen visits to the park between them. Family!

Natasha Love Natasha, a Florida resident, and, as is typical of our staff, a true music fanatic, had nothing but love for the park “You have to understand,” she said “for the longest time Florida’s festival scene was small. You could count the number of festivals on one hand. ” She paused and let out a little laugh. “Suwannee, though man, they kept the torch lit, and gave all of us locals something to look forward too!” “Now with so many good shows and fests coming through our state, it’s like Suwanee led the way!” When asked whether she would return, her usual good natured giggle turned into a full on laugh. “Of course,” she finally managed, “Where else would I want to be! It’s the most amazing place to see live music.” Hmmmm, so that sounds like one vote for the park.

Lake front camping.

The J-Man Justin, more widely known by his non de plum “J-Man” was next on my list. When asked if he had a specific moment he fell in love with the park. I first asked if he had a moment he could remember when he fell in love with the park. “I remember my first visit down to The Spirit of Suwannee; it’s was Springfest 2005, the year that they had that huge rainstorm/flood. I remember waking up to find everything washed out and the stages under water. Yet, everyone was still so excited and determined to make things work. I can’t say that I’ve ever felt that energy prior or since. I fell in love immediately.” Justin continued, “My first time down to the park was in 2005. Some of my fondest memories are of the 2006 Springfest line-up; including Del McCoury, Bela Fleck, Peter Rowan & Tony Rice, Larry Keel… also, the first Wanee, all of the great people, great vibes, and beautiful atmosphere.” My final question for J-Man was a simple one, and a favorite of mine to ask true music geeks” . What’s the best set you've seen at the park and what made it so. “Man, some of the Allman Brother’s set have been amazing… Bela Fleck’s workshop from 2006 was really cool, Del McCoury’s set from 2006. I think those come to mind because of how they affected me.” So okay, there are two thumbs up in two tries. In my zeal to paint as accurate a picture of the park as possible, I went to the source, Spirit of Suwanee Music Park Music maven Paul Levine. So thanks for answering a few questions sir. I suppose the first one on my list is easiest, since everyone seems to have an answer at the ready:

Rex- When did you first fall in love with the Park?

Paul Levine- “Pretty much the second I drove onto the property. The beautiful Spanish moss strewn trees, the Suwannee River, the amphitheater in the trees and the amazing campgrounds by the lake really got me. I have traveled all over the country and attended many music festival venues. I knew right away that this was the best one that I am aware of.”

Rex- Besides the swimming pool and music hall, are there any amenities I might have missed in my first visit? And, just how big is the place? I walked for miles and never saw an end!

Paul- “Oh yeah, quite a few. The park has an 18 hole disc golf course which is used for national tournaments. There is horseback riding, golf cart rentals, a general store and craft village, three shower houses and real INDOOR TOILETS. The park has miniature golf, canoe rentals and trips on the Suwannee River and more. It's a great place to visit whether there is a music event or not. The park itself is more than 800 acres and growing!” Dance Party

Rex- How many events do you put on a year there? Is there anything new on the horizon?

Paul- “The Park has 5 major festivals each year. Suwannee Springfest, Wanee, The Country Jam, Magfest and Bear Creek. In addition, there are other smaller events that happen regularly. There is music at the SOS Cafe 4 night s a week and the park hosts other events, such as fundraisers, weddings, corporate retreats and such. The Park is extremely versatile.”

Rex- One last question and then I’ll let you get back to your busy schedule. Do you have a favorite musical memory from the park, a favorite set or song?

Paul- “There is no question that my favorite memory of the park occurred at Bear Creek 2008. One of my favorite performers, Nigel Hall, got married on that Saturday afternoon in the Park's chapel with a guest list which included Derek Trucks, Eric Krasno, Adam Deitch, Sam Kininger, Ryan Zoidis, Adam Smirnoff and others. Papa Mali welcomed the group. Kofi Burbridge played "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" on his flute after the service as the bride and groom left the chapel. It was quite an event. Afterward, Lettuce played one of the best shows I have ever witnessed. Their take on Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up" with Derek Trucks on guitar and Kofi Burbridge on flute was spectacular. Nigel called his wife onto the stage and sang the song to her. The emotion and vibe were just extraordinary. I'll never forget that moment!”

And now a personal note. I want to say thanks to the sheriffs and emergency medical Float Away technicians who are on site to help keep the crowds safe. They patrol the environs and add an element of safety and family friendliness not present in many other such venues. Make no mistake, the sheriffs are on hand to enforce the laws of the state of Florida, and will do their jobs meticulously. The same can also be said for the medical staff on hand, and I thank them for it. At Bear Creek this year, a friend of mine suffered a series of fainting spells due to a blood iron deficiency that she suffers from. The onsite medics had her quickly under their tender care, and helped her to the hospital for a quick check. A quick trip to the local hospital for some precautionary tests, and she was cleared for return to active duty! I spent the afternoon worried about her, and when I finally found her the next morning, she was raving about how nice they had all been. She was all smiles about the whole experience, a common reaction to visiting the Spirit of Suwanee Music Park. So it might be off putting to see these uniformed men and women walking the park, but if you ever end up needing them as my friend did, you’ll be glad they were there!

Cheers! On my second day at the park I caught a ride from one of the ever so helpful staff to a spot five miles or so deep into the park, and spent the next few hours wandering back to the stages area, shooting nature shots at first, and then without noticing, I stopped snapping and just started enjoying my surroundings. That was my moment that I fell in love with the park. I didn’t need music, or photography or anything other than the lush landscapes surrounding me, and the smiles on the faces of all I met on my walkabout. I will return to Suwanee as often as I am able, and I will always hold a special place in my heart for this isolated bit of magic in the Florida wilds! While I regret missing so many opportunities to experience live music in a place of such harmony with nature, I know now that I will not do so in the future. A lesson learned is a mighty fine thing.