Well we had quite a HUGE time this past weekend – friends gathered that span the entire era of HarvestFest (and before!) and the Back Porch Hootenanny movement, creating for me an emotional and joyous occasion that everyone from loyal Hootenannigans to the musicians, staff, volunteers, and Smokey & Debbie simply couldn’t get enough of!  I know that I shed many a tear over the course of the weekend, as it did mark the end of an era that involved a great investment of heart & soul, not just by me but by everyone who has been along for the journey.  The Hootenanny instills a family energy that will sustain and serve as a springboard for the next chapter at Cherokee Farms involving the Frank Hamilton School.  I ask that you please continue to follow and support FHS, as it will serve as a catalyst for continuing to bring great music to the community through concerts and public events music education.

Ralph Roddenbery Band

I know I say it every time but the music was REALLY off the charts, knocking the bar way off already high expectations!  Every set was extremely special, and they all featured sit ins by fellow musicans, which made for very spontaneous moments of musical ecstasy.  There were so many highlights it’s hard to single out even a couple of them – Blackberry Possum kicked it off right on Friday night under the stars and the largest Friday night attendance yet.  From the first notes on Saturday with Smokey’s Farmland Band and through the entire day’s performances from the MOMS All-Stars, The Rickety Crickets, The Ain’t Sisters, Ralph Roddenbery Band,

Donna Hopkins & Friends

Brian Ashley Jones, Caroline Aiken, Donna Hopkins, Rev. Jeff Mosier and finally Strung Like A Horse to close it out, the energy one felt throughout Cherokee Farms was unlike anything I’ve experienced before.  THANK YOU from the bottom and top of my heart for the music, friendship & LOVESTORM that transpired.

I was particularly caught off guard by a little ceremony that occurred prior to introducing Strung Like A Horse and featured the dedicated Hootenanny staff, volunteers & people who have been a part since 1998.  If you have a few minutes, I recommend you watch the video below courtesy of my friend Jessi 😉 :

Two big THANK YOU’s right now  – the first to Beth & Randy Judy, life friends and creators of Suwannee SpringFest and MagnoliaFest down at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL.  Without their inspiration in the mid/late 90’s with the inaugural Sunshine Daydream Weekend (became MagnoliaFest), I don’t know if I would have ever meandered down the crazy path that is the music business and festival industry.  Their vision is my vision, as music farmers growing fresh sounds for the ear with amazingly talented musicians.  I love y’all to the moon and back, as do many many others!

The second THANK YOU goes to Roy, Rebecca & Dave, who are the masterminds behind High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, CA and DelFest in Cumberland, MD.  They joined forces with TDawg Presents in 2001, and we were able to continue the magic that was Blue Ridge HarvestFest, taking the festival from a popular regional festival to one of national stature.  Unfortunately the hurricanes from 2001-2005 won the battle, but the magic produced despite the setbacks was unrivaled, and it was a fantastic experience to host Bob Weir & Ratdog and John Prine, among many, many others.  I love what High Sierra has continued to do through the years and hope our paths will cross once again!

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On that note, I hope you can make it out Thursday night for the third installment of the Frank Hamilton School Concert Series featuring Dangermuffin at the Red Light Cafe!  Showtime is 10PM, and trust me when I tell you that these fine fellas from Folly Beach, SC will simply blow your mind with their of level of talent and amazing instrumentation.

Tags: americana, Atlanta, bluegrass music, Caroline Aiken, Chattanooga Tennessee, Cherokee Farms, dangermuffin, donna hopkins, Frank Hamilton, Frank Hamilton School, Georgia blues, Georgia Music, Georgia Songwriters, Georgia Theatre, Grateful Dead, Jeff Styles, jerry garcia, Nashville Songwriters, Nashville Tennessee, Pete Seeger, ralph roddenbery, Rev. Jeff Mosier, Roots Music, strung like a horse, TDawg Presents, tdawg's back porch hootenanny, The Grapes, Variety Playhouse, wildman steve, Wildman Steve Radio, WNCW, Woody Guthrie, WUTC