I am very excited to be making my first trek down to Live Oak Florida in less than 3 weeks for the Bear Creek Music Festival, and the anticipation has only increased now that the schedule dropped last week. It’s my first time ever flying to a festival, so it’ll be a definite change from all those times I’ve loaded up the car with my camping gear, but other than that I could not be more excited.

I mean, look at this lineup: Medeski Martin & Wood, Garage a Trois, Beats Antique, Dumpstaphunk, JFJO, Marco Benevento Trio, Soulive, Lonnie Smith, Trey’s last gig of the year?? It’s a funk lover’s dream and a whole lot more, and the more I think about it, the more it feels like a mini JazzFest to tide me over until the real deal.

As with any good festival there are going to be some tough choices to make. For example, do I check out Rubblebucket, Galactic or Zach Deputy late night Friday, or do I just say the hell with it and groove out at the Silent Disco with DJ Kraz, aka, Eric Krasno of Soulive (side note: check out his Funky President mix if you haven’t already). One thing I don’t have to mull over: where I’ll be Saturday: from 2pm on it is just non-stop action between the Main and Side Stage which looks a little something like this: Chapter 2 > The Funky Meters > The New Mastersounds > Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood > Lettuce > Trey Anastasio Band > Big Gigantic.

Are you kidding me?!?

My brain might explode before the sun event sets.

I’ll be sure to report back upon my return: I’ve heard nothing but great things about the Suwannee Music Park site. Here’s to keeping festival season going all year round!