StringBreak Music Fest was a Joyous Experience of Roots Music
The 12th annual StringBreak Music Fest once again brought together stellar performances from across the roots genre. The festival was held April 5-8 at the beautiful Sertoma Youth Ranch in Brooksville, FL.
The full lineup included performances by Chubby Carrier and The Bayou Swamp Band, Grand Slambovians, Phoebe Hunt and The Gatherers, Seth Walker, Cordovas, Randy McAllister, Fireside Collective, Nikki Talley, Mustang Sally n’ The Hamjos, The 502’s, Woodwork, Robbin the Bank, Swan City Swingtet, The Lagerheads, Wiley PJ and The Maz, Backwater Bluegrass, Shawn Hopper, Hymn & Her, 8 Ball Aiken, and Coppertones.
The festival officially kicked off on Thursday with beautiful sunny Florida weather and many hugs as friends old and new arrived at the ranch to set up home for the weekend. I enjoyed watching the open spaces fill in and the decorations come out as each campsite added its own flair to the festive atmosphere.
This was a festival put on by music lovers, for music lovers, and it shows. With a dedicated group of staff and volunteers, The Lind Family have two decades of experience in operating a festival and choosing acts that showcase national, regional and local acts from Americana to zydeco and everything in between. Every time I attend one of their festivals, I am impressed by the amazing variety of roots music that they bring together. The StringBreak Music Fest is a fabulous place to relax and to discover new music.There were so many great performances throughout the weekend on the three stages that I can’t begin to list them all, but here are a few that stood out.
Backwater Bluegrass Band kicked off the fest on Thursday with a rousing set, including a smoking rendition of “Stormy Monday” and a bluesy five-string banjo lead. They drifted off the traditional bluegrass wagon into a Delta blues-inspired version of “Friend of the Devil” with an impressive mandolin solo by Bill Taylor. These guys have been around the block a time or two, and their chops are sharp.
It was my first time seeing Fireside Collective live, but it most certainly won’t be the last. The band is part of the latest explosion of folk-bluegrass talent emerging from the Asheville scene. With tight harmonies and precision picking, they delivered three sets of musical perfection. They showcased their skills with unique versions of cover songs including Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al” and a Ricky Skaggs-inspired “Highway 40 Blues” with dobro player Tommy Maher. They truly shone when they played original compositions from their latest album Life Between the Lines, including “Moving on Down That Line” and “In From the Cold.” I also have to give props to guitarist Joe Cicero not only for his fantastic moves on stage but also for the completion of his Bachelor in Arts degree in bluegrass! Impressive on so many levels.
Singer-songwriter Nikki Talley graced the stages of Stringbreak with her dynamic vocals, smooth picking and charming presence. She and husband/bandmate Jason Sharpe are touring with the newest addition to their family, seven-month-old Eva Rose. Talley is a masterful songwriter and storyteller with a catalog of songs that range from sweet songbird to sassy honky-tonk and everything in between. From her original compositions such as “It’s You,” which she wrote for husband Jason, to clawhammer banjo tunes like “Railroad Boy” and “Wild Rose of the Mountain,” her passionate and soulful sounds were a pleasure to witness.
If you haven’t heard Phoebe Hunt and The Gatherers, you most certainly should. I have to say that this band was a huge hit with festivalgoers. It would be hard to put a label on their sound other than amazing. With influences from cajun, Texas swing, bluegrass, polka, classical, new world and beyond, there didn’t seem to be anything that they couldn’t play. It was a rare and unique treat to hear such a diverse and dynamic band. Each member is a talent unto himself/herself, but together they have a musical synergy that is unmatched onstage. Some of my campmates described their sound as “like standing under a waterfall” and “they painted a musical landscape that was so vivid that you could see it.” I caught their set at the JamShack that turned into a workshop of sorts with requests from the audience. There was also a guest performance by a young kulele player and singer named Gabrielle who did a great version of “Tennessee Waltz” with the band backing her up.
Throughout the weekend, there were plenty of activities for the kids, from hayrides to craft and games at the Kids Tent. There were plenty of arts and crafts as well as delicious food along vendors’ row to browse and shop. Of course I can’t forget to mention the campfire picking, which is always a treat.
If you missed this one, you can start planning now for next April, or, better yet, why wait, come out for the sister festival Riverhawk in November. Bring the kids, your friendly dog, and a couple of friends, and experience it for yourself! We will see you next time.
