“Off the Florida Keys, there’s a place called Kokomo. That’s where you want to go to get away from it all. Bodies in the sand, tropical drink melting in your hand. We’ll be falling in love to the rhythm of a steel drum band. Down in Kokomo….”
Sooooo, JK, we’re not going to Kokomo or even the Florida Keys but we are heading to the Sewanne in Northern Florida this week for Halloween weekend. We’ll get there fast and then we’ll take it slowwwww.
Or will we? Can’t really decide. Either way, we’re heading to Live Oak, Florida for Hulaween in the Sewanne park and ARE SO EXCITED THAT WE MIGHT PEE IN OUR PANTS (ok, just a little) (ok, didn’t need to capitalize it).
Not only is the F4L crew going as first timers (which in itself is a rad occasion) but our small yet festy-friendly crew are solid live music lovers. Our appreciation for 99% of the artists is real. Like too real. Like palpable.
With that said, I’m listing for you, dear F4L friends, the top 7 things that I am the most excited about or looking forward to. Have no fear, I plan to report back to see how much of this actually measures up, and to get some awesome perspective from artists, lovers, friends, and random festy folk alike. My expectations aren’t measured as I’ve never been but I do hope to get that euphoric once-in-a-lifetime feeling during the festival at least once. Don’t worry if you can’t make it though squad, F4L has you covered. Oh, and if you’re a Sirius XM listener, apparently JamOn will be streaming it too. So you can couchstream, err, is it called carstream?
- String Cheese Incident is playing 7 (yes, SEVEN) sets as they headline every night (Saturday night alone they are on the schedule THREE TIMES.) Let me tell you, this Colorado gal is pumped to get her hearty cheese fix in. Because, well, one Red Rocks show out of their three night run this summer just wasn’t enough to hear every one of my favorites OR to witness enough tophats. Cheese fans LOVE tophats and dressing like leprechauns. Regardless, might I add that their collab with Kamasi Washington at RRX was second to none. Hey, it’s hard to go wrong with Kamasi— he’s bringing jazz back in a real way. BUT, back to the Cheesey goodness that’s about to go down in Florida. Within these 7 sets, I think it’s safe to say I’m going to hear every one of my favorite songs (including Shakin’ the Tree.) BUT what I am by far looking forward to the most is a strictly Cheesey cover set. Cheese have a unique way of covering such a large range of songs and artists across the repertoire because their musical tastes vary drastically. I have a hunching suspicion that one of their late night sets is going to be entirely covers, similar to their Trick or Treat 2009 album on Spotify. If we get a Prince or Bowie jammy situation which morphs mid song into Chromeo with Bonafied Lovin and ends with the Talking Heads, I’m going to be on cloud 9. Or should I say, cloud SEVEN. Jokes, I’ve got jokes.
- LATE NIGHT MY MORNING JACKET. For those who know me, they know that these guys have a soft spot in my heart. I’ve seen them ALMOST headline fests a number of times and pour their hearts out with authenticity every single time. And while they never, ever disappoint, the fact that they have a midnight set at the fest AFTER Cheese, is to me, sooooo special. They have the time they deserve to give the crowd the classics and some very unique, MMJ ONLY covers. The real question, is what is Jim James gonna wear? Do we think a costume? If so, what? Will there be a cape involved? Discussion, begin meow.
- The Motet’s 1977 mixtape. This has been a HUGE Denver tradition and as such I’m excited to be able to be a part of it and to get the funk down in Florida. Our crew is planning to dress appropriately in disco garb (I bought sunglasses WITH disco balls) but I think LiveLoud described the whole situation better than I could possibly when they said:
“Mixtape 1977” promises a musical journey that only The Motet could deliver. 1977 was a big year in American Culture. The first Apple computer was introduced, Jimmy Carter became president, Atari released its 2600 gaming system, and Star Wars thundered onto the big screen, changing the course of Hollywood history. Musically, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Marvin Gaye all released groundbreaking Top 10 albums…fans should come prepared to get down.The Motet’s famed cover set shows, where the band performs music of their favorite funk influences (either an album in its entirety or a “mixtape’ of songs popular in a chosen year) are legendary, festive, and full of surprises.
- A festival over FREAKING Halloween. That in itself is something that is listicle worthy because people love getting weird at festivals as is and I feel like this going to elevate that situation to a level that I have yet to experience before. I’ll take pictures, snapchat the weirdest of the weirdest garbs I can find and can not wait to be inspired. Or scared? Or shocked? Who knows. Let’s see what goes down.
- Sewanne Park aka the Spirit of the South. Like the actual park. I’ve heard epic things about this swampland. But, the actual production of the set up I am weary of…. As you might know from past festivals, I’m hella critical and look for that which isn’t tight and right when it comes to building the dream festival. I’m looking forward to checking it out on my own- we all know there is only so much you can view via pictures and videos. The decor looks second to none. People say it’s magical. WILL IT MEASURE UP TO THE EPICNESS OF WHAT IS IN OUR BACKYARD OF THE LEGEND THAT IS RED ROCKS? We’ll see.
- Stringier Things. They’re playing off of the Netflix show Stranger Things with a bluegrass superjam on Saturday super late night after MMJ takes all of our souls. I don’t know if I’m more excited for the actual jam sesh itself OR the fact that it’s a play on Stranger Things, which is a show I have become addicted to this season. I envision hundreds of people dressed in pink frilly dresses with blonde wigs to look just like Eleven. With Waffle Boxes.
- A Colorado invasion of all of the homies. I’m a proud member of the Colorado music scene and I feel like this is a huge excuse for a throw down of sorts with a lot of awesome friends. A show not to miss: Late Night Radio’s Thursday pre-party set. They’re on early but haul your asses to get there. I promise you, these guys are straight fire and are blowing the fuck up. You can thank me later.
