Thursday, February 9, 2012

2012 Waldo Spring Festival - February 23 - 26


 

The Spring Bluegrass Festival at Dixieland RV Park in Waldo FL begins Thursday, February 23 and runs through Sunday the 26th.  Dixieland RV Park, located along U.S. Route 301 in Waldo, FL will host the festival, which will feature national and regional bands and have a strong leaning toward gospel music.All campsites have full hookups and cost $25.00/night.

The Lineup

The Roys, Lee and Elaine along with their fine young band, have just been added to national bands The Little Roy and Lizzy Show and The Gary Waldrep Band. Regional and local bands also appearing are the always popular Wilson Family Band from Georgia as well as Florida bands like Hwy 41 South, The Stevens Family Band, Generations Band, The Old Time Way, and Ernie Evans and the Florida State Band. A qualifying event for the Florida State Bluegrass contests to be held at Perry in April will also take place.  

The Little Roy and Lizzy Show
 Little Roy Lewis has been a recognized performer and personality in bluegrass music and bluegrass gospel for more than fifty years. A consummate entertainer with the famed Lewis Family, he now tours with his protege Lizzy Long and a strong support band dispensing the same kind of humor and musical virtuosity with undiminished energy Little Roy's fans expect. Lizzy has consistently grown into the mix, coping with Little Roy's ungovernable spirit while becoming a warm and engaging performer in her own right. Her voice has consistently improved in both range and warmth while her performance on several instruments helps carry the band. This group never fails to entertain and amuse.

Lizzy Long
  
Little Roy Lewis

The Gary Waldrep Band

Gary Waldrep, from the sand hills region of Alabama, is a seasoned performer well known to Florida audiences. His band, featuring Mindy Rakestraw on vocals and guitar, always offers first rate gospel and bluegrass music. Waldrep is a fine banjo player in both three finger style and the more old-fashioned but popular clawhammer style.  We haven't seen this fine group in several years and are looking forward to getting back together with them.

Gary Waldrep
  
The Roys

 Lee and Elaine Roy are newcomers to the bluegrass scene, but not newcomers to making music, having pretty deep roots in country music, too. A brother/sister duo, they have worked hard and made significant progress in the two or three years they've been out. They feature good original songs written by themselves as well as carefully selected covers. They've surrounded themselves with a hot young band that allows them to shine the way they want to be seen and heard. Be prepared for a very pleasant surprise.

The Wilson Family Band

The Wilson Family Band, from Folkston, GA, have become favorites and then friends of ours. Watching Clint and Katie grow up and becoming friends with Robert and Melissa have been among the many joys bluegrass music has brought into our lives. Clint's recent marriage to Kalyn Hall felt like one two of our own getting hitched.  As the kids go out on their own, the band will, inevitably, be heard less frequently, which is both a good thing and a loss. Regardless, this band is a pleasure to watch and to listen to, not just as a cute family band, but as first rate bluegrass/gospel band that introduces new music and finds new ways to sing familiar songs.

Katie Wilson
 
Hwy 41 South

 
Generations Band

The Old Time Way
  
The Stevens Family

The Stevens Family will be singing and running sound as well.

Ernie Evans & the Florida State Band
Ernie Evans

 Deb Evans
 
Ernie Evans & the Florida Bluegrass Express will be performing one set. Ernie, and his wife Deb, are well known in North Florida. Ernie is known as a promoter of events, a performer in his own bands as well as touring national bands, and, more recently, he and Deb through Evans Media have been active in local FM and satellite radio. They are the promoters of this event. Greg and Michelle Griffith are the new owner/operators of Dixieland RV Park.

How to Get to Dixieland RV Park


Come on  out to Dixieland RV Park on the weekend of February 23 - 26 for a good weekend of bluegrass and bluegrass gospel music. See you there.

1 comment:

  1. Ted, Thanks for the info. on the Waldo festival. I kept going around in circles looking for the festval on google.
    Hope to see you there.

    ReplyDelete