true Tracy Block <p>Music fests are all about what you make of them. From exploring new tunes to expanding your crew, these blessed wonders are man’s gift of friendship and music. Way down upon the Suwannee River, Bear Creek Music Fest unfolded from November 12 through November 15. Fantastic funk, jamming jazz and seductive soul took over the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, where campers were greeted by warm sunshine each day and gathered by individual campfires under an open sky lit with stars by night. The closer to the 2009 fest season, Bear Creek upheld it’s stellar reputation, proving a mid-fall Florida fest can most certainly keep up with the best of ‘em.</p> <h2>Intimate Opening Night</h2> <p>If you’ve been to the Spirit of the Suwannee, it’s easy to note that the beauty of this park is it’s intimate setting. Beginning Thursday night, the early birds caught prime camping spots, cracked open a few brews and pitched their tents. As the sun set, a quaint cluster of Creekers made their way to the indoor Music Hall. Checkerboard floors and two parallel stages provided back-to-back sets, conveniently situated. Melbourne-based Brother Bean gathered local support from up and down the Florida coast, jamming out with a wide range of tracks with improvisational intervals and stunning lights. It seemed like the warmest welcome to Bear Creek, evoking just the right high off the music itself.</p> <p>Flipping the next set to the second stage soon after, Alex B and Lane Shaw mixed up a raw concoction, repping Pnuma so hard, festies were left wondering if their Saturday set could top it. Although the trio was down to a duo, it didn’t seem to matter. The ragers planted their feet and got twisted to some nasty electro beats. Following Thursday’s regular schedule were a handful of late-nights, including a set in the middle of a field, complete with strobelights, where everyone BYOB’d. DJ Craig from Tampa kept the energy on high, and while the temperatures declined, he dropped an arrangement of filthy dubstep and euphoric downtempo to keep bodies moving.</p> <p>In Bear Creek nature, it was no surprise when the cops busted the party and everyone scattered back to their camps for some after-hours fun of their own. Logs of firewood made their way down to the sites, as campfires ignited into the dark distance. Night one’s welcome set a sweet and inviting tone for some honey-coated Bear Creek adventures.</p> <h2>Funky Friday</h2> <p>Day two brought in most of the stragglers from the working world. Campsites were fully erected and the woods that stood so bare just one day earlier were filled with laughter, hugs and plenty of chugs. Some stayed up to watch the sunrise over the water, while others were caught taking early-afternoon naps on hammocks. Another beautiful day brought tons of music, including an afternoon set by Orlando’s Shak Nasti, a funky threesome with sexy guitar riffs, funked out basslines and steady, rhythmic drumming – perfect for hula hoopers and Frisbee throwers alike.</p> <p>As night approached, the Purple Hat Circus Tent was the place to be. Telepath’s progressive, worldly sounds echoed throughout, drawing followers and new listeners. Middle Eastern, dub and earthy blends got the tent grooving, matching the known presence of Curt’s (the bass player) massive afro. Next up, Adam Deitch’s brainchild, Break Science, dosed the crowd with mix tape flavor. Trip-hop, drum and bass and breakbeats were laid like thick gravy. Deitch’s drum patterns were like a mechanical monster, it was hard to believe the control and focus this rhythmic master encompassed. A Tribe Called Quest covers, along with Chaka Demus &amp; Pliers’ “Murder She Wrote” and Fugees’ “Fu-Gee-La,” created a praiseworthy dance party that was in full effect.</p> <p>A hard act to follow, anticipated 10-year-old Lotus slapped on that electro-rock recipe, the five-piece drawing fist pumps and cheers from the sea of scenesters. Although Lotus’ set was less than two hours, it was easy to get lost in the great abyss of flickering lights and surreal soundscapes. It was Lettuce who gave the headlining show of the night, with Deitch returning on drums along with a mind-blowing horn experience and some of the crunchiest soultronic leaves that still linger days later. The Lettuce experience is straight up groovy, with obvious influences from the ‘60s, James Brown and P-Funk sounds alive and well. Oh, did Lettuce bring the Royal Family fiesta – indeed they did. They bring the kind of funk that makes reality take a backseat to the moment, the ideal setup for a weekend of the tastiest music.</p> <h2>Halfway, But Still Tons Left to Play</h2> <p>After two days of dancing ‘til our feet were numb, those of us who made homes near the Campground Stage were treated to a backyard street party. The dogs were on the grill while the Soular System gathered the foot traffic. Rev. Desmond D’Angelo, A.K.A. The Voice of Treason poured it on thick, with his deep, raspy feel-good vocals. An easy highlight of Saturday was Soular System’s rendition of the <em>Ghost Busters</em> theme, D’Angelo’s “I ain’t afraid of no ghost,” still ringing through the moss-clad trees. Not just a dance party, Soular System attracted the first swarm of costumes, since day three encouraged loads of dress-up.</p> <p>It was only 5 p.m. when Garage A Trois completely destroyed every jazz rule in the book, presenting an experimental treat for the most discerning of music fanatics. Gaining new appreciation for the integration of vibes into sound, it was both Mike Dillon (vibes) and Marco Benevento (keys) who melodically stimulated this experience. The set was as suspenseful as a murder mystery or horror movie, bewildered by the techniques and talent, listeners were on their tiptoes craving the next note. Combos of dark and eerie sounds melted the crowd. Britain’s New Mastersounds later tore the roof off the park, with a magnetic force so strong, you couldn’t help but stay away from the rail.</p> <p>Then, The Benevento Russo Duo drew fans back to the Music Hall, for some insulated style, featuring two ridiculously talented musicians, Marco Benevento on the keys (which blinked with colored lights) and Joe Russo on the drums (tapping with ageless chops). It was Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe that attracted the late-night funk-and-jam heads. The seven-piece caused an uproar of flailing movements with “Shake It Out,” and a tribute to the late, great, legendary King of Pop Michael Jackson with a freaky “Thriller” and a bona fide “PYT (Pretty Young Thing).” It was easily in the ‘40s outside the tent, but Karl Denson’s set brought on escalated heart rates and rosey-red cheeks, leaving everyone with an earful <em>and</em> a workout.</p> <h2>Soulong, Farewell</h2> <p>As the Bear Creek crew arose for one last hoorah, those who got a head start were treated to the Brock Butler (Perpetual Groove) solo set beginning around 11 a.m. The Sunday Brunch set was an acoustic and heartfelt crooner. Zach Deputy, who had a half-dozen scheduled sets throughout Bear Creek – yes, the one-man show is a beast of a musician – hit the Campground Stage for his final performance. Outfitted in blue sequenced pants, this soulful teddy bear poured out everything he had. Human beatboxing, synths, beats and guitars are all customized by Deputy himself – his creative process is just as intriguing as his show. Deputy filled the streets, and as the lake reflected behind him, one Creek kid was hoisted in the air and crowd surfed to the deep, touching sounds. Sure, you’d think it to be a bit strange to do such a thing at this particular time and place, but when in the Suwannee…</p> <p>Things got emotional as the afternoon carried on. DubConscious, a dub/reggae collective, sent love with their last set. The band is parting ways after seven groundbreaking years of social and political activism through music. The beachy beats brought everyone to their feet, and knowing this was their pronounced last show made it a true pleasure to be a part of it. The positive vibes returned as NoLa’s Galactic returned for their second set to the main ampitheatre, encouraging friends to “shake it like a saltshaker” as horns blared. It truly felt like a Mardi Gras sendoff, and this Rebirth Brass Band-infused clan spat rhymes, kicking an old-meets-new school party of epic proportions. Ivan Neviille’s Dumpstaphunk kept that Big Easy sweetness right where it needed to be. With funk so deep it could go on for days, Neville’s boys made you want to stay at Bear Creek for another four days.</p> <p>From start to finish, Bear Creek really was the most down-to-earth, friendly fest of the season. From the grounds to the sounds, it’s no surprise festies are already planning for next year’s trip back to the land of funk and soul.</p> 2009-11-18T07:30:04-08:00 2009-11-18T07:20:11-08:00 Bear Creek Music and Arts Festival true 568 left Crowd surfing Bear Creek. image/jpeg Rick Myers Crowdsurfer.jpg 379696 false false published true Bear Creek 2010-02-08T09:20:02-08:00 true 7