MusicProfile
10 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | DEC 2017
By Mike Manitta
acts, but the folks at hand really do try and stagger the times so if this
does occur, you can at least catch part of each act.
The music is always top notch, but noticeably what has evolved
the most is the area around the lake which is transformed into Spirit
Lake. It’s like a haunted forest that houses two stages and countless
interactive art exhibits as well as demonstrations and classes.
But really what makes Suwannee feel like home is the people.
The people in attendance, the artists, the people that run the place,
everyone seems to be in sync. With 20,000 or so attending, you really
don’t see people acting a fool like you might expect. Everyone is super
chill, you bump into someone they say “no problem,” instead of “what’s
your problem?” It’s a good reminder of how we should be treating each
other all the time. There’s a feeling of comradery that’s like no other.
The last I saw, I believe 16 people out of 20,000 were arrested, which is
amazing out of that number of people.
Going home should be a rejuvenating experience, a time to reflect
and take that deep breath and restore faith in yourself and your fellow
man. That’s the way I feel every time I get to visit Suwannee. I’ll be in a
better mood for the next 6 months. Just a short drive away, The Spirit of
the Suwannee Music Park hosts countless events throughout the year
and I strongly urge anyone that likes camping and music to visit this
place. Their web site is musicliveshere.com and you can check out all
they have to offer. As a friend coined it the best, “It’s the Happiest Place
on Earth!”
By Joy Davis
With the holiday season in full swing, it’s nice to take time and think
about what makes the holidays feel like the holidays. For most of us we
think of family, tradition, the sense of familiarity, reconnecting with old
friends and hopefully relaxing, and peace. Like going home. Being from
a large Italian family, mine was always accompanied by a healthy dose
of chaos and volume, but still, like going home.
It’s the same sense every time I get a chance to visit the Spirit of
. It’s that same feeling as going home,
better really, sorry Mom. There’s reuniting with old friends, that sense
of familiarity, there’s a soothing feeling of tranquility that comes along
with just stepping on the land. It’s peaceful and welcoming, like a deep
breath.
This year I was lucky enough to attend Suwannee Hulaween, it had
been far too long since I had gotten down there. Even though I arrived
at about 2am Thursday with 38 degree weather, I swear I was grinning
from ear to ear from then until I left the park Monday morning. The
place really does have a vibe like no other.
Hosted by The String Cheese Incident, this festival is packed with
more punch than you can almost handle. There’s jam bands, hip hop,
reggae, funk, rock, bluegrass, electronica, pretty much any genre
imaginable is represented. With the music starting at noon and going
until around 2am, followed by a silent disco til around 5am, it’s
your own damn fault if you don’t have a good time. With five stages
sprinkled throughout the park, you could really see the planning that’s
gone into this event and what it has evolved into over the past five
years. Inevitably, there’s going to be some overlapping of your favorite
Paddling out into 14 ft. waves is not for the faint of heart. Nerves are
at all-time high, and a pep talk from your dad helps to channel some
confidence that you are going to make it out past the break. As you
Going Home:
Suwannee Hulaween