Briefs

Swamp Meat 2

Date: Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28 with music starting at 4 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Venue: Pirate’s Cove, 6664 County Road 95 in Josephine, AL., www.swampmeat2.com

Tickets: $19.99 for single day pass and $34.99 for weekend pass. Tickets are available in WeMo at Highway 420 (7778 McKinley Ave.) and Satori Coffee House (5460 Old Shell Rd.) and on the E Sho at the Coffee Merchant Cafe (229 E. 20th Uptown, Suite 2 in Gulf Shores) and Pirate’s Cove.

Swamp Meat 2 plans to be the perfect pre- and post-party for the Spreadhead legions descending upon the ESho. The most accommodating aspect are the shuttles running to The Wharf and into Orange Beach before and after the show.

The festival starts on Saturday with a drum workshop from Jeff Sipe, a product of Shenandoah Conservatory of Music and the Berklee College of Music.

Secondhand Jive will follow with their smooth jazzy jams.

After Widespread, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge bring a set of eclectic bluegrass sure to have every foot stompin’.

Zambie Swamp Experience, a unique improvisational jam featuring D.J. Logic, Col. Bruce Hampton, Jeff Sipe, Larry Keel, Chris Spies, Sean Petterson and Dave Yoke will be a highlight.

Electronica will represent with Jimmy Illfinger and Friends along with Houston’s SDC Soundsystem.

Home Cooked gets Saturday started with the Highway 420 Beach Party. Eclectic Bluegrass and Electronica meet at this soiree as Larry Keel and D.J. Logic take the stage for a unique performance. Their brand of neo-’70s groove should quickly become the crowd favorite.

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge follow while Grayson Capps and the Stumpknockers will jam out for the late night crowd.

The festival concludes with Illfinger and Friends with SDC Soundsystem onstage again.

Flora-Bama Mullet Toss

featuring Rollin’ in the Hay, Jack Robertson, Alabama Big Earl, Adam Holt Band, Big Muddy, Jason Justice and Hung Jury, Cathy Pace, Jimmy Louis, J. Hawkins, Elaine Petty, Smokey Otis and Johnny Barbato and the Lucky Dogs

Date: April 27-29 with gates opening at 9 a.m.

Venue: Flora-Bama Lounge and Package, 17401 Perdido Key Drive, 850-492-0611, www.florabama.com

Tickets: $5 cover at the gate on Friday and Sunday, $10 cover at the gate on Saturday

The Flora-Bama, that sub-tropical institution situated on the Alabama/Florida line, is a tough old bird.

One Flora-Bama tradition that has also withstood the tests of time as well as hurricane force winds is the Mullet Toss. These three days of revelry and music have become a rite of passage for many on the Gulf Coast. The entertainment at this year’s Mullet Toss will be quite impressive.

Bad boys of bluegrass Rollin’ in the Hay are set to perform, a pleasant surprise to many fans as they recently announced their hiatus. Followers have found satisfaction with their off-shoot Runaway Coal Train, but there’s really no replacement. This local favorite will be playing their own brand of homespun Southern Rock infused with a little country.

One of the Mullet Toss highlights will be a performance from Big Earl. In the tradition of such legends as Unknown Hinson, Big Earl will be playing hits such as “Get Out of the Left Lane You Stupid Sumbitch,” “Insurance Companies Can Kiss My Ass” and “Shootin’ Crank Between My Toes.” This performance is a must-see for those in attendance. Donning a paper bag with a smiley face sketched on it and a trailer trash attitude usually found on Lott Rd., his acoustic picking and Hell-bent lyrics are sure to draw notice.

Anne McCue

Date: Sunday, April 29 5 p.m – 7 p.m. Grayson Capps will follow from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Venue: Callaghan’s, 916 Charleston St. 433-9374433

Cover: $5 at door for both

I know many of you are going to be at Jazz Fest or at Mullet Toss, but for those of you who are sticking around make sure to check out Australian rocker Anne McCue, who is currently touring with Lucinda Williams. She has also performed with The Pretenders, Emmylou Harris and Sarah McLachlan. Local fave Grayson Capps will finish out the night, and you can see them both for just $5.

BayFest cranking up

Though BayFest is six months away, the Mobile music festival is already gearing up. Mississippi-based ska masters StereoHype took first place at the recent BayFest Battle of the Bands, earning them a slot on one of the festival stages.

Taking on ska’s more impressive traditions such as dub beats and horns, StereoHype skillfully adds their own hard edge sound to the genre. This work ethic allowed them to steal the show and the prize. Before playing BayFest, they will be performing several dates including May 12 at Cell Block. Any local bands that didn’t get chance to participate in the BayFest Battle of the Bands still have the chance to participate in the festival.

Musical acts can find an Artist Proposal application at the BayFest Web site (www.bayfest.com). Chosen groups will have sound and lighting provided and will be required to play a set ranging from 45 minutes to one hour. They will be paid a $250 honorarium and will be able to sell their merch. The deadline for submitting an application is Friday, June 8, 2007.

Old school jams

It’s been a long time since the Port City has heard from Blues Old Stand. Over the years, this band (named after a one-store community between Auburn and Ozark) has collected a dedicated fan base with their funky Southern Rock sound. They released two independently released albums and successfully toured across the country. On May 18 at Monsoon’s, Blues Old Stand will be making a triumphant return to Mobile much to the pleasure of their fans. These guys take listeners back to the days when it was H.O.R.D.E. everyone was talking about, and Bonnaroo wasn’t a twinkle in a promoter’s eye.

Primates return

When Los Angeles-based band Sleepytime Gorilla Museum made their debut in Mobile, Cell Block was brimming with fans from across the Southeast. This band has such a cult following, people kept the phones hot at Cell Block inquiring about tickets. It was truly one of the most unforgettable shows to hit the Mobtown Underground in a long time.

With handcrafted instruments (such as the Piano Log and Viking Rowboat), costumes and painted faces, SGM performed a night of avant rock that can only be described as a mix of Pink Floyd and Nine Inch Nails. SGM will return to Cell Block June 9 after touring extensively in Europe. This will be a guaranteed one-of-a-kind experience that music lovers of all walks should enjoy.

Stephen Centanni is Lagniappe music editor. Contact him at scentanni@lagniappemobile.com.

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