Written by Ashley Feller
Photos by Tom Wickstrom
Grab your friends, family, and prepare yourselves for a one of a kind experience at the 4th Annual Suwannee Roots Revival at Spirit of the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, October 10-13, 2019. In its fourth year Roots Revival has beautifully bloomed into an unforgettably fun, relaxing, and music filled weekend remarkably suited for those who love all forms of Americana music. There is a little something for folks of all ages and it is a great first timer’s festival due to its relaxed nature and the friendliness of all who support the event. Roots Revival is a picker’s dream, a dancer’s fantasy and any music lover’s delight. Pack your camping essentials and be ready for pure magic at Suwannee Roots Revival.
Front Country
The lineup showcases the best in both Americana and Bluegrass music. There are legends such as Del MCoury and Sam Bush headlining in addition to several rising stars in the Americana community. It is especially exciting to see the return of Front Country who nearly shook the trees with their performance at Suwannee a couple of years ago. One of the best qualities about this lineup is that there is a plethora of music to choose from to see on multiple stages. The full lineup is available on the festival website.
For those who have never been to Roots Revival or Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, it’s best to understand that the festival essentially takes places on a camping resort. Spirit of the Suwannee has been home to numerous music events for over twenty places and is a decadent slice of heaven. The park spanned several hundred acres but the festival is central to all the amenities and easy to navigate. There are upgraded campsites as well as RV sites available through the park office. Primitive camping is included with festival tickets and there are plenty of places to camp in the park. One of the best parts of camping at SOSMP is witnessing the campers expressing themselves by constructing elaborately decorated campsites throughout the camping area. Some might prefer the term “Glamping”. Spirit of the Suwannee includes laundry facilities, plenty of bathhouses with restrooms, the restaurant and bar known as SOS Cafe, a country store, canoe livery, and golf cart rental.
This festival is great for families who enjoy a multitude of activities. There is a kid’s tent which hosts activities for the little ones throughout the day. There is morning yoga, and also many different food and craft vendors to explore. Roots Revival is also the perfect place for professional pickers and hobbyists to come together and pick till their heart’s content under the majestic live oak trees. Craving a swim? Be sure to take a dip in the iconic Suwannee River which flows in the park. There are two official campsites which can be found on the map which invite musicians to gather there to play music off the cuff just about any time of the day. The first is The Bill Monroe Shrine hosted by Quartermooon, and another is Slopryland which is hosted by SloppyJoe from Wisconsin. Both bands have long traditions of facilitating a space for musicians to enjoy themselves and play music together casually. Its true, those who come to listen will say, “The music heard in the campsites is on par with the music heard on any of the stages”.
Currently “Steal your Deal” weekend tickets are available on Suwanneerootsrevival.com for a limited time before increasing to gate prices. There are discount tickets available for students and military with proper identification. Kids twelve years old and under are admitted for free. More details on tickets can be found on Suwannee Roots Revival website or by calling the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park’s office. Gather your friends and family, pack your camping gear and instruments and join us for a memorable weekend at The 4th Annual Suwannee Roots Revival.
