Celebrate the arrival of spring April 3-4 at Cherokee Farms in LaFayette with the inaugural Keel Family Function, presented by Eye Dawg Productions.

The weekend of camping and a potpourri of musical talents will be the first full-scale concert on the farm for 2009. Pre-ticket sales have been above expectations and could draw one of the largest crowds Cherokee Farms has seen for a concert in several years. Themed camping sites inspired by attendees will be one of several ways the crowd will participate. There will be nearly 20 hours of music, spread over two stages and two days, not including any drum circles or late-night acoustic sessions.

The Function will be led by Atlanta’s Col. Bruce Hampton, who will perform with former Aquarium Rescue Unit bandmates Jeff Mosier on banjo and Jeff Sipe on the drums, Ike Stubblefield on the Hammond B-3 and Grant Green Jr. on guitar.

He is joined by the namesake for this event, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Blueground Undergrass, Laura Reed and Deep Pocket, the Ralph Roddenbery Band, New Orleans’ Juice, Grayson Capps and Friends, Papa Mali with Jeff Sipe, Stop Drop and Roll, Donna Hopkins, St. Francis (featuring former members of Moonshine Still), Caroline Pond (Snake Oil Medicine Show), David Via, The LowDown ThrowDown, Green Hit, The Captains of Industry, and some surprise special guests. Eye Dawg will also feature an all-inclusive songwriter showcase of reggae and bluegrass including the Bloody Mary Morning Bluegrass Jam.

Tickets for Friday and Saturday are $40 advance and $50 at the gate; Saturday only, $30 advance and $40 at the gate. Gate prices are cash only. On Thursday, April 2, the gates are open from 6 p.m. to midnight; Friday, April 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.; and Saturday, April 4, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Kids 12 and under will be admitted free. Camping is included in the cost of the ticket; $10 additional if you wish to come in on Thursday night. Food vendors, including vegetarian, grilled/fried seafood, barbecue and crafts/clothing vendors will be on hand, and an ATM will be on site. Advance tickets are available online at http://www.TicketAlternative.com/Venues/302.aspx.

The music starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m. Saturday. No dogs please. For complete information, visit www.keelfamilyfunction.com.

CLICK ON THESE LINKS

---

FEEDBACK: Send a

letter to the editor

SUBSCRIBE: Get the

Walker County Messenger each Wednesday and Friday

GO

BACK: Return to our homepage

---