Townesfest and Gramfest in Gainesville • MUSICFESTNEWS

Townesfest and Gramfest in Gainesville

On successive weekends, the Heartwood Soundstage hosted festivals that honored two of the greats: Townes Van Zandt and Gram Parsons. Each festivals have been on the surface stage and have been free, however donations have been recommended to help the Bread of the Mighty Meals Financial institution and native radio station  Wombat, which helps native and space musicians. A various group of Florida-based artists offered covers of a few of the best-known songs from these catalogs.

The folks-oriented Van Zandt present was largely acoustic, with performances by Uncle Mosie, guitar grasp Sam Pacetti, and singer/songwriters Michael Claytor, Ricky Kendall,  Quincy Flint, Jordan Foley, and Hannah Harber.  Quartermoon and the Entrance Porch Backsteppers carried out at each exhibits. Townesfest included some positive covers of a few of his legendary songs: “Pancho and Lefty,” “If I Needed You,” “Waiting Around to Die,” “I’ll Be Here in the Morning,” ” To Reside is To Fly,” and “Tecumseh Valley” and a number of other extra obscure songs, together with “Snowing on Raton” and the soul-crushing “Marie.”

The subsequent weekend gave country-rock innovator Gram Parsons his due. The Mark Miale Band, the Sofa Messiahs with Ric Kaestner, blues participant Barry Sides, the Exhausting Luck Society, and the Shambles and others all tuned into the late ’60s/early ’70s country-rock Parsons catalog: “Hickory Wind,” “Return of the Grievous Angel,” “Oooh Las Vegas,” “Sin City,” and “Still Feeling Blue.” A couple of Byrds numbers, together with “Mr. Spaceman” and “”You Ain’t Going Nowhere” have been interspersed with some authentic tunes.

Heartwood has change into a sought-after venue, internet hosting all genres of music and emphasizing giving again to the neighborhood. A former recording studio, each the indoor and out of doors levels have wonderful acoustics. Heartwood serves as one of many hosts for the Fest, a punk-rock competition, and frequently have Latin music, Southern rock bands, and progressive jazz in addition to acoustic exhibits resembling Tommy Emmanuel, Richard Smith, Roy Guide Binder and Mary Gauthier. Control their calendar for future exhibits.