Monday's Music Moves Me: Voice of the Wetlands

elcome to my rather late Monday's Music Moves Me post. I turned off the real world and went on a journey of three days of fantastic music, delicious food, and some other adventures. Alligators, fishing, and several hundred miles of driving.



Friday night I really wanted to see The Trio featuring the legendary bassist George Porter Jr with one of the best jazz drummers from New Orleans Johnny Vidacovich and guitarist Brian Stoltz.

They did not disappoint. The "Guitar Fight" that followed was a joy to watch. I discovered some new to me musicians like Jonathon Boogie Long. Here he is at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2013..

Johnny Sansone also known as Jumpin' Johnny is a multi-skilled musician. Singer-Songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and accordion player. I really enjoy his songs. He was slanted to the side stage. He did join in with other artists such as Tab Benoit on the big stage. He played a set that rocked more and his energy level was on high.

Johnny with Tab Benoit and Mike Zito below..

Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and the Golden Eagles followed on the side stage..



Of course Tab Benoit..."Medicine"

I could go on and on. Tab headlined Saturday but he played the late night ramble on both Friday and Saturday. Joined many others such as Papa John Gros and Louisiana's LeRoux. The later also featured Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie fame.

Like I said Music was Turned on.

Voice of the Wetlands Festival

This is where I went last weekend. Last Friday was pretty hectic preparing for the trip. Getting the oil change before the road trip, getting cash, and other errands. Saturday morning we got moving. An early start but not as early as I hoped. Yesc the Festival started Friday but I had work, my daughter had school and rehearsal so we knew Saturday was the day.

Why go? Here is the line up..

2015 Festival Line Up

FRIDAY NIGHT 10/9/2015

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
MIA BORDERS

7:45 pm – 9:00 pm
SOUTHERN CROSS w/ RANDY JACKSON OF ZEBRA

9:30 pm – 11:00 pm
FRIDAY NIGHT GUITAR FIGHTS

Tab Benoit

Mason Ruffner

Lightning Malcom

Randy Jackson

Albert Castiglia

Josh Garret

Tyrone Vaughan

Bart Walker

SATURDAY 10/10/2015

1:00 pm – 2:15 pm
JOSH GARRETT BAND

2:45 pm – 4:00 pm
MASON RUFFNER

4:30 pm – 5:45 pm
HONEY ISLAND SWAMP BAND

6:15 pm – 7:30 pm
SAMANTHA FISH Feat. Albert Castiglia

8:00 pm – 9:15 pm
RAW OYSTER CULT

9:45 pm – 11:00 pm
TAB BENOIT

SUNDAY 10/11/2015

1:00 – 2:00 pm
HEATH LEDET BAND

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
LIGHTNING MALCOLM

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
MIKE ZITO & THE WHEEL Feat. Albert Castiglia

5:20 pm – 6:30 pm
ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
CHUBBY CARRIER & the Bayou Swamp Band

8:30 pm – 9:45 PM
VOW ALLSTARS

My goal was to get there early enough to see Mason Ruffner. I will date myself. The last time I saw him was in October of 1988 and he was the opening band for Jimmy Page on the Outrider Tour. Ruffner had also done some work with Bob Dylan.

I made it in time for that..



Next up was the Honey Island Swamp Band. Which is another band I dig based out New Orleans.
Here is a taste of that band performing "Cast the First Stone"..

Then there was Samantha Fish. I have featured her on one of my Battle of the Bands contests before. My daughter is starting to play the guitar and is taking voice lessons. So, I like to show her what girls can do! Besides the Top 40 and Country stuff.

Here is Samantha Fish and my daughter...




Here she is with her video for "Lay it Down"..















Raw Oyster Cult was awesome as well! They are band featuring former members of The Radiators.

Tab Benoit, the host of the Festival finished off the evening with his band! I've been guilty of making a trip to New Orleans just to see him!

Here is a taste of his Medicine!

Albert Castiglia made guest appearances with just about everyone. He was great on guitar and really brought the best out of Tab. Here is a picture of him and Samantha..



I went on a hike with my daughter and had a BBQ lunch on Sunday so we missed the first act, I had seen him open up for the North Mississippi All Stars.

Here she is sad that she didn't see any Alligators..



The festival is trying to save the wetlands so I thought she should see some of the Wetlands.

So our day of music started out with Mike Zito and the Wheel..

Yours truly with Mike after his set..




Next up was Mike's old band The Royal Southern Brotherhood. Zito would join them for a few songs as well! Here is their latest single..

Here is a picture of the group with Mike Zito..



Besides music they had a petting zoo...



Face Painting..



Bouncy houses..



Here is a picture of the kids area at night..



Chubby Carrier provides some Zydeco Swamp Music!



I also caught Tab on the other stage performing with a Police Tribute band called The Fuzz..Tab Benoit on drums!



The festival ended with the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars which included Anders Osborne..



Here is another picture of the group..



Here is a video of the group from January..making a good gumbo!

It was a great festival! Free no cover! Kind of like a family friendly jazzfest with no hassles. If you use my pictures please give me credit. If you want to learn more about the charity and festival, Voice of the Wetlands check out the link here.

I'll be back soon with a new post!