The Alex City Jazz Fest, held in downtown Alexander City and at the Lake Martin Amphitheater, announces its dates and the performing acts for 2008. As usual, it is loaded with talent:
Friday, June 13, downtown Alex City:
6:00 PM - Coolbone Brass Band - they are a true marching New Orleans style "Brass Band." Don't confuse them with your Uncle Leo in his ban-lon playing a snappy ditty on the oboe. These guys march, play, dance, get among the crowd and entertain the whole time. Don't be late, I hear they are going to do something different on their opening song.
7:30 PM - Amanda Shaw - she is a 17 year old fiddle phenom from Louisiana. This is a great example of how the Jazz Fest seeks to bring you a wide variety of different music. I think they tried to book her last year and are glad to snag her now.
9:30 PM - Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk - they are fresh off a date at the other Jazz Fest (New Orleans). If you have never heard of the Neville Brothers and therefore Ivan, then you deserve to miss this rare treat. Most people have to pay $50 a head to hear any Neville; you can hear them for free. If you don't have the good sense to show up, nothing I say or link to here will change that.
Saturday, June 14, 2008 - Lake Martin Amphitheater
6:30 PM - Randall Bramblett - he has toured and played with folks like Greg Allman, Widespread Panic, Traffic, and a little band called the Grateful Dead. Bill Berry of R.E.M. says he's "the most talented and prolific song writer I have the privilege of knowing."
8:00 PM - Zac Brown Band - I don't know much about him but he seems to be a fun "southern" style act that gets the crowd rolling. Check out his web site.
10:00 PM - Joe Bonamassa - I am really excited about this one. He opened for B.B. King 
when he was 12 years old. I hear him and his music played all the time on Sirius Satellite Radio's Blues Channel 74. He is all over various magazine covers, and is a pretty big deal in blues & guitar circles. They have been trying to book this guy for a couple of years now. He is good. He is to 2008 as Derek Trucks was to 2006 - that is, the guy that your friend will see on the t-shirt a year from now and will say "Bonamassa played for free on Lake Martin? Please tell me you went."
More About the Alex City Jazz Fest:
The Jazz Fest is a FREE BYOB event click here for more
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