PREVIEW | Top 5 Drummers & Artists at Large | Bear Creek Music & Art Festival 2014 | Suwannee Music Park | Live Oak, Florida

Bear Creek Music & Art Festival :: Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park :: Live Oak, Florida :: 11.13 – 16.2014

Words By: Alex Bayer

Top 5 drummers & Artists-at-Large | Bear Creek 2014

Adam Deitch

In my opinion, Deitch is one of the most badass drummers in music today. Since the early ’90s this guy has been all over the place as a drummer, and a producer. He is most known for his drumming in Lettuce and Break Science but has drummed and produced for artist in many genres: funk, electronic, rock, hip-hop, dubstep, rap and reggae. Deitch has his own record label, Royal Family Records for which he has produced music for Lettuce, Break Science, Talib Kweli, 50 Cent, Xzibit, Pharoahe Monche, Pretty Lights, John Scofield and Matisyahu.

“Enjoy yourself, incorporate everything you can. We play music to bring people up…. you feel good, they feel good. That’s what music is for.”

Alan Evans

Soulive’s drummer, Alan Evans has been drumming and touring for over 25 years. Not only has he helped create Soulive, he also drums for Playonbrother. Other bands hes played in were Moon Boot Lover and Greyboy All-Stars. It is somewhat rare for a drummer to be able to sing and play at the same time but the drummer from Buffalo New York has mastered it. He is a very good vocalist might I add. Some of Evans’ musical influences include Cream, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and AC/DC and has toured with popular bands Dave Matthews Band and the Rolling Stones. He plays in a few different styles drumming for funk, acid-jazz and soul/blues bands.

Kris Myers

Umphrey’s McGee drummer Kris Myers is also one of the top-notch drummers in the game, who actually idolizes Adam Deitch. Another amazing drummer who can sing very well. He might be my favorite vocalist in Umphrey’s. While attending Elmhurst College in Illinois he joined their jazz band. In 2001 Myers received a master’s degree in jazz drumming from DePaul University and in 2003 began drumming for Umphrey’s McGee. He has toured with UM all over the US, parts fo the UK, South America and Amsterdam. Myers has been on stage with many very talented musicians from bands including The Grateful Dead, Phish, Primus, the Allman Brothers, and Victor Wooten.

Bernard “Pretty” Purdie

This old time funk/R&B drummer couldn’t stop playing if he wanted to. The 75 year old legend moved from his hometown of Elkton, Maryland to the Big Apple in 1961. He began performing on the streets in NYC and played the Turf Club on Broadway. Purdie is credited with recording with James Brown and the Beatles In Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Purdie is one of the first drummers to master the 16th note hi-hat techniques and has created a few styles such as the Purdie Suffle, and the Half-Time Purdie Shuffle. He has out-lived people who he has influenced and shows no signs of stopping any time soon.

 
Nikki Glaspie

Dumpstaphunk and The Nth Power drummer Nikki Glaspie is one of the greatest female drummers. And she has a lovely singing voice! She combines style of all types of funk and rock beats from the Ohio Players, the Meters, James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone and Parliament Funkadelic. Glaspie throws it down with the best of them so prepared for a party when Glaspie sits behind her drumset. Not that we aren’t already way too excited for the party to start on Thursday November 13th.

..:: Notable Artists at Large ::..

 
Oteil Burbridge

You may know Oteil Burbridge as the bassist for the Allman Brothers: which he’s been playing for since 1997. He has also worked in collaborations with members of Phish, Phil Lesh and Friends and started the band Aquarium Team Recque Unit. One of the very unique skills that Oteil has is the ability to scat-sing along with slappin’ the bass during improv. He has appeared on various albums for multiple bands since 1989 including the Tedeski Trucks Band, Victor Wooten, Oteil and the Peachmakers, and Gov’t Mule. Burbridge will certainly be on stage many times during the festival sitting in with friends new and old.

 
Pee Wee Ellis
 

Alfred “Pee Wee” Ellis was born not too far from the Spirit of the Suwannee in Bradenton, Florida. Another old time jazz/blues player, Pee Wee has been playing the saxophone for nearly 60 years. Pee Wee played along with James Brown appearing on many recordings and help compose and arrange music for Van Morrison. He plays a variety of different instruments including tenor, soprano, baritone and alto sax, as well as keyboards and flute. Currently Pee Wee Ellis tours with the Ginger Baker Jazz Confusion.

Roosevelt Collier

Otherwise known as “The Dr.”, screeches on his sacred steel guitar. Collier was born in Miami, FL and has been collaborating with tons of awesome artists through the years. I suspect he might be up on stage with multiple artists at Bear Creek including Dumpstaphunk, Break Science, The New Mastersounds and Umphrey’s McGee. He has also sat in with the Allmans Brothers Band, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Lotus, The Funky Meters, and pretty much any awesome band in the festival circuit. This guy is sure to bring a giant smile to your face and might even blow your mind a bit.

George Porter Jr

66 year old George Porter Jr. began his bass playing career with The Meters in 1965. Listening to Duke Ellington with his father during his childhood and receiving bass lessons from Poppi Francis served as a big inspiration for George Porter Jr. In 1975, he toured with the Meters as the opening band for the Rolling Stones. Since the Meters hiatus from 1979-1987, Porter Jr. has reignited with The Funky Meters who still tour today. He is another classical funk legend that will be at Bear Creek.

 
Brandon Niederauer

Many of you probably havent heard of this 11-year-old guitarist. That’s right; he’s eleven…maybe ten. Anyway this kid is bound to be the real deal as he has been shredding on songs from the Allman Brother and Jimi Hendrix. It’s pretty unbelievable to see a dude that young appreciate music from the classis rock era let alone play it quite masterfully on guitar. He plays guitar way better than me and he’s less than half my age! Don’t miss out on Brandon’s soloing when takes the stage at Bear Creek and prepare to be mind-blown.

..:: Get you tickets HERE and start planning your weekend with the daily artist schedule HERE ::..