Kofi Burbridge, Eric Krasno and Fred Wesley – photos by Phrazz

We didn’t want to let the pass without recounting the events that took place this past weekend at the Bear Creek Music Festival. The fest which took place at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida featured numerous standout performances filled with special guests and sit-ins. After an evening of music on Thursday, the Friday festivities showcased six stages of music beginning at noon and finishing after 3 a.m. Both Eric Krasno and Adam Deitch pulled multiple-band duties Friday, with each first performing with Chapter 2 (where they were joined by Kofi Burbridge, Mike Dillon and Fred Wesley). Then Deitch played a DJ set with Break Science and finally rejoined Krasno to close out the night with Lettuce, accompanied by Rashawn Ross and Skerik. Late night Friday also featured Bernie Worrell of P-Funk sitting in with 3rd Stone on a cover of the Talking Heads’ “Crosseyed and Painless.”

On Saturday, the Uncle Charles Stage was witness to some creative collaborations beginning with Worrell, Wesley and Galactic’s Stanton Moore sitting in with Papa Mali in the early afternoon. Kimock and Crazy Engine followed, with Roosevelt Collier adding lap steel to the final two songs. Galactic appeared next bolstered by Dillon’s percussion. Meanwhile, over at the Big IV Ampitheater Derek Trucks, Ivan Neville and Burbridge sat in with Lettuce and Wesley with joined the the New Mastersounds. Meanwhile, Soulive played the Purple Hat Circus Tent as the “Bear Creek Mystery Show.”

The festival finished Sunday with a second round of performances by Zach Deputy, Galactic, the New Mastersounds and Neville’s Dumpstaphunk. Deputy also sat in with Circus Curious on “Lovelight” and Neville and JJ Grey joined Galactic on vocals for “Hercules” and the Rolling Stone’s “Sympathy for the Devil,” respectively. Stillwood and Tree House All-Star Jam finale concluded the weekend fittingly with one last set of collaborative music.