preview: Revival Fest in Savannah on Saturday, 9/30

There’s something magical about Revival Fest, which takes place on 9/30 on stages inside and outside the old paint shops at the Georgia State Railroad Museum. (For years, the complex was just called “The Roundhouse” but there is much more to the property than just the roundhouse itself.)

MusicFile Productions, which produces Savannah Stopover, launched Revival Fest in 2013 but took a break in 2016. The event has come back with a vengeance this year — and a killer lineup.

From Josh Peacock’s Revival Fest, an all-Southern celebration, returns to Georgia State Railroad Museum in this week’s Do Savannah:

The single-day festival, which focuses on a showcase of Southern-infused vintage music complemented by bourbon, beer, cocktails and food, will once again take over the the grounds at the historic Georgia State Railroad Museum in Savannah.

In the past three iterations, a host of great acts have shared the festival’s two stages. Those Darlins, Sturgill Simpson, Margo Price, Southern Culture on the Skids, Futurebirds and Roadkill Ghost Choir are just a few of the great bands to play.

This year, the lineup continues the festival’s ethos, with rock, country, blues and soul. New lineup additions include more funk and even a celebration of Gullah culture.

From Anna Chandler’s preview of headliner Blitzen Trapper in Revival Fest returns; Savannah’s Lowcountry hoedown brings bands, booze, and bites in this week’s Connect Savannah:

Portland’s own Blitzen Trapper returns to Savannah. Music File Productions has previously brought the beloved folk-rock five-piece to town to perform a one-off show at The Jinx and headline Savannah Stopover Music Festival in 2016.

The band has released eight studio albums via Lidkercow Ltd., Sub Pop, and Vagrant and three live albums. In 2017, Blitzen Trapper will release Wild and Reckless, the anticipated follow-up to 2015’s All Across This Land.

From my Unplugged column in this week’s Do: “As someone who attends a lot of shows around town, I can say unequivocally that those festivals presented three of the best individual days of live music that I have experienced in Savannah.”

And the cost for general admission is just $34.50, with free admission for children 10 and under.

The music kicks off at 2:00 with a very short set by the Sweet Thunder Strolling Band followed by Savannah blues stalwarts Bottles & Cans, and performances go almost nonstop till 11. Here’s the order:

  • Bottles & Cans, Savannah
  • Caleb Caudle, Winston-Salem, N.C.
  • Ranky Tanky, Charleston, S.C.
  • The Train Wrecks, Savannah
  • Cale Tyson, Cleburne, Texas
  • Blackfoot Gypsies, Nashville
  • Hardy & The Hardknocks, Athens
  • Big Sam’s Funky Nation, New Orleans
  • Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics, Atlanta
  • Blitzen Trapper, Portland, Ore.

For general info, check out the festival FAQ. I’ll see a lot of you Saturday

The paint shops at the Georgia State Railroad Museum at the 2014 Revival Fest