by Joe Courter
Once again this year the Alachua Conservation Trust and the Civic Media Center are joining forces for an Oktoberfest celebration at the Prairie Creek Lodge. The event will be on Friday evening October 14th from 5:30pm until 10pm and beyond the good people from both organizations, as well as the food and liquid refreshment, we will have the added pleasure one of Florida’s best singer/songwriters, Sam Pacetti, who will be in concert at 8pm. Sam is a real treasure as a human being, a St Augustine Florida native who learned guitar style from the famed Gamble Rodgers as a young man, and has continued to grow and develop his talents, in recent years living in Virginia but now back in Florida and working on a new CD.
We’re hoping for a huge turnout; the Prairie Creek Lodge is an attraction in itself, a former timber company hunting lodge whose karma has switched 180 degrees with it (and its land) now part of the Alachua Conservation Trusts holdings. Located only 15 minutes from downtown, you get there going east on University Avenue, then onto Hawthorne Rd (SR20) to out past Prairie Creek and make a right on to CR 2082, then after 1.3 miles right onto CR234 ( the road that goes to Micanopy). Only .9 miles from getting on to 234 signs and a mailbox #7204 will have you turn right and you are there. The concert will be inside if it rains, but hopefully outside if the weather cooperates. A $15 minimum donation will get you food, drink, and the concert. Come hungry and ready for a good time.
In addition to Sam Pacetti at Prairie Creek Lodge on the 14th, the CMC has that bracketed by two outstanding shows with touring performers.
October 7th will be Randall Bramblett, a Georgia based performer whose career includes his band “Sea Level” to a lot of session work Top notch vocalist and songwriter, he is on a solo tour These words say a lot:
“Randall is the most talented and prolific songwriter I have the privilege of knowing.” —Bill Berry (R.E.M.)
“[He’s] one of Georgia’s musical treasures… Guaranteed to improve your day!” —Dave Schools (Widespread Panic)
“Randall is in my opinion the most gifted & talented southern singer-songwriter musicians of the past several decades.” —Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones, Allman Brothers)
The show will be $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Doors open at 8pm
With same price and time on October 21 will be the Gainesville stop on the Drenched Earth Tour featuring Chris Castle and the Womack Family Band. These outstanding Ohio based musicians featured great harmonies and powerful songwriting as they perform separately and together in a two set two hour show, one of the highlights of last years CMC lineup. They have a new CD out recorded at Levon Helm’s studio.
Friday the 28th will also be musical, and in a big way. It is the kickoff of the CMC participation in “The Fest”, during which the CMC is an official venue, with acoustic performers Friday, Saturday and Sunday. See performers and meet people from all over the country for just a $5 minimum donation each day.