Headstash

Headstash On The Road: Wanee Day 3

The last day of Wanee brought with it torrential downpours and a sense of sadness that the festival was drawing to an end. After spending the morning leisurely hanging with friends at my campsite, I ventured out to see Leftover Salmon at the Amphitheater Stage.

Luckily, the rain held off for the duration of the show giving concertgoers a chance to get down and dirty before the afternoon thunderstorm ensued. The pioneers of jam-grass threw down what ended up being one of my favorite sets of the weekend.

A tasty blend of bluegrass, funk, Cajun and jazz, the two-decade old band played flawlessly with highlights including crowd-favorite “Highway.” Mandolin player Drew Emmitt was on fire and the amphitheater pit turned into a full on, no holds barred hoedown.

There really could not have been a better venue for this spectacular show. Minutes after Leftover Salmon ended, Mother Nature showed her fury and most attendees retreated back to their campsites for the afternoon.

Some of the best moments of my life have been spent bullshitting at campsites at the SOSMP. Memories made at the tents with friends old and new will not soon be forgotten and Wanee in particular attracts some of the best people in existence.

Bursting at the seams with Southern hospitality, music enthusiasts young and old unite for the weekend and brotherly love flows through the air like lava.

Bursting at the seams with Southern hospitality, music enthusiasts young and old unite for the weekend and brotherly love flows through the air like lava.

Wanee is a humbling festival for the new-age music lover. I typically consider myself reasonably seasoned in this scene that we all know and love, however at Wanee, being under 30 makes me a total noob compared to the people my dad’s age who have literally seen Phil Lesh and Bob Weir hundreds of times.

The pesky weather delayed the much anticipated Gov’t Mule set for nearly an hour and did not totally subside until long after their set. But Warren and the boys crushed it as the rain came down.

Furthur played a second set on Saturday that blew the day prior out of the water. Old and new-school Deadheads filled the entire Peach Stage field and eventually the rain showed mercy just in time for a killer sunset backdrop beside the stage. By Saturday afternoon, the fest was absolutely packed with an estimated 15,000 in attendance.

Furthur had clearly been saving the heat for their closing set and busted out favorites such as “Sugar Magnolia” and “Shakedown Street.” It was one of the best dance parties of the weekend. Lesh and Weir are tighter than ever and when “Shakedown Street” led into a “Viola Lee Blues > Bertha > Viola Lee Blues” sandwich, the crowd went bonkers. An encore of “U.S. Blues” made for a lot of happy hearts and a truly astonishing set.

As the night grew darker, the temperature dropped and Saturday night turned into one of those perfect, cool Florida spring nights.

For their final set of the weekend, it was apparent The Allman Brothers Band were also saving the heat for the closing night. Gregg Allman seemed to be in great spirits and feeling sprightly and the entire festival rejoiced.

Derek Trucks contributed to some pure, unadulterated rock and roll. Quadruple dueling guitars by some of the best in the biz – it was a great moment.

Wanee 2012 was a truly spectacular weekend at the SOSMP, where Southern hospitality, incredible music and great vibes prevail. It is a great reminder that true rock and roll will never die.

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Read Day 1 and Day 2 recaps. For more information on Wanee, check out Wanee's official website.