The Will McLean Music Festival, held each year in March, is a celebration of Florida’s thriving population of songwriters and poets in the tradition of Will McLean. Musicians and audience gather for 3 days of performance, workshops and jams. The annual song writing contest finalists showcase their original songs about Florida. Original songs and spoken word carry on the tradition of Will McLean by telling the story of Florida both current and past through music and poetry.

Schedule of Events:

March 10, 2023:

Magnolia:

Festival Opening Remarks “This Land is Your Land”

11:50 a.m: Young Performers
12:00 p.m: Just Folks
12:30 p.m: The Sticky Strings
1:00 p.m: Chris Kastle
1:30 p.m: Too Many Smiths
2:00 p.m: Emmett Carlisle
2:30 p.m: Frank Lindamood
3:00 p.m: John Butler
3:30 p.m: In Good Company
4:00 p.m: Mike Mac
4:30 p.m: Lee Hunter and Joey Kerr
5:00 p.m: Carly Bak
5:30 p.m: John French Band
6:00 p.m: Shana Smith
6:30 p.m: Doug Spears
7:00 p.m: The Debbies
7:30 p.m: Reckless Saints
8:00 p.m: Patchwork
8:30 p.m: Jim Carrick and Charlie Simmons
9:00 p.m: 2 PM
9:45 p.m: Grant Peeples

Cypress:

Festival Opening Remarks “This Land is Your Land”
Dennis Devine

12:00 p.m: Lisa Thomas and Friends
12:30 p.m: Kim LeCouteur
1:00 p.m: Hannah’s Whirl
1:30 p.m: Chuck Hardwicke and The Hart Line Band
2:00 p.m: Peg and Em
2:30 p.m: Quincy Allen Flint
3:00 p.m: Holt and Cabe
3:30 p.m: Bill Metts
4:00 - 4:30 p.m: Songwriters Round:
Holt and Cabe
MaryBeth Campbell
Jane Fallon
Doug Spears
5:00 p.m: Ron and Bari
5:30 p.m: Rural Route 2
6:00 p.m: Sarah McCulloch
6:30 p.m: Paul Smithson
7:00 p.m: Lucky Mud
7:30 p.m: John Dickie IV with Collapsible B
8:00 p.m: Julian/Cherkinsky Orchestra
8:30 p.m: Open MIC

Azalea:

Festival Opening Remarks “This Land is Your Land”
Mel and Vinnie

12:00 p.m: Mel and Vinnie
12:30 p.m: Craig Daniel Hardin and Solesse
1:00 p.m: Aripeka
1:30 p.m: Mary Beth Campbell and Friends
2:00 p.m: Mike Quick
2:30 p.m: Bryan Rivers and Friends
3:00 p.m: Corey Hall
3:30 p.m: Tina Eno
4:00 p.m: Steve Compton
4:30 p.m: Bill and Eli Perras
5:00 p.m: Dennis Devine
5:30 p.m: Jerry Mincey and Tony Macaluso
6:00 p.m: Ashley Gang
6:30 p.m: Joe Mark
7:00 p.m: Back Porch Revival
7:30 p.m: Mike Worrall Band
8:00 p.m: The Florida Boys
8:30 - 10:00 p.m: Open MIC

Shooting Star Stage:

10:30 a.m: Opening Ceremony Rehearsal “This Land is Your Land”

2:00 - 2:30 p.m: Musical Saw Demonstration - Tim Martin

3:00 - 4:00 p.m: At Home Recording Studio Discussion - Franc Robert

4:00 - 5:00 p.m: Open Mic (Young Performers)

5:30 - 6:30 p.m: Young Song Writers Round:

Connor Jones
James Huston
Holt and Cabe
Alivia Hunter

6:30 p.m: Taco-self to the Nach-so Hum-Drum Annual Youth Song Collaboration Fiesta Kick-Of

Workshop 1:

3:00 - 4:30 p.m: Nature Coast Dulcimer Players: Mountain Dulcimer Jam Session

Slow Jam: 3 - 3:45 pm
Regular Jam: 3:45 - 4:30 pm

Old Time Gathering Schedule:

11:00 a.m: Workshop: Beginner/Advanced Beginner Mt Dulcimer
Sammye Johnson and Nature Coast Dulcimer Players

12:00 p.m: Workshop: Beginning Old Time Banjo
Ernie Williams/Clay Black/Tom Wilson

1:00 p.m: Old Time Jam - all instuments welcome - Joe D. (mentoring available)

2:00 p.m: Workshop: Easy Tennessee Clawhammer Tunes in “G” - Clay Black

3:00 p.m: Old Time Jam in “C” - all instruments welcome - Jenny James (mentoring available)

4:00 p.m: Banjo Pickin’ Girls - (Tamera Beisler - lead, Linda Pottberg, Jill Svoboda, Marg Chauvin, Linda Fackeldey, others)

5:00 p.m: Old Time Singing Circle - Rochelle Morris

March 11, 2023:

Magnolia:

10:00 a.m: Bryan Rivers and Friends
10:30 a.m: Keith Hope
11:00 a.m: Craig Daniel Hardin and Solesse
11:30 a.m: Rural Route 2
12:00 p.m: Bill Metts
12:30 p.m: Peter’s Road Swamp Blues Band
1:00 p.m: Jane Fallon
1:30 p.m: Grant Livingston
2:00 p.m: John Dickie IV with Collapsible B
2:30 p.m: Bear and Robert
3:00 p.m: Tina Eno
3:30 p.m: Richard D. Lewis
4:00 p.m: Roadside Revue
4:30 p.m: Jeanie Fitchen
5:00 p.m: Mike Quick
5:30 p.m: Daniel Childs Chad Spikes
6:00 p.m: Chris Kahl
6:30 p.m: 2023 Song Contest Winners
7:00 p.m: Reset for Evening
7:30 p.m: Ashley Gang
8:15 p.m: Amy Carol Webb
9:00 p.m: Passerine
9:45 p.m: Brian Smalley
10:30 p.m: Frankie Jay and Chicken Parade

Cypress:

10:00 a.m: Tom’s Choice
10:30 a.m: Mel and Vinnie
11:00 a.m: John Bois
11:30 a.m: Back Porch Revival
12:00 p.m: Mary Ann and the Girls
12:30 p.m: Mike Mac
1:00 p.m: Reckless Saints
1:30 p.m: The Debbies
2:00 - 2:30 p.m: Songwriters in Round:
Alivia Hunter
Sarah McCulloch
Dan Childs
Chad Spikes
3:00 p.m: Shana Smith
3:30 p.m: Grant Peeples
4:00 p.m: Corey Hall
4:30 p.m: Julian/Cherkinsky Orchestra
5:00 p.m: John Butler
5:30 p.m: Doug Spears
6:00 p.m: Mike Worrall Band
6:30 p.m: Carly Bak
7:00 p.m: Jim Carrick and Charlie Simmons
7:30 p.m: Johnny Debt
8:15 p.m: Cypress Stage “After Hours”
Open Mics, Showcases, Jams

Azalea:

10:00 a.m: Dan Gribbin
10:30 a.m: Peg and Em
11:00 a.m: Hannah’s Whirl
11:30 a.m: Bob Patterson
12:00 p.m: Chris Kastle
12:30 p.m: Quincy Allen Flint
1:00 p.m: Art Crummer Band
1:30 p.m: Bill and Eli Perras
2:00 p.m: Rachel Grubb
2:30 p.m: Lee Hunter and Joey Kerr
3:00 p.m: The John French Band
3:30 p.m: Young Musicians Showcase: Bus 86
4:00 p.m: Just Folks
4:30 p.m: Slow Child at Play
5:00 p.m: Alivia Hunter
5:30 p.m: Otemeal
6:00 p.m: Rosewood Family Children’s Choir
6:30 p.m: The Gentleman
7:00 p.m: Young Musicians Showcase: Holt and Cabe
8:00 - 10:00 p.m: A beginners workshop will be held before dance starts
Contra Dance
Jenny and the Stray Dogs
JJ Luxe - Dance Caller

Shooting Star Stage:

10:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m: Sharon Huston Memorial Breakfast (Youth only)
Meet and Greet Orientation

12:00 - 1:00 p.m: Write A Song Collaboration (youth only)

1:00 - 2:00 p.m: Ron Townsend - Bucket Drumming

2:00 - 3:00 p.m: Chakulla Smith - Making Music By Thinking Out of the Box

Showcase starts at 3:30 on The Azalea Stage

Workshop 1:

10:00 - 10:30 a.m: Nature Coast Dulcimer Group: Mountain Dulcimer Workshop
Intermediate and Adv

11:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m: Carly Bak - Song Writing Outside the Box

12:00 - 1:00 p.m: Mike and Maggie - Yodeling Fun With Lucky Mud

1:00 - 4:30 p.m: Acoustic Under the Oaks

1:00 p.m: Dan Gribbin
1:25 p.m: Jackson Creek
1:50 p.m: Dennis Devine
2:15 p.m: Roadside Revue
2:40 p.m: Aripeka
3:05 p.m: Just Folks
3:30 p.m: Back Porch Revival
3:55 p.m: Keith Hope

4:30 - 5:30 p.m: St. Pete Shanties - Florida Sea Shanties

5:30 - 6:30 p.m: Mel and Vinnie - Sing Along Songs

Workshop 2:

10:00 - 10:30 a.m: Stan Geberer - Harmonica Basics to Blues The Do Re Mi of Diatonic Harp

11:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m: Jeannie Fitchen - HerStory Workshop

12:00 - 1:00 p.m: Grant Peeples - Successfully Crowd Fund Your Recording Project

1:00 - 2:00 p.m: Glenn and Linda Smith - Creative Song Arranging

2:00 - 3:30 p.m: Lisa Thomas - Circle of Florida Songs

3:30 - 5:30 p.m: Rosewood Centennial Project Remembered Through Song and Story

3:30 - 4:30 p.m:

Jane Fallon
Chad Spikes
Tom Scudiero
Raiford Starke
Peter B. Gallagher
Shana Smith
Chuck Hardwicke
Greg Thomas
Ken Crawford
Tug Winthrop

4:30 - 5:30 p.m: Open Mic of related songs and stories

Old Time Gathering Schedule:

10:00 a.m: Performance: The Sticky Strings

10:30 a.m: Performance: Frank Lindamood

11:00 a.m: Workshop - Beginning Old Time Banjo: Ernie Williams/Frank Lindamood/Tom Wilson

12:00 p.m: Old Time Jam - all welcome - Frank Lindamood

1:00 p.m: Performance: Rural Route 2

1:30 p.m: Performance: Saylor Dollar

2:00 p.m: Performance: Otemeal, Old Tyme Ensemble

3:00 p.m: Old Time Jam - all welcome - Joe Donohue (Mentoring available)

4:00 p.m: Performance: Lilly Jane Band

5:00 p.m: Old Time Singing Circle - Rochelle Morris

March 12, 2023:

Magnolia:

11:00 a.m: Patchwork
11:30 a.m: Mary Beth Campbell and Friends
12:00 p.m: Bear and Robert
12:30 p.m: Saylor Dollar Acoustic Duo
1:00 p.m: The Florida Boys
1:30 p.m: Johnny Debt
2:00 p.m: Kim LeCouteur
2:30 p.m: The Lilly Jane Band
3:00 p.m: Jeanie Fitchen
3:30 p.m: Lucky Mud
4:00 p.m: The Don Grooms Band
4:30 - 5:00 p.m: “Heritage and Hope”
Host: Amy Carol Webb
5:20 p.m: Youth Song Collaboration
5:30 - 6:30 p.m: Hour of Power - Will McLean’s Songs and Stories
Charley White - Tate’s Hell
Paul Smithson - Jim Brevis/Red Tide
Carly Bak - Florida Sand
Grant Livingston - Abraham Washington
Johnny Debt - The Rain is Over and Gone
Jeannie Fitchen - Dance of the Sandhill Crane
2PM - Brother for Brother

Cypress:

10:30 a.m: Steve Compton
11:00 a.m: Passerine
11:30 a.m: Peter’s Road Swamp Blues Band
12:00 p.m: Bob Patterson
12:30 p.m: Chris Kahl
1:00 p.m: Richard D. Lewis
1:30 p.m: Mary Ann Dinella and The Girls
2:00 p.m: Charlie Robertson
2:30 p.m: Emmett Carlisle
3:00 p.m: Rachel Grubb
3:30 p.m: Grant Livingston
4:00 p.m: Jerry Mincey and Tony Macaluso

Azalea:

10:30 a.m: Lisa Thomas and Friends
11:00 a.m: Too Many Smiths
11:30 a.m: John Bois
12:00 p.m: In Good Company
12:30 p.m: Jenny and The Stray Dogs
1:00 p.m: Paul Smithson
1:30 p.m: Jackson Creek
2:00 p.m: Chuck Hardwicke and The Hart Line Band
2:30 p.m: Frankie Jay and Chicken Parade
3:00 p.m: Charlie Robertson
3:30 p.m: 2 PM
4:00 p.m: Brian Smalley

Shooting Star Stage:

10:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m: Battle of The Bands Practice

12:30 - 2:00 p.m: Battle of Bands Contest

2:30 - 3:30 p.m: Youth Open Mic

3:30 p.m: Battle of Bands Awards

4:00 - 5:00 p.m: Write A Song Collaboration Rehearsal (youth only)

5:20 p.m: Magnolia Stage Presentation

6:30 - 7:00 p.m: Young Musician’s Pizza Palooza Program Wrap Up

Workshop 1:

10:00 - 10:30 a.m: Art Crummer and Friends - Gospel Sing Along
All Welcome
 
11:30 a.m - 12:00 p.m: Tim Martin - Musical Saw Workshop

Workshop 2:

11:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m: John Butler - Writing Funny Songs

12:00 - 1:00p.m: Grant Livingston Emmett Carlisle - Writing Florida Songs

Old Time Gathering Schedule:

10:00 a.m: Mt Dulcimer Jam Session - All Levels
Sammye Johnson and Nature Coast Dulcimers

11:00 a.m: Workshop - Beginning Old Time Banjo
Clay Black/Ernie Williams/Sean O’Rourke

12:00 p.m: Performance: Skunk Ape String Band

1:00 p.m: Old Time Jam - all instruments welcome - Sean O’Rourke

2:00 p.m: Workshop - Fiddle Waltzes - Debby Sue and Kathie Aagaard

3:00 p.m: Old Time Jam - all instruments welcome - Debby Sue

Dates and Times:

March 10, 2023: Noon - 10pm
March 11, 2023: 10am - 11pm
March 12, 2023: 10am - 6pm

Location:

Florida Sand Music Ranch,
85 Myers Road,
Brooksville, FL 34602.

Ticket Prices:

Friday: $20 at the gate
Saturday: $25 at the gate
Sunday: $15 at the gate

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