Preview: Saturday at Mulberry Mountain Harvest Music Festival

The final day of the 2008 Mulberry Mountain Harvest Music Festival is also its most eclectic. From country to reggae, there's something for everyone. But before you get started feasting on all the great music, make sure you check out the Chompdown on the Mountain Deux. It's a friendly gathering of fellow festival-goers - featuring free breakfast and acoustic performances from Dirtfoot and friends! It's all going down on Saturday morning in upgraded camping near the shower houses; cooking starts at 8am, and music is expected to begin at approximately 9am. After you're properly nourished, you'll be able to hit the music full force:

Throwing down on the Main Stage will be Cornmeal, Big Smith, Hot Buttered Rum, Perpetual Groove, The Wailers, and Umphrey's McGee.

The Campground Stage will showcase The Shotgun Brothers Band, Ben Miller Band, Green Mountain Grass, Dirtfoot, and My-Tea Kind.

Finishing off the night - and the festival - with a late-night set at the Harvest Tent Stage will be Blue Turtle Seduction.

Read more info and see videos of each band after the jump!

The Shotgun Brothers Band: 11:00am - 12:15pm, Campground Stage

A wide array of influences are apparent in the sound of The Shotgun Brothers Band, a fivesome based in Springfield, MO. Though the band leans heavily on their bluegrass forebears, snatches of soul and Spanish style guitar peek through their foundation of jam (base). Okay, I admit that I gathered most of this by listening to the tracks on their Myspace page...but I had a rough time finding any substantial information about this band. All that I really know is that their names are Brandon Moore (guitar/keys/vocals), Zach Young (mandolin/vocals), Dustin "Duk" Rehagen (bass), Kevin Hopper (guitar/vocals) and Ryan Sala (drums). Seriously - I couldn't even find a YouTube video. But I enjoyed the four tracks that I heard, and I'll be heading over to their early set at the Campground Stage right after I finish grubbin' at the Chompdown. Maybe I'll even post SBB's first-ever YouTube video. Holla!

Cornmeal: 12:00pm - 1:30pm , Main Stage

My fellow BOThead Toast caught Cornmeal back in May, and had decidedly positive things to say about them. I've been interested in checking out this Chicago-based bluegrass quintet ever since, so I'm particularly looking forward to their set on the Mountain. The band is comprised of Wavy Dave Burlingame on banjo, Kris Nowak on guitar, Chris Gangi on bass, Allie Kral on fiddle, and JP Nowak on drums; all five members contribute vocally as well. Their progressive, jam-friendly take bluegrass will undoubtedly strike a chord with many festival-goers. And perhaps I'll finally figure out why we get so many hits from people googling 'Allie Kral'.

Ben Miller Band: 12:30pm - 1:45pm, Campground Stage

Okay, the Ben Miller Band is another band that I'm unfamiliar with, so I headed over to visit them on Myspace and hear what they're all about. I got my answer almost immediately: the first song I heard was entitled "Coochie Love." I can't not attend their set now, in hopes that I'll get to hear it live. Sense of humor aside, they also demonstrate solid musicianship to back them up. A variety of instruments are incorporated into their work: Ben Miller takes care of the slide guitar and foot drums; Scott Leeper shows his stuff on the washtub bass and drums; and multi-instrumentalist Doug Dicharry lends his talents on the washboard, drums, trombone, and trumpet. Miller also takes the lead on vocals, with Leeper and Dicharry offering support. Spend part of your Saturday lunch hour at the Campground Stage to soak in their bluesy grass.

Green Mountain Grass: 2:00pm - 3:15pm, Campground Stage

Eggs and I experienced Green Mountain Grass for the first time recently, and quickly decided that their Mulberry set would be a must-see. Early on, we were treated to an excellent rendition of New Riders of the Purple Sage's "Lonesome LA Cowboy," and we were instantly hooked. They packed the rest of their set that night with a host of ear-pleasing original songs, then dismounted the stage and joined the audience in the sand for the acoustically delicious "84 Blues." Dave Wilmoth (mandolin), Adam "Pickles" Moss (fiddle), Trevor Smith (banjo/guitar), and Jesse Dalton (upright bass) know how to make bluegrass magical. Their brand of gonzograss is compelling and spellbinding. Don't sleep on this set from these talented Austin-based bluegrass pickers.

Big Smith: 2:00pm - 3:30pm, Main Stage

Springfield's Big Smith are truly a family affair: guitarist Mark Bilyeu and mandolinist/keyboardist Jody Bilyeu are brothers, as are bassist Bill Thomas and guitarist/mandolinist Rick Thomas. The two sets of siblings are also cousins, as is drummer and washboarder Jay Williamson. (Only fiddler Molly Healey is unrelated and unmale.) The musical roots apparently run even deeper - the band is the subject of a documentary called Homemade Hillbilly Jam, which highlights them and the music of their extended family. And it seems like everybody is involved in a band. Their reunions must be loud. At any rate, Big Smith offer a folk-rockier interpretation of bluegrass, and they've been steadily gaining fans since they made music a full-time occupation in 2007.

Dirtfoot: 3:30pm - 4:45pm, Campground Stage

Dirtfoot first appeared on BOT's radar when they played the Wakarusa Chompdown in '07. After their appearance earlier in the morning at the Chompdown on the Mountain Deux, they'll be serving up some mid-afternoon morsels at the Campground Stage. They describe their sound as "gypsy punk country grumble boogie," and that's certainly an apt label. The musicians responsible for producing this concoction are Matt Hazelton (guitar/vocals), J. Bratlie (banjo/vocals), Scott Gerardy (saxophone/vocals), Eric Gardner (upright bass), Daniel Breithaupt (percussion), and Lane Bayliss (drums). The band always makes sure that their shows are drenched in fun, and it's apparent on the audience's faces.

Hot Buttered Rum: 4:00pm - 5:30pm, Main Stage

Oh, Hot Buttered Rum, how BOT loves thee! This San Francisco-based fivesome has long been one of our favorites on the newgrass scene. Their picking is adept, they're talented songwriters, and they never fail to tear it up at live shows. Plus, their repertoire of covers is deep and always entertaining. What's not to love? Bryan Horne (bass), Erik Yates (banjo, flute, accordion, clarinet, tin whistle), Zac Matthews (mandolin, fiddle), Nat Keefe (guitar), and Aaron Redner (fiddle, mandolin) embarked on this musical project from the mountains of Northern California several years ago, and they've been spreading their magic at venues nationwide ever since. Do yourself a favor and head to the Main Stage for this set. Maybe you'll even get invited onto their "well-oiled machine."

My-Tea Kind: 5:00pm - 6:30pm, Campground Stage

Tahlequah, OK-based My-Tea Kind have been gaining attention over the past few years. In 2006, they won Wakarusa's Battlerusa competition and earned a performing slot at the festival. They've been steadily touring since then, and they've augmented their fanbase at every step. Described as a folk roots rock band, My-Tea Kind incorporate a variety of instruments into their music, including a washboard, bullhorn, saw, and kazoo. Lead vocalist/miscellaneous instrument player Bonnie Payne, bassist/vocalist Annie Payne, and drummer Sarah Garde are sisters and grew up playing together, resulting in a unique onstage connection. Non-sibling guitarist/vocalist James Townsend perfectly complements their earthy feel. They strive for energy-filled shows and encourage their audience to lively up themselves, so expect a fun time to be had by all.

Perpetual Groove: 6:00pm - 7:30pm, Main Stage

I've had the good fortune to catch Perpetual Groove a few times in the past, and I've always left their show with a smile on my face. They're consistently great live, and you're always guaranteed at dance party at a P-Groove set. They fall under the umbrella genre of jam, but they're quite different from other bands of that realm. Their instrumentation never feels awkward or forced; they make sure that everything they do is silky smooth. P-Groove wants you to continue to dance, so they simply don't allow their music to let your feet stop moving. Keyboardist John Hruby joined the band only three months ago, but it doesn't sound or look that way at all. He melds exceptionally well with guitarist/vocalist Brock Butler, bassist Adam Perry, and drummer W. Albert Suttle, and it's quite apparent in the product of their shows. Pack your dancing Crocs for this one.

The Wailers: 8:00pm - 10:00pm, Main Stage

Look, if you saw The Wailers on the schedule and weren't immediately sure that you were going to be present at their set, you're probably not going to be convinced. But who could turn down a heady after-dark set from the world's reggae kings?

Umphrey's McGee: 10:30pm - 12:30am, Main Stage

It's been awhile since BOT has come in contact with Umphrey's McGee - the last time that we recall seeing them live was at Amsterdam's Jam in the Dam back in 2005. A progressive edge spices up the jammy foundations of this Chicago-based sextet's sound. Their explosive live shows coupled with their quirky, fun-loving stage personae have gained the band a devoted following. The band originally formed in 1997, and the current lineup consists of Brendan Bayliss (guitar/vocals), Jake Cinninger (guitar/Moog/synthesizers/vocals), Joel Cummins (keyboards/vocals), Andy Farag (percussion), Kris Myers (drums/vocals), and Ryan Stasik (bass).

Blue Turtle Seduction: 1:00am - 3:00am, Harvest Tent Stage

It's difficult to classify the music of South Lake Tahoe-based quintet Blue Turtle Seduction. Their compositions include elements of Americana, rock, roots, jam, bluegrass, mountain reggae, hip-hop and gypsy rock - a dance-ready blend that is positively unique. Their shows are injected with an ample dose of energy and fun, which has been steadily earning them more and more fans since the band's inception in 2001. Check them out their late-night set at the Harvest Tent Stage - you'll likely count yourself among Blue Turtle Seduction's supporters after catching them live.

Also check out our Mulberry Mountain Thursday and Friday previews.

Mulberry Mountain Harvest Music Festival will take place Thursday, September 11-13, 2008 near Ozark, Arkansas. Two-day ($95) and three-day ($120) passes can be purchased here.

See you on the Mountain!

--Cereal