The Spirit Of The Suwannee Music Park has seen some fairly incredible jams over the years, and the Suwannee Summer Clusterpluck was a fine addition to that hallowed tradition. The concept behind the two-day bluegrass Clusterpluck was a simple but solid one on the part of promoter Paul Levine: Gather some of the finest pickers in the land, add a proper stage and PA, and turn the musicians loose. The result was a weekend of musical mix-and-matching, with each set sporting a number of sit-ins and collaborations from the talented musicians on hand in addition to the super jam on the final night dubbed the “Summer Suwannee Clusterpluck.”Vince Herman Leads Wild 30-Minute “Midnight Rider” All-Star Jam At Clusterpluck [Video]Of course, when it comes to pulling together the right players for an event of this nature, it’s easier said than done. To make an event like Clusterpluck work, you need to find the right balance of talents and personalities, and for the final super jam, it doesn’t hurt to have someone who can act as an on-stage general to keep everyone on the same page. So when Levine was putting the event together, he knew there was only one choice to help him launch this new endeavor — the living embodiment of festival life himself, Leftover Salmon‘s Vince Herman. Herman, along with his partner-in-Salmon/crime Drew Emmitt, acted as the brain trust for the planned super jam, in addition to the duo taking on the responsibility of a set each day.The Wit And Wisdom Of Leftover Salmon’s Vince HermanGenerals need soldiers, and Clusterpluck filled out its ranks with the husband and wife duo of flat-picker guitar buzzsaw Larry Keel and his bass-playing better half Jenny Keel. Rising stars The Jon Stickley Trio brought their neo-classical, jazz-tinged bluegrass to add much-needed depth and sonic diversity to the mix as well. Outlaw bluegrass act Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, Pickled Holler, Albert Simpson and the right Reverend Jeff Mosier rounded out the stellar assortment of musical weapons at the disposal of the coming war on boredom.The various bands each took a set a day, eagerly welcoming their fellow players from the other acts for a weekend chock full of magical collaborative moments that simply can never be repeated. The off-the-cuff energy and improvisational nature of the performances made each song an adventure that was familiar but boldly retold for fresh ears. The fun didn’t even stop when the last notes rang out in the beloved Suwannee Music Hall, as the players took their musical circle out into the friendly confines of the park itself.The Spirit Of The Suwannee Music Park was founded so that bluegrass could flourish year round, and the Clusterpluck did a wonderful job of honoring that tradition. Fans of the genre and fans of music itself would do well to hope that the “Summer” in the title is an indication of a seasonal return for this first-time event. Until such an announcement comes, our own Rex Thomson has several highlights from the first iteration of the festival for you to check out below. Keep an ear out for possible follow-up events in the future, and until then, you can listen to a variety of tracks from the various acts and the best of the multi-player mayhem that closed out the weekend. It truly earned the title “Clusterpluck!” Enjoy!Grandpa’s Cough Medicine“Jam 1”“I Ain’t Got The Money To Drink No More”Larry & Jenny Keel“Ashes Of Love”The Jon Stickley Trio“Jam”Vince Herman & Drew Emmitt“Gentle On My Mind”“Melissa”Suwannee Summer Clusterpluck“Road Kill”“Black Muddy River”“How Mountain Girls Can Love”“Jam”“Louie Louie>Love Light”The combination of friends and family, great weather, and once-in-a-lifetime music made the inaugural Suwannee Summer Clusterpluck a perfect blend of love and insanity. The players had the time of their lives, and the audience was delighted to be the lucky recipients of an incredible feel-good show in The Spirit Of Suwannee Music Park. When the artists feel as at home as the fans and the smiles never fade away, you know you are exactly where the universe wants you to be. read more