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.
Watch Some Of The Musical Mayhem From The Inaugural Suwannee Summer Clusterpluck
March 2, 2021
“The decree is almost ready. We’re asking for the government’s permission to allow ojek drivers to transport passengers.”The nation’s app-based ojek services association demanded on Wednesday compensation from the government for their projected losses from the PSBB, as 70 percent of their income comes from transporting passengers.A Statqo Analytics report said the two ride-hailing service providers in the country, Grab and Gojek, had experienced a 16 percent and 14 percent downturn, respectively, among its active users in the last week of March.Grab Indonesia managing director Neneng Goenadi said the company hoped drivers could transport passengers to select destinations such as hospitals, markets and minimarkets.She said that Grab Indonesia would adhere to the government’s regulation, and had instructed its drivers to wear masks, wash their hands, disinfect motorbikes and practice physical distancing.Read also: Satellite cities to follow Jakarta’s lead on large-scale social restrictionsMeanwhile, Gojek is conducting studies and having discussions with the government regarding the regulation, with plans to comply with the government’s decision.“We have made various efforts to help our partners do their jobs safely during the COVID-19 outbreak,” Gojek corporate affairs chief Nila Marita said in a written statement.According to data compiled by the Jakarta administration as of Thursday noon, there were 1,632 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the capital with 149 fatalities. Nationwide, there are 3,293 cases and 280 deaths. Topics : Health Ministry Regulation No. 9/2020 on the guidelines for large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) stipulates various restrictions, including the ban on ojek services for passengers. However, ojek drivers are still permitted to transport goods.Read also: Jakarta will impose stronger mobility restrictions on Friday. Here’s what you need to know.Anies said the administration was discussing the matter with the central government prior to the issuance of a gubernatorial decree on the PSBB, which is scheduled to take effect on Friday.The forthcoming decree is meant to formalize the new quarantine status and sanctions for violators.
Even though the Health Ministry has prohibited app-based ojek (motorcycle taxis) from picking up passengers as part of efforts to flatten the COVID-19 curve, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan is calling for exceptions for drivers that follow stringent health measures.The governor said the provincial administration had coordinated with ride-hailing service providers over transporting passengers, with the latter claiming to have already put in place the necessary measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus.“Drivers should be allowed to take passengers and goods as long as they follow the measures,” Anies said during a press briefing at City Hall on Wednesday.
Topics : New Zealand on Monday recorded no new cases of the coronavirus for the first time since March 16 and less than a week after the Pacific nation ended a strict lockdown that appears to have contained the outbreak.Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told a news conference the result was cause for celebration, noting the death toll remained at 20 with no additional virus-related fatalities.”It is symbolic of the effort everyone has put in,” Bloomfield told reporters. “This is the first day that we had no new cases and we want to keep it that way.”Last Tuesday New Zealand ended a strict lockdown which shut offices, schools, malls, restaurants, playgrounds and all other public areas for over a month.However, several social restrictions remain in place with millions of New Zealanders still working and studying from home, although some economic activity was allowed to resume.Bloomfield cautioned that people must continue social distancing measures to ensure COVID-19 does not return.
“Clearly these are encouraging figures today, but it is just one moment in time,” Bloomfield said.”The real test is later this week when we factor in the incubation period for the virus and the time it takes for people to display symptoms which is generally five to six days after exposure.”The total number of confirmed cases in the country is 1,137, he said.Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Monday backed calls for a so called trans-Tasman bubble that would allow movement of people between New Zealand and Australia, saying such an arrangement could work “seriously well”.Australia has so far escaped the high numbers of casualties seen in other countries, with about 6,800 infections and 95 deaths.The country had 26 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday, including a seven-year-old boy, across three states in the biggest daily jump in two weeks.A New Zealand rugby team was given the green light to fly to Australia and start training for a tournament while undergoing 14 days of quarantine.”Officials in both countries are considering all aspects of the trans-Tasman concept, and planning how this could happen more broadly,” Peters said. 
Kelly Cross, the women’s lacrosse player who was indefinitely suspended due to a violation of team rules in late March 2015 and was not enrolled at SU in the fall, has been reinstated to the team, an SU Athletics spokeswoman confirmed Sunday evening. It was also confirmed that her indefinite suspension is over and she can play in regular season games.Cross appeared in Syracuse’s exhibition game against Team USA on Sunday, which the Orange lost, 20-8.The former starting midfielder was the driver of the car that crashed into the Mount Olympus stairwell on March 23. Four days later she was indefinitely suspended, meaning she could practice with the team, but could not play in any games or travel to away games. She did not enroll at SU for the fall semester of 2015, but is currently enrolled for the spring semester of 2016.“Kids may make mistakes, but we still stick behind them and we don’t isolate them and throw them to the curb,” head coach Gary Gait said when describing the details of the suspension on April 3.Cross had started every game for the Orange until her crash and had been fourth on the team in goals (14), assists (six) and points (20) at the time. The crash sent her to the hospital and a DPS officer said she was lucky to be alive.AdvertisementThis is placeholder textSyracuse begins its season against Loyola and Binghamton on Feb. 14 at noon and 7:30 p.m., respectively. Comments Related Stories Kelly Cross, women’s lacrosse player that crashed into Mount steps, no longer enrolled at SUSuspended midfielder Kelly Cross allowed to practice with SyracuseKelly Cross, Syracuse women’s lacrosse player, suspended indefinitely after car crash into Mount Olympus stairwellKelly Cross, SU women’s lacrosse player, was driver of car that crashed into Mount Olympus stairwell, DPS confirmsKelly Cross replaces sister in midfield, excels in increased scoring role for Syracuse Facebook Twitter Google+
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