LIVE OAK – The first ever Feast of Funk and Soul Food at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) is now in the music history books.

With the fabulous food prepared by five super chefs, the soul and funk music played on the Music Hall Stage and in the Sound Garden Stage, the atmosphere of relaxation and Florida breweries involved, this new idea of small music and food festivals surely has a future at SOSMP.

The promoters, chefs and Florida breweries Dunedin Brewery and 81Bay Brewing Co. joined forces to raise money for local charities Love Inc., Hope Notes and Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp at this new and intriguing festival. A portion of each ticket sold will be donated to these charities. 

Headlining the first annual event was Earth Wind & Power, a tribute to the music of Earth Wind & Fire performed by The Nth Power and featuring artists Jennifer Hartswick, Skerik, Farnell Newton, James Casey, Daniel Sadownick and Brian Thomas. The weekend also featured music from The Nth Power, Jennifer Hartswick Band, The Roosevelt Collier Band, The Groove Orient, Leisure Chief and Scott Campbell Band.

Chefs Harrison Sapp (chef and co-owner of Southern Soul BBQ at SOSMP and St. Simons Island, Ga.), James Beard award winner Art Smith (Jasper native, author, chef to Oprah, owner Chef Art Smith Garden and Kitchen School in Madison), John Minas (Chef at Art Smith’s culinary school in former Smith Goza Mansion in Madison), Samuel Forbes Edwards (Edwards Brothers BBQ/Art Smith chef in Jasper), Chris “Shaggy” Davis (New Orleans Crawfish Boil King) and Jason Leotis (Southern Soul BBQ Chef) all spent their weekend preparing various delicious foods such as Louisiana shrimp boil with red potatoes and corn served with house made boudain sausage, marinated chicken kabobs with Mediterranean rice bowl, parsley sumac salad and Brunswick Stew, prime rib, oak-roasted butternut squash, shredded beef brisket soul roll, fried chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits and more.

Paul Levine, one of the promoters of this festival put on by Purple Hat Productions and Southern Soul BBQ, said people love big festivals, but he believes they also like smaller, more intimate events where they can eat delicious food and just relax and enjoy the music and atmosphere. 

“The first Feast of Funk and Soul Food went off smoothly and deliciously,” Levine stated. “We brought together an intimate crowd to enjoy incredible music and delightful food at what I think is truly the happiest place on earth – The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Special thanks to all the bands and the wonderful chefs – Harrison Sapp, Art Smith, Jason Leotis, John Minas, Chris “Shaggy” Davis and Sam Edwards – who kept all our bellies full with glorious treats.”

“Little festivals turn into big festivals,” said Art Smith, as he took a few photos with his fellow chefs. 

“All this helps to rebuild communities. Renew, restore, rebuild and educate.”

“I have had various conversations with Adam Putnam (Florida Commissioner of Agriculture) where I’ve told him we need a Florida Food Festival…I’m working on that now.” 

For more information, please call the SOSMP at 386-364-1683, email spirit@musicliveshere.com or go to www.musicliveshere.com.