The Britt Festival (continued) – By Paula and Terry Erdmann

Natalie Merchant

As we said in the last issue, this is tough. Our task back then: discuss a few of the shows coming this summer for the Britt’s 50^th Anniversary season. Only a few? But they’re all so enticing… And so we picked six, including, of course, the not to be missed—and worth mentioning again—Natalie Merchant.

This month, we’re picking six more from the list, shows we expect to see and hear while seated on the grass, or perhaps in a treetop buzzard’s nest, attempting to peer over the newly constructed cedar fence that effectively barricades the stage from the decades-old traditional Fir Street viewing area for locals.

Melissa Etheridge. For twenty odd years, music critics have written such lines about this brilliant singer/songwriter/guitarist as: “Etheridge’s scarred emotive croon works visceral voodoo.” Really. We’re not entirely sure what that means, so we’ll put it another way: This woman rocks. Find out for yourself on June 15.

Bush

Bush. Back when we commuted daily through agonizingly slow L.A. traffic, the only thing that kept us sane was KROQ radio, as it introduced the hottest alternative rock of the era. KROQ was the first station in the nation to play British band Bush’s debut track “Everything Zen,” but it wasn’t the last. Fronted by gravel-voiced Gavin Rossdale, Bush became a mega-platinum success. And then, as they say on VH1’s “Behind the Music,” “the band broke up”—only to reform a decade later with a critically acclaimed album. They’re coming to Britt on June 22—and this time we can leave the commuting to others.

Jake Shimabukuro / Leo Kottke. This is the must-see double feature of the Festival. When headliner Leo Kottke sits alone on the stage effortlessly extracting the most precise, forceful and percussive guitar music available, you’ll need convincing that he hasn’t hidden an accompanying guitarist somewhere behind the curtain. Rest assured, it’s all Kottke, all the time. But we think the highlight of the evening—and perhaps the season—is ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro. He may tune to My Dog Has Fleas, but on June 28 you’ll see that his fingers have wings.

An Evening with Dukes of September Rhythm Review. We’re not sure how Donald Fagan (formerly of “Steely Dan”), Michael McDonald (once of “The Doobie Brothers),” and Boz Scaggs (with early roots in “The Steve Miller Band”) are going to blend as a band, but we’re betting that the mixed message will make their September song reminiscent of perpetual spring. We’ll find out on July 5^th.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. Fans of New Orleans music know that the funky l960s hit “Ooh Poo Pah Doo,” by the very singular Jessie Hill, became a rock standard and Mardi Gras necessity. Today, Hill’s grandson, Troy Andrews, a.k.a. Trombone Shorty, continues the family tradition with his own brand of brass band. Equally proficient on trombone, trumpet and vocals, Andrews’s renditions of rock, soul, hip-hop, brass and blues will carry you into an August 26 belated Mardi Gras state of mind.

Heart. The announcement that Heart will perform at the Britt makes us dance in anticipation—and we’re confident that you don’t need us to explain. Heart is Nancy Wilson on guitar. Heart is Ann Wilson at the microphone. Heart is the driving force behind “Barracuda” and “Magic Man” and “Crazy On You.” You already know this. Let’s just all meet on the hill on September 11 and go crazy on them.

Paula and Terry Each have long impressive-sounding resumes implying that they are battle-scarred veterans of life within the Hollywood studios. They’re now happily relaxed into Jacksonville.