2nd Annual Great Center Hill Lake Crawfish Boil featuring Soul Project NOLA’s Funky Uncle All-Stars and Jordan Morack
After dodging curveballs all week from Mother Nature with sleet on the “morning of” (!!), the sun popped through and the clouds scurried away as the delicious crawfish feast aromas wafted in the air, to create a dreamy “slightly chilly, but tolerable" Tennessee Saturday night. Outside by the fire pits, as Bert Driver’s Burlap Room presented the Second Annual Great Crawfish Boil, the crawfish and all the fixins were expertly prepared by The Boil Brothers from NOLA. The live music performances were inside the temp-comfy greenhouse on the Solstice Stage, with excellent lights & sound by one of the best sets of ears/eyes round, which happen to be hooked to our very own Ranson Johnson’s head.
People who I personally know who are slightly snobbish “crawfish conneussiers” declared the Boil Bros. crawdaddies fare as some of the best they’ve ever tasted–-I’ll lay odds that means there’ll be a Great Crawfish Boil III in the plans for 2023!
Walking past the amazing obelisk, which was being painted in real-time by visionary artist Chris Fun, Burlappers entered the Solstice Stage to see Jordan Morack and the Cerulean Soul band open up the live music portion of the evening with the very talented Kaleah Wooten proving “young folks can jazz scat” just as well as the classic great jazz singers. Jordan and Kaleah were accompanied (as usual) by accomplished young musicians evoking “didn’t know young players could do jazz like this” compliments re: their sterling performance.
Next up, for the Burlappers (old and new) was indeed a “truly joyful experience” as The Soul Project NOLA took to the stage for their third repeat performance on the Solstice Stage. Christian Duque, lead guitar/ vocalist, and the band had the joint jumpin’ immediately with their infectious funk grooves and very tasteful selection of material. Chris’s unique renditions of “Blackbird” by Paul McCartney and “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen were highlights, performed at just the right times smack in the middle of all that “funky as it gets”swampy groove thang goin’ on.
Here’s the excellent musicians who rocked us - the members of Christian’s NEW project, “The Funky Uncle All-Stars”- (from soulprojectnola.com”):
“Drawing from the seemingly unlimited ranks of New Orleans performers who have played the live streaming show, the Funky Uncle All-Stars are an ever changing cast of characters currently consisting of Wayne Maureau, (Drums (Walter “Wolfman” Washington and the Roadmasters), Jake Gold, (Keyboards (Jake Gold, Gene’s Music Machine, Jon Roniger Good For Nothing Band, Margie Perez), Whitney Alouiscious, (Vocals (Whitney Alouiscious, Sam Price and the True Believers, Gene’s Music Machine, Mustache Petting Zoo) and Wanda Joseph (Bass/Vocals (Soul Project NOLA)”
The Burlappers love you Soul Project NOLA (aka Funky Uncle All-Stars)- and we can’t wait to have you back to your “second home” on the Burlap Room stages again!
Our new 2022 Series Sponsor, Anderson Marine brought along an Excess H20’ Center Console fishing boat with a big ole Yamaha outboard hung on the back that got the Burlappers all excited, and helped remind us that there IS a summer, and it’s gonna be here soon! Kudos to Anderson Marine and our other 2022 Series Sponsors, Burning Acre, Center Hill Realty and Chalets, Hurricane Marina, Cedar City RV, and Limestone Title and Escrow, and our 2022 Series Vendor Crooked Creek Designs for your belief and support - We are honored and proud to be associated with individuals and companies who are definitively the “best at what they do''. As Ms. Becca so eloquently put it, “We’re all just one big, happy family full of like-minded spirits!" I agree, “We’re all bozos on this Burlap Bus!" Cheers!
Join us for Earth Day on Saturday, 4/23/22 with special musical guests Airshow and East Nash Grass! Advance tix available NOW at Eventbrite.
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