Hootenanny!

Festival this weekend on LaFayette farm

photo The Ragbirds

IF YOU GOWhat: T-Dawg's Back Porch HootenannyWhen: Friday-Saturday, April 5-6 (with overnight camping through Sunday, April 7)Where: Cherokee Farms, 2035 Old Mineral Springs Road, LaFayette, Ga.Admission: $55 Friday and Saturday, $45 Saturday only (includes camping); $35 Saturday day pass (no camping); $20 ages 13-16; free for younger kids.Website: www.tdawgpresents.com

photo Caroline Aiken

SCHEDULEFriday, April 5• 9 p.m., Nothing & The Nobodies• 11 p.m., Red Clay Revival• Late night, Campfire jamsSaturday, April 6• Noon, Acoustic warm-up• 12:30 p.m., Scott Warren & The Booze Mountaineers• 3 p.m., Bibb City Ramblers• 5 p.m., Caroline Aiken• 7 p.m., Rev. Jeff Mosier & Jim Lauderdale• 9 p.m., Strung Like a Horse• 11 p.m., The Ragbirds

Hurricane Katrina put a big damper on one of the early camping and music concerts Thomas Helland organized at Cherokee Farms in LaFayette, Ga., and frigid temperatures and rain hampered another, but the weather should be good for this weekend's T-Dawg's Back Porch Hootenanny.

"Yeah, we had a hard time those first couple, but it's been smooth sailing ever since," said Helland. "I feel like I paid my dues with Mother Nature."

Scheduled to perform are Jim Lauderdale, gypsy rockers The Ragbirds, banjo whiz Rev. Jeff Mosier, folk rocker Caroline Aiken and local acts Strung Like a Horse and Nothing & The Nobodies. Also schedule to perform at various places and times throughout the two-day event will be Bibb City Ramblers, Scott Warren & The Booze Mountaineers, Red Clay Revival, Ralph Roddenbery, Lefty Williams and Donna Hopkins.

"I'm so excited that Jim Lauderdale will be there," Helland said of the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter who also hosts the Scenic City Roots concerts at Track 29.

The two met at another festival months ago when Helland stumbled across him playing in an impromptu picking circle.

"He was just hanging out. It was really cool," Helland said.

The annual Hootenannys feature live music and camping. Vendors will be on-site selling food and crafts. Campers can bring their own food and adult beverages.

Gates will open at 3 p.m. Friday, April 5, with the music getting under way at 9 p.m. The music will end around 1 a.m. Sunday morning, April 7, and campers can sleep in and leave in the afternoon.

Contact staff writer Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.

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