Inside Florida's Whippersnap Music Festival with Producer Shane LeVigne

Welcome back, Neighbors. This week on the podcast I talk with festival producer Shane LaVigne about the upcoming Whippersnap Music & Arts Festival that will be held at the at the Florida Sand Music Ranch Feb 19-22, 2025. 

This early 2025 season festival is shaping up to be a killer event with headliners including Keller Williams, The New Mastersounds, and the Polyrythmics. Dozens of other regional and local bands will be jamming across two stages and to some of the best light shows you'll find at an intimate music festival setting.

Shane has some big plans for this annual event.  He aims to transform the Florida Sand Music Ranch into a multi-sensory playground, featuring everything from projection mapping on trees to LED installations that will include a nod to "Electric Forest" in the wooded camping complete with giant inflatable mushrooms and a mesmerizing blend of lasers and tapestries. Neighbors should be ready to enjoy crisp nights while stepping into a completely immersive experience.

One of the great things about Whippersnap is that it caters to all types of festival-goers. Whether you’re camping in a tent or staying in an RV, the amenities will make your experience comfortable and enjoyable.  Shane also has some interesting perks set aside for folks who prefer the VIP package treatment at their fests.  Click play and check out my conversation with Shane to learn what's in store for this year's Whippersnap attendees.

Music Festival News & Announcements for Friday, 01/03/2025

WinterWonderGrass 2025 Schedule Announced

WinterWonderGrass 2025 is shaping up to be an absolutely jam-packed weekend of music, community, and unique experiences for those Neighbors who enjoy their bluegrass served with a side of Champaign Powder.

This year's festivities begin on Thursday, February 27th, with a Mountain Top Dinner atop Steamboat Mountain. Guests can enjoy a gondola ride to a summit gathering featuring locally sourced cuisine, drinks, and live performances by The Po' Ramblin' Boys, Lindsay Lou, and Songwriters in the Round. Earlier that afternoon, a free kickoff show at the base of the Gondola will run from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, offering a warm welcome to all WWG Neighbors attending.

Friday, February 28th, officially marks the start of the main festival performances. The Kitchen Dwellers, Sam Bush Band, Pickin’ on the Dead featuring Rob Eaton and Kyle Hollingsworth, and Shadowgrass are just a few of the highlights of the day. Attendees can also participate in the Adult Group Acoustic Music Workshop from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at The Steamboat Grand Hotel or join a free Public Picks jam session from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Grass After Dark post-festival shows, held at venues like Thunderhead Lodge and The Grand Ballroom, extend the excitement well into the evening.

On Saturday, March 1st, Leftover Salmon and Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country headline the day, supported by acts like The Brothers Comatose, The Fretliners, and Damn Tall Buildings. Free On-Mountain Jams at Thunderhead Lodge from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM add a scenic musical experience to the schedule. Families can take advantage of the Kids Group Acoustic Workshop from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, while adults can participate in another Public Picks session from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Grass After Dark shows continue to light up the night for those seeking more music.

Sunday, March 2nd, wraps up the weekend with a final day of unforgettable performances. Trampled by Turtles, The California Honeydrops, and Yonder Mountain String Band lead the lineup, alongside WinterWonderWomen, Arkansauce, and Pixie and the Partygrass Boys. Free On-Mountain Jams at Thunderhead Lodge run from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. With special guests like Lindsay Lou, Kyle Tuttle, and Jon Stickley appearing throughout the weekend, WinterWonderGrass 2025 promises a well-rounded experience of incredible music, intimate workshops, and mountain vibes.

To see the full daily schedule, get more details on the festival experiences and to get you tickets, visit winterwondergrass.com. 

I've partnered with good folks at Bonfire Entertainment to offer MFP Neighbors the chance to win two (2) complimentary GA passes to this EPIC winter music festival.  Use the button below to enter for your chance to win! 👇

Camp Cosmic Returns to The Caverns in April 2025

Daniel Donato's Camp Cosmic returns for its second year on April 11 and 12, 2025, at The Caverns in Grundy County, Tennessee.

This unique event features four underground performances by Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country, with opening sets by Mountain Grass Unit each night.

Post-show acoustic sessions in the campground will be led by Water Tower featuring Willow Osborne, encouraging attendees to bring their instruments for open jam sessions.

The Caverns, known nationally for its subterranean concert hall, provides a super high frequency-backdrop for the event. Beyond the music, the weekend offers camping and yurt glamping options, complemented by food trucks and craft vendors. 

You can learn more and get tickets while they last at official festival page on The Caverns website.

EMS Bluegrass Festival is Florida's Oldest Bluegrass Fest

The EMS Spring Bluegrass Fest 2025 is scheduled for March 27–29, 2025, at the Florida Sand Music Ranch in Brooksville, Florida.

This three-day festival will feature headlining performances by Leftover Salmon, The SteelDrivers, The Cleverlys, Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley and many other acts. Attendees can look forward to a weekend filled with live bluegrass music, camping, and a variety of community activities.

The Florida Sand Music Ranch, formerly known as Sertoma Youth Ranch, is an 80-acre wooded retreat situated between Brooksville and Dade City. The venue offers a family-friendly environment with amenities such as reserved campsites for RVs with water and electricity, primitive sites for car and tent camping, private hot showers, bathrooms, and a large shade pavilion adjacent to both stages.

In addition to the musical performances, a variety of food and merchandise vendors will be available on-site. You can purchase your tickets on the Evens Media Source website.

The Subaru WinterFest 2025 Tour is Coming to your Local Slopes

Subaru WinterFest 2025 is a nationwide mountain tour celebrating winter sports, music, and community.

The festival will visit six premier mountain resorts across the United States, offering attendees live performances from artists such as Grace Potter, The National Parks, and The Travelin' McCourys. In addition to music, the event features gear demonstrations from brands like Nordica and Thule, complimentary snacks and beverages, and opportunities to engage with environmental initiatives.

The tour schedule is as follows:

• January 31 – February 2: Killington Ski Resort, VT – The Travelin' McCourys, Into the Fog, Sicard Hollow

• February 21 – 23: Copper Mountain Resort, CO – The National Parks, High Lonesome, The Goonies, Simba Sax

• March 7 – 9: Eldora Mountain Resort, CO – Shadowgrass, Sweet Lillies, iZCALLi, Drunken Hearts

• March 15 – 16: Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA – To be announced

• April 4 – 6: Snowbird Ski Resort, UT – Ashes to Amber, Simba Sax

• April 11 – 13: Mt. Bachelor and Bend, OR – Grace Potter

Subaru owners attending the festival can enjoy exclusive perks, including VIP parking and special gifts, while supplies last. The event also showcases Subaru's latest vehicles, such as the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness and the 2024 Subaru Solterra, providing attendees with an opportunity to explore these models up close. For more details and updates, visit the official Subaru WinterFest website.

Up Next Week: Dan Andree with The Fretliners

Thank you for tuning in each week. If you are reading this, you are part of a growing neighborhood of 5000+ other folks who absolutely love the vibes, the people and the music at festivals each year.   

If you like what you read, watch and listen to, please make sure to rate the show wherever you get it.  🙏

Next week, we're going to continue with our WinterWonderGrass 2025 previews. I am talking with Dan Andree, fiddle player with bluegrass quartet The Freliners. 

In 2023, the band won honors at both at Telluride Bluegrass and Rockygrass Festivals — something that has only been done once before.

Dan and I dig into their latest album, the band's upcoming tour and what they have in store for their set at WinterWonderGrass in February at Steam Boat Springs. Make sure to tune in next week for that conversation.

Get in on Festival Ticket Contests & Discount Codes

If you found this website for the first time on a Google Search, I’d love to have you join The Neighborhood. This is the twice monthly email newsletter that also gets you some exclusive insider content as well as discounts and deals only available in your email inbox.

Within the month of January, you'll notice a new contests page on the site that will house ticket giveaways for various festivals throughout the year, including CaveJam, WinterWonderGrass, InkCarceration and many more to come. Make sure to get on the list so that you can enter to win free passes to some killer fests!

You can also connect with me on Instagram @‌neighborn8fests or drop me an email with suggestions, new festival tips, or just to say “heyo.” If you see me out at a fest, don’t hesitate to come say hello.