From Little Richard and Otis Redding to Capricorn Records and the Allman Brothers Band, Macon holds a special place in American music history.
Little Richard and Redding grew up in Macon and began their recording careers in the city that now bills itself as “The Song and Soul of the South.” And in the 1970s, Capricorn Records put out Southern rock albums by the Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker Band and others.
Saturday is a perfect time to celebrate some of that history, with the inauguration of the Fly South music and barbecue festival, the unveiling of a new Little Richard biography, and the long-awaited “soft opening” of the Allman Brothers Museum, also known as the Big House.
Of course, there's always something happening at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, 200 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 478-750-8555, www.gamusichall.com.
“Sometimes the stars just align,” Hall of Fame director Lisa Love said. “And there’s a huge constellation hovering over Macon this weekend with Fly South and the Big House.
“It’s Little Richard’s 77th birthday and we have an afternoon book signing with the author of his new bio. On top of all that, we have our monthly concert for little kids at the Hall of Fame at noon.”
Festival will rock
The Fly South festival kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday with a barbecue competition in Central City Park, just outside the gates of the historic Luther Williams Field baseball park.
Family friendly activities include local live music, square dancing, clogging and a Little Richard impersonator contest.
Author David Kirby will sign copies of “Little Richard: The Birth of Rock ’n’ Roll” at the Hall of Fame Tent from noon to 2 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. and will give away two passes to the Hall of Fame with each book purchase.
Food vendors, barbecue and beer, as well as arts and gifts round out the day’s festivities.
The Fly South concert, which benefits the Hall of Fame, begins at 5 p.m. inside Luther Williams Field with soul songstress Laura Reed. Atlanta’s Ruby Velle and her seven-piece Soulphonics band work out at 6 p.m.
Former Drive By Truckers guitarist Jason Isbell appears with his band the 400 Unit at 7.
The extraordinary young slide guitarist Derek Trucks headlines with his band at 8:30. Trucks regularly performs as part of the current incarnation of the Allman Brothers, which includes his uncle, drummer Butch Trucks, an original member of the band.
Fly South Festival, free (on-site parking $5); Fly South concert tickets $20 advance, $25 day of the show, 478-478-751-7235 www.flysouthfest.com . Luther Williams Field, Willie Smokie Glover Drive.
Big House
The Big House is the old Tudor-style mansion where Allman Brothers bassist Berry Oakely and guitarist Duane Allman lived and the band rehearsed in the early 1970s.
It was there that Gregg Allman wrote “Please Call Home” and “Midnight Rider,” and Dickey Betts wrote “Ramblin’ Man” and “Blue Sky.”
Since the early 1990s, Allman Brothers “tour mystic” Kirk West and his wife, Kirsten, have lived in the Big House, which became home to their extensive collection of Allman Brothers Band memorabilia. The Wests moved out for a time, while the house underwent an extensive renovation.
Exact hours are still being determined, but Saturday it will be open to the public for a sneak preview of the new Allman Brothers Museum. On display, both familiar and rare posters, photos, archival audio recordings and film footage. 2321 Vineville Ave. 478-741-5551, www.bighousemuseum.org for hours and admission information.
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