March 2009
First Report From Suwannee Springfest
DonnaFans.com contributor extraordinaire John Yust provides us with the first news from Donna the Buffalo's peformances at Suwannee Springfest in Live Oak, FL. On Thursday, the band's set featured the second-ever performance of a new Jeb Puryear song It's Love Time, which they debuted the night before in Knoxville. "Name confirmed by Jeb," John said. "Which doesn't mean it won't change." On Friday the band was joined by Jim Lauderdale for five songs; this performance might have included a new zydeco song, or the band may have just been working a zydeco groove while Jeb restrung his guitar. During Saturday night's set DtB covered Cheryl Crow's A Change Would Do You Good and also played a new zydeco tune, different from what they played on Friday. Sunday night's guest-filled set included appearances by Randy Judy, Mark Van Allen, David Gans, the Duhks, Bryn Davies, Peter Rowan, Chris Rown, Loren Rowan, and Jim Lauderdale. Several members of DtB also sat in with David Gans for his Saturday set, and Jeb sat in for Jim Lauderdale's entire set on Sunday. Hopefully I'll be able to post photos soon. Thanks for the info, John! (posted 3/31/09)
DtB Shines in Knoxville, TN
On Wednesday, 3/25/09, Donna the Buffalo headlined the Tennesse Shines event at the Bijou Theater in Knoxville, TN, a concert that also included The Gourds, Theresa Andersson, and Scott Miller. The band's 30-minute set included two special surprises. First, country legend Jim Lauderdale joined the band for a version of Wait 'Til Spring, the title track off the Lauderdale/DtB 2003 release. Also, Jeb Puryear debuted a new song at this show. "I think the new song mentioned Obama by name and included the line 'Yes we can,'" said Mike Poole, who kindly shares with us four photos of DtB playing on 3/25/09 in Knoxville, TN. The set also included Funky Side, If You Only Could, Temporary Misery, and I Like the Way You Walk. Next up for the band comes their annual appearance at Suwannee Springfest in Live Oak, FL, which started on Thursday, 3/26 and runs through Sunday, 3/29. Thanks for the photos, Mike! (posted 3/26/09)
Preston Frank To Perform 3 Shows With Former Members Of DtB
Renowned accordionist Preston Frank, who has been hailed by allmusic.com as "a link to the traditional zydeco sound of an era gone by," will perform three very special shows in New York in mid-May. Preston Frank & Big Daddy Zydeco will feature former Donna the Buffalo members Jim Miller on guitar, Tom Gilbert on drums, and Jed Greenberg on bass. This unique lineup will appear at Castaways in Ithaca, NY on Friday, 5/15; Harmony House in Webster, NY on Saturday, May 5/16 (sponsored by Rochester Cajun Zydeco Network, www.rochesterzydeco.com); and Eagles Hall in Ossining, NY on Sunday, 5/17 (sponsored by Somebody Scream NY, www.somebodyscreamny.org). If you have fond memories of the late-night zydeco dance tent at GrassRoots, you won't want to miss these shows.
(posted 3/23/09)
How To Get Tickets To The Sold-Out Knoxville Show
Donna the Buffalo's performance as part of the Tennesse Shines event on 3/25 at the Bijou Theater in Knoxville, TN--which will also feature The Gourds, Theresa Andersson, and Scott Miller--is sold out, but a very limited number of tickets are available via a fundraiser. Knoxville radio station WDVX's Spring Fundrasier includes a premium at $150 that includes not only two tickets to Tennessee Shines but also two tickets to a meet and greet/performance that will feature Jeb, Tara, and Jim Lauderdale at 5:30 pm on 3/25 in a small room upstairs at the Bijou. A total of 14 premiums will be sold (28 tickets). Call WDVX at (866) 946-9389 or (865) 544-1029. (posted 3/18/09)
