Sea Island Resort in Georgia is bringing together the best music and food south of the Mason-Dixon for the inaugural Southern Grown Festival, taking place June 19-21, 2015. The three-day festival, filled with brunches, barbeque and bourbon, pays homage to the distinctive culture of America’s South at one of the finest grand dame resorts of the region. Southern Grown will feature a weekend full of events and classes led by more than a dozen award-winning chefs and artisans from Louisiana to Kentucky, and will culminate with an oceanfront performance by North Carolina folk-rock band The Avett Brothers.
The Southern Grown festivities kick off on Friday evening with a “Big Fish” Fry, featuring an appearance by Big Fish author Daniel Wallace, live music from South Carolina jam band Sol Driven Train and a late night speakeasy experience with hand-crafted cocktails created by Tom Bulleit of Bulleit Bourbon. On Saturday, festivalgoers can participate in an array of classes and lectures, including a “Pole to Plate” class taught by two patriarchs of the Southern food movement, Mike Lata (Charleston’s FIG) and John Currence (Oxford’s City Grocery); a “Curds and Whey” session with cheesemongers Jessica and Jeremy Little of Georgia’s Sweet Grass Dairy; and an “Up in Smoke” tutorial celebrating barbeque, one of the South’s most honored traditions, with pit masters Harrison Sapp and Griffin Bufkin of Georgia’s Southern Soul Barbeque.
The highlight of the Southern Grown weekend occurs on Saturday evening, when the Grammy-nominated band The Avett Brothers takes the stage for an oceanfront performance on the lawn of The Lodge at Sea Island. As the sun sets over the Atlantic Ocean, guests will be serenaded by the band’s folk rock sounds while sampling selections from the carnival-style “culinary village,” emulating some of the world’s biggest music fairs. Additional music will be announced as the event draws nearer.
“Southern Grown truly reflects Sea Island’s rich history of gracious hospitality and memorable experiences,” said Scott Steilen, President of Sea Island. “Sea Island embraces its many long-standing traditions and we are thrilled to continue building thoughtful new traditions rooted in our rich culture.”
Southern Grown welcomes locals and travelers alike to experience the region’s wildly impressive food and music culture. Festival tickets are now available for sale and prices range from $65 (general admission concert tickets) to $1,450 (“All Access” passes for two). For additional information on the Southern Grown weekend or to make reservations, please visit www.southerngrown.com or call 1-800-SEA-ISLAND.
