Waterfest

April 20, 2024

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Midland Greenway
Gainesville, GA

Rain or Shine


Celebrating Water Conservation & Education in the Headwaters Region

With special thanks to Reduce and the City of Gainesville Parks & Recreation Department and Department of Water Resources, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper is excited to announce the second annual Waterfest on Saturday, April 20, 2024!

Waterfest is completely free to the public and hosted at Midland Greenway, an accessible outdoor park in Gainesville within walking distance from the Downtown Square. A rotation of local talent will play live music while attendees of all ages enjoy fun, food, drinks, an Environmental Expo with local organizations highlighting their good work, and family-friendly activities.

Join CRK for a fun afternoon! Don’t forget your lawn chair and picnic blanket.

Keep scrolling for more details!

Meet the Bands!

Check back soon for stage times

Scott Low and The Southern Bouillon

Scott Low sings songs about the things he knows, whether performing solo or with his band, The Southern Bouillon. With a wide-ranging background stretching from jazz to punk to southern rock, Low pulls from all the things that have shaped him: from Townes and Dylan to Miles and Zappa. What comes out on stage is an intense rendering of original songs and select covers.  

In the summer of 2016, Scott released THE NEW VINTAGE, a 2+ year project of songs that fall into the net of Americana, followed with extensive touring. A folk album came next with 2018’s BURNING TIRES, SMOKING GUNS. Then 2020 brought THE SOUTHERN BOUILLON LIVE, with initial comparisons to Jamey Johnson, Ryan Bingham, and Hayes Carll, with touches of Tom Waits and Nina Simone.

Over the years Scott has shared the stage with Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, Caleb Caudle, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Sammy Kershaw, Shovels & Rope, Chris Knight, and more. Since moving from Athens, GA and 150-200 shows a year, Low founded Hatch Camp and Art Farm, a fly-fishing art and music camp. But Scott still sings songs in the American Folk tradition with a touch of country and Appalachia.

The Jesse Williams Band

Blues and soul singer/songwriter/guitarist Jesse Williams is a mountain mama of many different roots, grounded in sultry sweet blues infused with warm soul and melody medicine. Hailing from North Georgia with a heart for grooves and the deep belief that it’s best savored when simmered. 
 

The sounds and get-downs are a full course meal of experiences from thrills and nuances of long-loved inspirations like Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi, and Aretha Franklin to Derek Trucks, the Allman Brothers, and early influences like her family’s band the End of the Trail Band, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Jimi Hendrix. 

Get deep into the message and surrender to the soul serenades of The Jesse Williams Band. An invitation of tender vocal serenades and heartfelt power swells that play and groove with the medicine of the music. Her latest work, “Off the Vine” was released in September 2020 and is comprised of five original songs recorded at InCrowd Recordings in Atlanta, GA. 

Heart of Pine

Hailing from the music-rich city of Athens, GA, Heart of Pine was formed in 2015 by Steven Bagwell and Travis Richardson following a series of highly productive songwriting sessions. Heart of Pine’s self-described “Southedelic” sound is inspired by a culmination of influences spanning classic rock, blues, country, jam, Americana, and funk genres. Listeners will most certainly hear the impact that artists like The Allman Brothers Band, The Black Crowes, Waylon Jennings, The Band, Grateful Dead, Little Feat and Lynyrd Skynyrd have had on the members of the band. Heart of Pine has shared the stage with artists such as the Turnpike Troubadours, Brent Cobb, Drivin N Cryin, 49 Winchester, Red Clay Strays, and Corey Smith.

In 2019, Heart of Pine released their debut album Highly Flammable. This seminal release included the soon-to-be fan favorites Evangeline, Four Feet Deep, and Gypsy Queen, among others. Highly Flammable showcases Steven Bagwell’s powerful voice and effortless vocal delivery, while the complimentary songsmithing of Steven and Travis Richardson stands out as being unique, yet also comfortably familiar. Eager to capitalize on the overwhelmingly positive reception to Highly Flammable, the band went back into the studio and recorded the EP titled Southedelic in 2020. The songs I Ain’t, High Time, and The Other One illuminated a band that had clearly found their sound, which rests comfortably in the realms of Southern psychedelia and back porch storytelling.

In recent years, Heart of Pine has expanded the lineup to include keyboard extraordinaire Jesse Fountain, multi-instrumentalist Boone Hood on bass, and longtime Athens, GA musician Todd Headley on drums. This current configuration has really ignited the band and spurred on the further development of the Southedelic sound fans have come to know and love. In 2024, Heart of Pine is set to release their second full-length studio! Heart of Pine isn’t afraid to take chances musically and they are constantly striving to broaden their sound, while staying rooted in engaging, honest and heartfelt songwriting. 

Silent Auction

Waterfest features an exciting virtual silent auction! From hand-painted rain barrels to North Georgia adventure packages, there’s something for everyone attending the festival and browsing virtually. The silent auction will open on April 15 (9 a.m. ET) and close on April 22 (5 p.m. ET).

Rain barrel artists include:

Get Involved

We depend on organizations, businesses, and people from our community to make the annual Waterfest a success. Please consider becoming a sponsor of this festival to help us bring the Headwaters community together in celebration of our natural wonders. Your contribution will also benefit The Clean Lanier Equation.  

Learn more about the benefits of becoming a sponsor for this year’s festival by contacting Mallory Pendleton, Headwaters Outreach Manager, by emailing [email protected]

Calling Volunteers!

There are plenty of ways to get involved in Waterfest as a volunteer, from joining the cleanup crew to greeting exhibitors. If you are interested in volunteering at the event, please send an email with the subject line “Waterfest Volunteer” to Mallory Pendleton, Headwaters Outreach Manager, at [email protected].

Help Keep Our Parks Clean!

Spring Cleanup & Beautification Event

The week before Waterfest, City of Gainesville Parks & Recreation and Department of Water Resources will host a Spring Cleanup and Beautification event at a number of local parks.

Leave No Trace

Waterfest encourages all attendees to please carry their trash and recyclables out of the venue for proper disposal. Thank you for your cooperation!

Meet Our Sponsors!

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