Space-funk pioneers Lettuce brought the Purple Hatter’s Ball to a wildly satisfying conclusion with jam after jam that shook the very foundations of the Spirit Of The Suwannee Music Park. After days of music featuring Breaking Biscuits, Spafford, Toubab Krewe, Southern Avenue, Roosevelt Collier, and more, the funkateers from NYC came correct and had the crowd bumpin’ and jumpin’ from the first note to the last.
It made sense though—thanks to the event’s promoter Paul Levine, Lettuce has been no stranger to the venerated festival site. Between their numerous performances at Suwannee parties like Bear Creek and Hulaween over the years, it’s safe to say Lettuce knows their way around the beloved Amphitheater Stage.
Bassist Jesus Comes stalked the front and center, letting his deep round sound play off the incredibly wide assortment of funky beats provided by his rhythm section partner and drummer supreme Adam Deitch. The band’s other dynamic duo, trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom and saxophonist Ryan Zoidis (also known as the Shady Horns), used their brass with style, punctuating the highs and drawing out the psychedelic lows. Guitarist Adam Smirnoff acted as a free agent, filling the sonic nooks and crannies with his signature slinky lines, while keyboardist and vocalist Nigel Hall served as a soulful center to Lettuce’s galactic sounds.
All this amazing music was being made for more than just another excuse to party til the wee hours; it was a celebration of a fallen friend and a call to arms for justice. The story of Rachel Morningstar Hoffman, who was murdered following the police’s mishandling of informants, is a tragic one that has ended up a cautionary tale for everyone dealing with the legal system. Please check out the foundation that has been set up to honor her loss, and then give the Lettuce clips below a play after you have adjusted the volume to maximum earth-shaking levels! Enjoy!
“KHRU”
“Ready To Live”
“Purple Cabbage”
“Your Royal Highness”