The annual Purple Hatters Ball will return once again to the Spirit of Suwannee Park in Live Oak, FL for the tenth straight year. Held as a benefit for the Rachel Morningstar Foundation, the festival is set to take place between June 2-4. Today, the festival dropped a stacked initial lineup.

Leading the charge are Emancipator, Perpetual Groove, Zach Deputy, and The Russ Liquid Rest, but the fun doesn’t stop there. DubConscious, Roosevelt Collier Band, The Malah, MZG, and and now, Purple Hatters Ball has added Dumpstaphunk, Zoogma, NickFRESH, POST.MODEM, Booty Boo, Jeff Randall, and Ion Zide.

For guests that want to arrive early, PHB will host a Thursday Pre-Party on June 1 with Zach Deputy, DubConscious, Bells and Robes, and Blackwater Grease. Tickets on sale now.

PHB 2017 will utilize three stages including the famed Amphitheater Stage, a Beach Stage located along the wild black water Suwannee River that is picturesque for daytime sets, and the Uncle Charles Porch Stage.

The event also features live art, yoga, workshops and a silent auction, as well as a Charity Disc Golf Tournament hosted by Zach Deputy. Since Rachel was an aspiring chef, PHB will be adding a culinary component for 2017 featuring food from several top notch chefs that will be announced at a later date.

The most memorable moment of the weekend is when Rachel’s loving mother, Margie Weiss (aka Mama Margie), leads an emotional ceremony celebrating her daughter’s memory. Each year, they released 24 monarch butterflies – 23 to represent Rachel’s age when she was taken from this world and 1 for her spirit that lives on.

For tickets and more information about the festival, head here.

 

Purple Hatter’s Ball 2017 Lineup:
Emancipator
Dumpstaphunk*
Perpetual Groove
Zach Deputy
Zoogma*
The Russ Liquid Test
Dubconscious
Roosevelt Collier Band
The Malah
MZG
Catfish Alliance
Lucidea
NickFRESH*
POST.MODEM*
Trial By Stone
Juanjamon Band
Parker Urban Band
Universal Green
Dead Keys Tribute to Scott Campbell
Lucky Costello
Vlad The Inhaler
Albert Simpson
Booty Boo*
Jeff Randall*
Ion Zide*
Isaac Corbitt (artist-at-large)
*new addition

Thursday Pre-Party:
Zach Deputy
Dubconscious
Bells and Robes
Blackwater Grease

[photo by Rex Thomson]