Calm weather in store for South Georgia

VALDOSTA — Sometimes no news is good news. No rain, no severe weather and no deep-freeze overnight lows are in sight for South Georgia as a slight warming trend takes hold this week, say forecasters. “It’s going to be a pretty calm week,” said Don van Dyke, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Tallahassee, Fla., office. Those sentiments were echoed by senior meteorologist Frank Strait with the private forecasting firm AccuWeather, who said “There’s not a whole lot to really talk about.” A high-pressure ridge and the jet stream moving north are bringing dry air and clears skies to the South, the meteorologists said. The weather service’s official forecast for Valdosta shows sunny to partly sunny skies all week with highs rising from 69 degrees Monday to 74 Thursday. Clear skies with lows rising from the low 40s to the low 50s by week’s end are expected at night. Both forecasters said the nearest chance for rain, slight as it is, comes Friday when a weak cold front moves through the region, bringing a meager 30 percent rain chance. Strait and van Dyke both said severe weather is unlikely this week in South Georgia. “If rain comes Friday, it’s just going to be showers,” van Dyke said.

Wanee announces initial lineup for 2018 festival

LIVE OAK, Fla. — The 2018 Wanee Music Festival announced the initial artist lineup earlier this month.

Wanee 2018, which is set for April 19-21 at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, will feature two nights of Widespread Panic and Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band. Other bands announced include As the Crow Flies, Dark Star Orchestra (Thursday on the Peach Stage), St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band, The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, North Mississippi All Stars, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe (Eat A Bunch of Peaches featuring George Porter Jr. & Marc Quinones), Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Walter Trout, Sonny Landreth, The Marcus King Band, George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners), Pink Talking Fish (Tied To The Whipping Post), Soul Rebels, Les Bros, Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio, The Main Squeeze, Big Something, New Orleans Suspects, Berry Oakley’s Indigenous Suspects, Midnight North, The Yeti Trio and Crazy Fingers.

Early Bird tickets have sold out, but general admission tickets went on sale Nov. 17 at the SOSMP and on the Wanee website at www.waneefestival.com/ where you may also find other ticket info when available.

In its 14th year in 2018, Wanee was hosted for the first 10 years by the Allman Brothers Band until the band officially retired. Still, many of the band members continue to play each year with other bands at Wanee. 

In 2017, two members of the founding Allman Brothers Band have died – Butch Trucks in January and Gregg Allman in late May — missed and loved by all fans.

 

‘Nutcracker’ returns to Dalton

DALTON, Ga. — For 25 years “The Nutcracker” ballet has been a tradition during the holiday season for the northwest Georgia region. “Nutcracker 2017,” presented by the Dalton Arts Project, features more than 350 local and guest performers for eight performances: Friday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 9, at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., at the Dalton High theater, 1500 Manly St. Tickets are $13-$18 and go on sale to the public on Nov. 27 at 411 North Park Drive in Dalton. Bring one can of food for the local food bank and get $1 off your ticket price. Call the Dalton Arts Project at (706) 529-ARTS (2787) for more information.