GET REVIVED Revival Fest, an all-Southern celebration, returns to Georgia BY JOSHUA PEACOCK After a one-year hiatus, Revival Fest has returned to the Savannah fall schedule with its most varied and possibly strongest lineup yet. The single-day festival, a showcase of Southerninfused vintage music complemented by bourbon, beer and food, will once again take over the the grounds at the historic Georgia State Railroad Museum in Savannah. In the past three iterations, a host of great acts have shared the festival's two stages. Those Darlins, Sturgill Simpson, Margo Price, Southern Culture on the Skids, Futurebirds and Roadkill Ghost Choir are just a few of the great bands to play. This year, the lineup continues the festival's ethos, with rock, country, blues and soul. New lineup additions include more funk and even a celebration of Gullah culture. The family-friendly event will offer food trucks, local vendors and, in the best of Southern traditions, lots of excellent drink choices. The fest also acts as a fundraiser for the Savannah Children's Museum, located at the railroad museum. Revival Fest is produced by MusicFile Productions, parent company of Savannah Stopover. "The enthusiasm for Revival Fest has been so heartwarming and we're thrilled to be bringing it back in the same iconic loca- State Railroad Museum tion that made the first three years so special," said Kayne Lanahan, CEO of MusicFile Productions. REVIVAL FEST 2-11 p.m. Sept. 30; Georgia State Railroad Museum, 655 Louisville Road; $35 or $95 VIP; revivalfest.org "We love the juxtaposition of music styles across the South. To go from the sounds of New Orleans funk to traditional Lowcountry Gullah to country, blues and everything in between in one day is really special; you really get so see how all of this music is connected." CHEERS There is a larger focus on local vendors this year, offering a chance to show everyone the bourgeoning brewing and distilling culture in Savannah. Local craft brewers Southbound Brewing Co., Coastal Empire Beer Co., Moon River Brewing and Service Brewing will offer up their beers, while Atlanta's SweetWater Brewing Co. and Scofflaw Brewing Co. will also be on hand. Brown-Forman returns with a showcase of bourbons. Savannah Spirits rum and Atlanta's Old Fourth gin will give even more options. Most notable will be specialty cocktails from the soon-to-open Lone Wolf Lounge. The boys from Lone Wolf will have four choices: Chocolate Mint Julep, a bourbon julep; Honky Tonk Angels, an herbal pineapple bourbon sour; Make Duran Duran Again, a lavender and orange blossom vodka; and Beat The Drum Slowly, tequila blended with ginger, lemon, honey and smoke. CULINARY DELIGHTS Food trucks are awesome, and Savannah is learning just that this year. The Big Cheese, The Squeaky Beaver, Molly MacPherson's and King of Pops will provide a plethora of food for in between shows and as an all-too-important base for all that good booze. HERE COMES THE BEST PART Bands will be staggered between the two stages all day, so guests won't miss a minute ofthe music. Sweet Thunder Strolling Band, Savannah 2 p.m. and through the day Sweet Thunder ? somewhere between a New Orleans jazz funeral band, a marching band and street buskers ? will kick off Revival Fest with a stroll through the grounds. Expect surprise strolls all day, a set list of familiar tunes and perhaps something unexpected. Bottles & Cans, Savannah 2:15 p.m. Bridge View Stage While the blues form the foundation of Bottles & Cans, this Savannah band's soul is soaked in swampy vibes, simple percussion and the raw, guttural vocals of front- man Ray Lundy. Caleb Caudle, Winston-Salem, N.C. 3 p.m. Paint Shop Stage Caleb Caudle made Rolling Stones' Top 10 New Country Artists list earlier this year, writing songs that vary in vibe from The Eagles and America to Willie Nelson. REVIVAL, 6 > Ranky Tanky, Charleston, S.C. 3:45 p.m. Bridge View Stage Four Gullah descendants and "one disciple" joined forces to continue the traditions of West African music through a contemporary lens. Ranky Tanky, loosely translated from the Gullah language as "get funky," celebrates the rich history of Lowcountry music and the culture of enslaved West Africans. Somewhere between jazz and spirituals, the music of Ranky Tanky is ghostly, moving and beautiful. The Train Wrecks, Savannah 4:30 p.m. Paint Shop Stage Savannah's "hardest gigging band" first appeared at the inaugural festival in 2013. The Train Wrecks released their fourth studio album, "Once Again," this summer. Expect the band's usual high-octane, foot-stomping alt-country music to get you moving. Cale Tyson, Cleburne, Texas 5:15 p.m. Bridge View Stage One ofthe many Nashville products pushing the edges of modern country by not adhering to the popcountry format, Cale Tyson has earned high acclaim with his latest album, "Careless Soul." It's filled with as much soul as country heart, all grounded in the twangy, steel guitaraccented old soul of great country-western music. Blackfoot Gypsies, Nashville 6 p.m. Paint Shop Stage Influenced by a patchwork of rock, from the Rolling Stones to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Beach Boys, the Nashville quartet is a rock h' roll band with a punk attitude. Their fourth studio album, "To The Top," was released earlier this year, and would have been a chart-topper in 1975. Soaked in country-blues, with hints of everything from garage rock and surf rock to Dylanstyle folk, "To The Top" is a contemporary rock album built on the entire history of America's musical folklore. Hardy & The Hardknocks, Athens 7 p.m. Bridge View Stage Tapping the wealth of influence in Athens, T. Hardy Morris (Hardy & The Hardknocks) writes garage-rock songs with drips of country and Southern rock influence. The band's last studio effort, 2015's "Drownin' on a Moun- taintop" is ramped up with distorted guitars, accented by steel guitar and honkytonk rhythms. Morris' gravel vocals recall the likes of both outlaw country and grunge singers, materializing with the music in a unique mixture of Southern rock. Big Sam's Funky Nation, New Orleans 8 p.m. Paint Shop Stage The spirit of New Orleans is ever present in the foundation of native son Big Sam, who leads the troupe on trombone and vocals. Revival Fest is sure to get funked out. Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics, Atlanta 9 p.m. Bridge View Stage Behind a traditional hornsaturated soul sound reminiscent of the best of Stax Records, Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics have shared the stage with Erykah Badu, The XX, Gary Clark Jr., Animal Collective, Lee Fields and Kendrick Lamar. Blitzen Trapper, Portland, Ore. 10 p.m. Paint Shop Stage Despite being the only band not based in the South, headliners Blitzen Trapper have spent 14 years harnessing a wealth of Southern sounds. They've released eight studio albums since 2003, with varying degrees of direction from country, rock, folk, soul, prog rock and even hip-hop. Their ninth effort, "Wild and Reckless," is due out this year.