Lake Martin Voice Realty
Aquapalooza At Lake Martin 2011 – Setup Tips
Sea Ray and Russell Marine are once again bringing Aquapalooza to Lake Martin, Alabama, – on July 23, 2011.
Aquapalooza is a free, on the water concert that you can boat up, anchor, and go dance by the stage. It is tons of fun, and, in my opinion, becoming the 4th big lake holiday behind Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day.
Lake Martin has experienced two really big Aquapaloozas – the nationally promoted signature event in 2009 featuring Alan Jackson, and this pretty doggone big event in 2010 with John Anderson.
In 2011, the headliner is Sawyer Brown. Here’s the full lineup:
Lake Martin Aquapalooza 2011 Lineup
Sawyer Brown
Rhett Atkins
Chase Rice
Derek Welsh and the Cold Hard Truth
Lake Martin Aquapalooza 2011 Schedule
11 AM – 7 PM on July 23, 2011.
Memo to all you fast timers – we’re on Central Time.
Click here for the Official Aquapalooza Site
Lake Martin Aquapalooza 2011 Setup Tips
The prior years of fun have given us all some valuable experience. I shot a quick video below to go over some tips for Aquapalooza on Lake Martin.
Here are some more Lake Martin Aquapalooza 2011 tips:
- Have a sober driver and sober spotter – I say this in the video but it’s worth repeating. The driver will need someone at the front of the boat that is looking out for other boats, swimmers, kayakers, etc.
- Obey all Alabama laws – if you’re coming from out of state, study up.
- Idle speed only – west of Kowaliga Bridge is idle speed only until you get to Governor’s Island. The surest way to get pulled over by the AL Marine Police is to be above idle in this zone. Make even the smallest wake and they will hammer down on you. Quite frankly, you deserve it.
- If you anchor up, use an anchor line – so many times I see folks throwing out their brand new mushroom anchor that is tied to ski rope. Bad idea. It may be easy going down, but at the end of the day when you are hauling in 75 feet of it, and it’s slick, that thin ski rope will burn your hands.
- If you swim to the stage, use a PFD – it looks like a short swim, but trust me, you will get tired. Swim with a life vest on your person.
- Bring twice as many boat bumpers than you think you will need – even if you only use 2 to attach to your pier, you will need a bunch more when your friends (old and new) sidle up to you and anchor with you.
- Buy all your provisions locally – OK, so I’m a big believer in supporting the Lake Martin locals, yes. But on the practical side, I can tell you that the local C Stores will have plenty of ice, snacks, and beverages. It’s the same price as your hometown’s. Unless you just like to load a cooler 2 days in advance, the smart move is to get it in theater.
- Take plenty of pics and video – you won’t believe how much fun it is to look at them later. Local Lake Martin photographer Kenneth Boone usually has the best ones on his SmugMug account here.
- Tweet it out – if you’re on Lake Martin and hip to twitter, use hashtags of #lakemartin and #aquapalooza and @SeaRayBoat
- Check in on FourSquare – there’s a musical event set up on Foursquare – Aquapalooza on Lake Martin
Homes For Sale On Lake Martin Near Aquapalooza 2011
Do you have some time to kill, and maybe would like to cruise by some waterfront homes that are for sale near Lake Martin’s Aquapalooza site at Kowaliga Marina?
Click on the Request List link below:
CLICK HERE TO REQUEST HOMES FOR SALE
You will be asked for your name and email, and then you will be emailed two lists we have compiled of waterfront homes for sale on Lake Martin right now. One list is east of Kowaliga Bridge, the other is west of it. This list is from the Lake Martin Area Realtors’ MLS, so it’s any brokerage’s listings, not just mine. Also, don’t worry, we DO NOT SELL, GIVEAWAY, or otherwise distribute your info.
Have a fun and save Aquapalooza 2011 on Lake Martin!
Don’t Miss JAZZ FEST 2011: Alex City and Lake Martin
The 21st annual Alexander City Jazz Festival is THIS weekend – June 10-11, 2011. It’s 2 nights of outdoor fun and FREE music: Friday night in downtown Alex City, and Saturday night at the Lake Martin Amphitheater.
This event is always a good time and one of the Lake Martin area’s biggest parties. In fact, it is one of the few remaining music festivals of its size in the southeast that is still FREE.
It’s also family friendly, and both locations will have food vendors and t-shirt sales. Bring your coolers, drinks, blankets and folding chairs, and settle in for 2 nights of great music.
Here’s the lineup for both nights:
Friday, June 10: Strand Park, Downtown Alex City
6:00 pm Davin McCoy and the Coming Attractions
7:30 pm Deep Fried Five
9:00 pm Wet Willie
Saturday, June 11: Lake Martin Amphitheater
6:30 pm Yonrico Scott Band
8:00 pm Randall Bramblett with Geof Achison
For more information, click on the following links: Alex City Jazz Fest 2011, Lake Martin Amphitheater
Here’s a video of the Lake Martin Amphitheater if you are unfamiliar with it. I shot it last summer, but the tips and directions I give still apply today:
Lake Martin’s Aquapalooza 2010 Setup
Lake Martin’s Aquapalooza 2010 is this Saturday, July 24th. The free concert is from noon to 7 pm in front of Sinclair’s restaurant in the Big Kowaliga area of Lake Martin (by Kowaliga Bridge, aka Highway 63 Bridge).
The featured artist, John Anderson, will wrap up the show (Think, “Seminole Wind”).
I went by Kowaliga Bridge this morning and shot some video of the set up. The logistics worked last year, so bring your boat and enjoy a really fun afternoon on Lake Martin. Take a look:
What: Lake Martin’s Aquapalooza 2010
When: Saturday, July 24, 12pm -7pm
Where: In the Kowaliga area of Lake Martin between Church in the Pines and Sinclair’s Restaurant (off of Highway 63)
Reservations: not required
Backstage Pass: 4th of July Fireworks Setup at Lake Martin Amphitheater
The Lake Martin Amphitheater is the place to be for 4th of July fireworks. Like any good southern boy, I like to blow up stuff. For several years I’ve tried to get this video, and now I finally have it.
I’d like to thank James Hart of Night Magic Display for walking us through the massive setup for this show. And, as always, I’d like to thank Russell Lands for putting on a great fireworks show. For future reference, here’s a link to the Lake Martin Amphitheater.
Play the video below to see the fireworks setup up close!
Aquapalooza At Lake Martin – Best Pictures And Video
Aquapalooza 2009 at Lake Martin proved to be a huge success.
I will admit to some head scratching in the time leading up to the event. How would all those people be shuttled to boats? Would there be enough anchor room? Would there be enough police?
Russell Marine, Sea Ray, the Marine Police, and Alan Jackson all delivered on a great Lake Martin experience. It truly lived up to the hype of the biggest party ever on the water at Lake Martin.
Sure, the lines were long for the shuttle boats. Sure, there were hundreds of swimmers in the way if you were boating up and down the lanes. Towards the end of the afternoon you needed someone in the front of the boat to yell “Move!” Sure, traffic was congested when everyone left after the Alan Jackson show. But all in all, it was very well done, and very safe considering the huge numbers of people that showed up.
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Big Thanks To Lake Martin Dock Company
As I said above, Russell, Sea Ray, and Alan Jackson deserve a lot of credit. But I will submit that Lake Martin Dock Company should be right in there deserving some praise, for three reasons:
1. They worked (almost) round the clock for weeks setting up the intricate anchor system that literally kept the flotilla together. They also supplied much of the barges, marine equipment, and infra structure.
2. The Love Shack! – see the above pic. Larry Bain and Sharon Johnston had the most creative and festively decorated spot to watch the concert. They had an old covered floating dock that they transformed into a fun, shady party structure. The Love Shack was complete with plants, Smith & Hawken lounge furniture, a gas grill, and a port o potty (with shoji-esque modesty screening). It was a watermark for everyone at Aquapalooza, as in “go to the Love Shack, hang a right, and we’re the fourth boat on the right.”
3. Hospitality – Larry and Sharon and family were kind enough to have my wife and I on board for the day. It was so nice! We are in their debt.
The Music At Aquapalooza Lake Martin 2009
We had to leave before Alan Jackson played. We were sad to go but didn’t want to burn our kid sitters out.
I must say that my favorite act was Jypsi. They were a young band, were yankees, and looked like the B-52s mashed up with the White Stripes. Looks deceived. They played some mean, fast, crisp bluegrass. I was loving it. When they cut into Muleskinner’s Blues, I got chill bumps in the ninety degree weather. I think even my Kentucky buddies would have approved.
More Lake Martin Aquapalooza / Alan Jackson Pictures And Video
Professional:
At the risk of hurting Sea Ray’s feelings, I submit that the best professional pics of Aquapalooza were taken by Kenneth Boone. Kenneth (known around town as “Mr. Perfect”) is the newspaper baron in Alex City, and is one of the best photographers I have the pleasure of knowing. He has outstanding aerial photos, band pics, and the best collection of crowd photos that I have seen. See below for the link, sorry I can’t figure out how to embed the slide show:
Link to Kenneth Boone’s Lake Martin Aquapalooza Photo Album
Amateur:
There are tons of amateur photos of Aquapalooza on the web. More being added every day. The best collection of them that are outside of social networks are posted on Bruce Pate’s Lake Martin dot com.
Aquapalooza Lake Martin Video:
Here’s a quick link to the search results for Aquapalooza Lake Martin on Youtube
Also below here is my video from the Love Shack:
and also one that Palmer (you can hear her laughing at me) shot of me getting interviewed by CMT. My (dwindling list of) friends are already sick of hearing about it, and I am sure that I will not make the final edit, but here it goes:
By the way, if you still have not totally lost respect for me from that goofy interview,
and you are interested in Lake Martin waterfront real estate- please contact me. I would love to help you!
Pictures And Video Of Aquapalooza Setup – Lake Martin
Here’s what the Lake Martin Aquapalooza / Alan Jackson stage, boat anchor lines, and swimming area looks like on Friday July 24, 2009.
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The music schedule is:
- 11am – Nationwide Coverage
- 12:45pm – Jypsi
- 2pm - Caitlin and Will
- 3:15pm - Matt Stillwell
- 4:30pm - Carter Twins
- 6pm to 7:30pm – Alan Jackson
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PLEASE NOTE – the entire area west of Kowaliga / Highway 63 Bridge is a IDLE SPEED only. The police WILL pull you over and give you a ticket.
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The stage:
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More Pictures: Slideshow of Lake Martin Aquapalooza Pictures
Also: Pictures of I Love Lake Martin Flickr Group
Notes to the wise: PLEASE make sure that you have at least one sober assistant to help the designated driver (who also should be sober). Make sure that you comply with all Alabama boating laws and regulations.
The best way to get pulled over is to drive recklessly or above idle speed in the concert area. In the 10 minutes while I was taking the above video and pictures, I saw 3 boats / sea doos get pulled over for going too fast. I have also heard of several (deserved) arrests in the past couple of weeks, so be warned, the police will take no guff from wise cracking hoolligans. Have fun, but be safe and be respectful of the law. They are trying to save our lives.
Anchor Locations For Alan Jackson Concert at Lake Martin Aquapalooza
Here are pictures of the exact locations for the anchor buoys to tie up your boat for the upcoming Alan Jackson concert at Aquapalooza 2009 at Lake Martin, Alabama.
View from the water at Sinclair's looking at Aquapalooza stage
looking from stage site (end of Sinclair's dock on left)
Mooring buoy - anchor lines will be attached to these
From Sinclair's dock looking east toward Kowaliga bridge
More anchors - this will be a no wake zone
Cement anchors that hold mooring buoys.
The anchor lines will be in concentric U shapes around Sinclair's dock
from stage looking over swimming area
from Kowaliga Bridge looking at Sinclair's dock
When: July 25, 2009
Where: Here is a google map to Sinclair’s Restaurant on Lake Martin, Alabama. But please note you can’t get there by car. You can only boat up to this free concert. That’s why they will have all the anchors out. The nearest boat ramp is on the north west side of Kowaliga bridge – directly across from, and in plain view of, the stage on the south west side of Kowaliga (aka AL Highway 63) Bridge.
How Much: FREE
More info: My Alan Jackson Aquapalooza Lake Martin post has more info and links.
What else: Alan Jackson himself has said that they are filming for a TV show I think on CMT so – will you get discovered? Also there is supposed to be a dancing barge, and swimming area.
Alan Jackson’s Lake Stage Highlights Aquapalooza 2009 on Lake Martin
Yep, you heard it right. The organizers of Aquapalooza 2009 are building a stage on the edge of Lake Martin for Alan Jackson.
And the only way to see the concert is on the water, by boat.
It’s an all day event on Saturday, July 25, with music starting at 11:30 AM and Jackson headlining at 6:00 PM. Since safety is an issue with an event this size, the concert will be over before dark.
According to The Wetumpka Herald, the stage will be built at the water’s edge, over on the western side Kowaliga Bridge near Sinclair’s Restaurant. There will be a swimming area and dance platform directly in front of the stage.
Click here for a Google map of the Aquapalooza 2009 Lake Martin location.
If you want an upclose view of Jackson, get there early (boats can begin “rafting up” on Friday at 2:00 PM Central). And please, have at least one sober driver and one sober first mate per boat. The driver will need to be alert to maneuver, and the mate will need to be the extra set of eyes and help fend off other bumping boats.
There will be mooring buoys with lines in Kowaliga Bay. Attendants on Sea-Doo® watercrafts will direct traffic and helping with boat mooring, and a shuttle service will help you to and from your boat.
Questions about this concert? Here’s a link to the offical Aquapalooza 2009 website FAQs.
Have fun and be safe.
Lake Martin’s 2009 Jazz Fest Will Start And End Strong
The Alex City Jazz Fest continues to provide the Lake Martin area with the best value in music and entertainment. Since the Jazz Fest is free, it’s hard to beat that value.
You can also make the case that, on the Lake Martin concert scale of things, the Jazz Fest offers some of the best music, regardless of price.
A look at prior years’ Jazz Fests rosters shows you talent that you might pay heavily to hear: Joe Bonamassa, Derek Trucks, the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, just to name a few.
OPENING WITH A BANG
Don’t be late to downtown Alex City on Friday night, June 12, 2009. The first act is old style delta blues master Kent DuChaine. He starts at 6:00 PM, so you better get there early.
Kent is a throwback to the blues pioneers of the pre-1950s era. He plays an old steel Dobro, with a slide, of course. He plays anywhere, anytime. In fact he has been in the Netherlands or something playing the week before Jazz Fest. Kent has headlined blues festivals in Europe and the US, but (for some reason) you can still see him at local bars (Marty’s in Birmingham) and private parties. He plays hard no matter if the crowd is 10 or 10,000.
I won’t go on and on about his impeccable blues lineage, except to say that through his days with Alabama blues legend Johnny Shines, he has a direct tutorial line to Robert Johnson. In fact I think he plays Johnson’s tunes to perfection. Most musicians I hear, even self b
illed blues players, do horrible justice to Robert Johnson songs. Most feel the need to try to have a modern interpretation that just falls flat. Or, they attempt acoustic and just sound weak, tinny, and condescendingly corn pone hokey. Kent plays Robert Johnson’s blues not exactly how he sounds on the Library of Congress recordings, but how he would have played them in a beer joint outside of Clarksdale, MS on a sweltering summer night. Think Clapton’s Unplugged “Rollin and Tumblin.” Rip-roaring. Brazen. Pillaging the countryside. Unafraid of the Crossroads. Mocking the hell hounds.
DuChaine also expertly covers the Chess era of the blues. Muddy, the Wolf, Sonny Boy, and the like. He switches effortlessly between the boasts of “Red Rooster” to the solemn wail of “Death Don’t Have No Mercy.” Kent also mixes in his own material with the masters.’ Solid Gold.
I’ve heard Kent play probably 30 times in my life. He only gets better. Do yourself a favor and get a taste of real authentic delta blues. I almost hate to label him like that, for fear that some may judge too quickly. But, as my wife - who “does not like Western movies” – sobbed uncontrollably through the last 2 hours of Lonesome Dove, I think that most people won’t realize he played delta blues, they will just know they loved it.
CLOSING WITH A BLAST
Susan Tedeschi will be the last act for 2009 Jazz Fest, Saturday Night at the Lake Martin Amphitheater.
She is super talented. I hear her a lot on the Sirius – XM Blues Channel. From her recordings, I think we can expect more original stuff than covers, but that’s OK by me, because she’s really good. It seems like every time I hear a strong, soulful female voice singing on the Channel, I check the artist’s name and it’s her. Tedeschi also just so happens to be married to former Jazz Fest headliner Derek Trucks.
Did I mention the Jazz Fest is free? Don’t let my lack of ink on the other acts deter you. I’m trying to say that it wil all be good.
Full 2009 Alex City Jazz Fest Schedule
Click Here for Jazz Fest on Facebook
Click Here for Jazz Fest on myspace
Jazz Fest 2007 at the Lake Martin Amphitheater
The Jazz Fest- the Lake Martin area annual music festival that is free to the public – has been scheduled for Friday June 8th and Saturday June 9th, 2007. Mark your calendars and plan to be in the area, because, as always, some great bands will be on hand to entertain you.
The music on Friday night will be held under the stars in downtown Alex City. Saturday night it will be at the Lake Martin Amphitheater just south of the Kowaliga Bridge on AL Highway 63. I’m giving you plenty of notice so that you 
won’t miss the biggest area concert event of the year. It’s a BYOB event, so you won’t get stuck buying a 12 ounce cup of beer for $12, but it is also BYO common sense, so please drink responsibly.
Just because the admission is free doesn’t mean that the music stinks. In fact the Jazz Fest has a reputation for booking folks just before they make it big. I am on the Jazz Fest Committee this year and you can be assured that this year will be no exception. I will post the lineup here as soon as they have it booked. Last year they had bands like Tinsley Ellis, the Subdudes, Marc Broussard, and the Deadstring Brothers in the lineup.
In prior years such names as Los Lonely Boys, The Derek Trucks Band, bluesman Taj Mahal, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Dickey Betts, the Radiators, and Dr. John have made the event a must do for anyone in the Lake Martin area.
If you would like to help the event remain free (read … donate and become a sponsor) you can either go through the contacts on the Jazz Fest web site or you can contact me. If you just want to enjoy the music, great, I will see you there!
BONUS TIP – The Derek Trucks Band– is scheduled to play again at the Lake Martin 
Amphitheater on Memorial Day weekend, Sunday May 27, 2007. Gates open at 4:30 PM, but you’ll have to pay to see this show. I’ll post ticket details as soon as they come available.
