Peachtree City resident Neil Cribbs has recorded a new CD with producer Simon Illa (Vonnegutt, Manchester Orchestra) and engineer Sam Thomas. The problem is he needs a little more money to get it finished and out to the public. Cribbs debated going through Kickstarter to raise the funds but realized that he wanted to play music to raise money for his CD and that there were a number of other bands and musicians who understood his plight all too well. The result is Leftfest, a full day concert set for Apr. 14 in Newnan, and the money raised will go to finish production on Cribb’s album, To The Left, which isn’t a political message, but a human one.
“We’re basically told that there is a right way to do things, a right path to follow,’ Cribbs explained. “The idea behind the album and the song is kind of like Robert Frost’s poem. Two paths and if you don’t take the right one, you go to the left.”
Cribbs is a tireless performer, touring around the southeast frequently. He plays at several venues locally as well as in Atlanta and makes numerous trips to North Carolina as well. It only seemed natural to find another place to play to raise the final amount for the album. He asked some friends to join him and soon word got out to other acts to fill the bill. Leftfest will be a full day of music, starting at 12:30 p.m. and going until midnight. Cribbs and festival organizers are trying to limit the number of people to 200-250 people and there will be approximately 50 camping spots available for the night as well. In addition to wall to wall, family friendly music, there will also be barbecue, raffles and more.
Cribbs will obviously headline the show but other acts include The Velvet Jesus, Vancouver, Nick Dwyer, Code Monaco, Jake and the Bear, Asher Armstrong, Paris Luna, Cory White, The Sleepy Turtles, Heather Luttrell, Jessi Lynn and Tim McNary. McNary and Cribbs have recently been out on tour together and will be hitting the road together again soon.
“To the Left” will be Cribbs’ most ambitious album to date and it is one he is hoping to breakthrough with. Cribbs, never one to classify his music as one style or another, stated that the album moves from styles like swing to Paul Simon type tunes.
“It was an incredibly organic process and we did things outside the box to get certain sounds,” Cribbs said. That included stomping on the floor and hitting the wall while recording the sound on an iPhone to using a megaphone during another song.
Since announcing plans for Leftfest earlier this month, the word has been growing. Cribbs hopes that the event continues and can be used to help other local musicians gather and play for a crowd, while raising money for their albums.
Tickets for the show are on sale now through Ticketbud at leftfest.com. They are $15 in advance and will be $2o at the gate if there are any spots left. Camping is $25. Leftfest will be held in Newnan, Ga. at the end of Land Baron Dr Way.
