Serving up a good time for charity; Gov't Mule, moe., beer at Southern Brewers Festival - Aug. 22-23

IF YOU GO• What: Southern Brewers Festival.• When: 5 p.m.-midnight. Friday, Aug. 22, 3 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Aug. 23.• Where: Ross's Landing, 100 Riverfront Parkway.• Admission: $40 online, $60 at the gate; free for children under 12. Discount tickets, $30 for both days, at area Kangaroo Express stores.• Website: southernbrewersfestival.org.SCHEDULEFriday, Aug. 226 p.m. Cabinet8 p.m. Soulive10 p.m. moe.Saturday, Aug. 234 p.m. AJ Ghent6 p.m. Randall Bramblett & Friends8 p.m. Greensky Bluegrass10 p.m. Gov't Mule

BEERS BITES TONIGHTEasy Bistro & Bar, 203 Broad St., will offer a preview of the Southern Brewers Festival with "A Tasting With Brooklyn Brewery" from 6 to 8 tonight, Aug. 21. This evening of bites and beers will feature five of Brooklyn's finest brews, crafted by head brewmaster Garrett Oliver, recipient of a 2014 James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Professional. Brooklyn representative Josh Scutella will offer tastes of the brewery's Lager, Blast, Local 2, Sorachi Ace and Black Chocolate Stout. Each will be paired with hors d'oeuvres prepared by chef Erik Niel. Tickets are $35 and include complimentary valet parking. Online ticket sales are available at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/809667; or call 423-266-1121 to check on availability.

Sometimes you wonder how Warren Haynes keeps it all straight. Not only does he have to keep up with a relentless touring and recording schedule, he has to remember which band he's playing guitar for at the moment.

Just this past weekend, for example, he had shows with Gov't Mule and The Allman Brothers Band. On the same day.

He's also been doing sets for the Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration and solo sets.

This weekend, it's all Gov't Mule with shows tonight in Virginia, Friday in Athens, Ga., and Saturday in Chattanooga, where he will headline the second night of the Southern Brewers Festival. The Friday night headliner is moe.

The event has expanded to two days for the first time this year, and in addition to the great lineup of music, makers of some of the best craft and artisan beers from around the country will be on hand to provide samples. Patrons will have more than 100 beers to choose from. Nonalcoholic drinks and food are also available.

Monies raised will go this year to Chattanooga Kids on the Block and to the Chattanooga Community Kitchen. Last year, the event netted $174,000 for charities.

Haynes, who early in his career played with David Allan Coe, then Dickey Betts, is not the only artist to float between gigs while still maintaining his own identity. Fellow ABB guitarist Derek Trucks is another, able to have a solo career, co-front the Tedeschi Trucks Band and be a regular member of "the Brothers."

Haynes has done it for a long time, however. Gov't Mule is celebrating 20 years and released a double album called "Shout!" as part of the celebration. It features 11 songs plus a bonus disc with a guest lineup of vocalists reinterpreting hit songs, including Elvis Costello, Dr. John, Ben Harper, Toots Hibbert, Glenn Hughes, Jim James, Myles Kennedy, Dave Matthews, Grace Potter, Vintage Trouble's Ty Taylor and Steve Winwood.

Haynes first joined ABB in 1989 for the Reunion Tour at the suggestion of Betts. It was supposed to be a one-year stint.

"I had no reason to think otherwise," Haynes says.

He and Allen Woody left ABB in 1997 to concentrate on the Mule band, but when Woody died in 2000, Haynes, along with Trucks, the nephew of ABB drummer Butch Trucks, began touring and playing regularly with the band.

Both announced they would be leaving ABB at the end of this year.

Haynes says everyone in the band knew of their plans for a while before it was leaked to the media by a band member during a cruise in January. Still, Haynes says playing a show in Atlanta days after word got out was tougher than he expected.

"It was very emotional for all of us," he says. "I have such reverence for the Allman Brothers and what they've created. It was bittersweet."

He plans to devote more time to The Mule and to his many side projects.

"I grew up listening to so many types of music and exploring. That's always been important to me to continue that," he says. "I've done so many projects with so many musicians that have just coincided with so many opportunities. I love bouncing back and forth. It's exciting."

Also in the lineup for Brew Fest are Cabinet and Soulive on Friday, Aug. 22, and AJ Ghent, Randall Bramblett & Friends and Greensky Bluegrass on Saturday, Aug. 23.

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.

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