Renowned guitarist Jeff Pevar and vocalist Inger Nova Jorgensen will return to St. Croix July 3-5 to headline the inaugural Deep End Music Festival, a three-day celebration of live music, fireworks, food and collaboration between local and visiting musicians at the Deep End Bar & Grill on the island’s East End.
Organized by Deep End owner Paul Blair in collaboration with local music promoter Greg Ray Dunnett, the festival will feature live music throughout the day and night, the East End’s only fireworks show, designated camping sites, Love Shack Barbeque, drink stations and an open restaurant.
In addition to featuring various local artists, including Kurt Schindler’s Loop Show, Mercy Child, and more, the festival brings to the island an impressive cadre of popular stateside musicians, all of whom are involved in Pevar and Jorgensen’s various musical projects.
A headlining act is the couple’s project, “Zepdrix,” which features a focused exploration of the music of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, two of rock’s most influential catalogs. In Zepdrix, Pevar, renowned for his collaborations with David Crosby, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Ray Charles, Phil Lesh, Jefferson Starship, Joe Cocker and others, navigates the full guitar architecture of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin while handling the Hendrix vocals with, as promotional materials describe it, “phrasing and tone that draw from the source without slipping into imitation.”
Meanwhile, Jorgensen fronts the Zeppelin material, taking on Robert Plant’s range and dynamic intensity while “bringing a distinctly feminine presence to the repertoire. Her vocals soar where they need to, pull back when the song demands it, and carry both power and nuance.”
Zepdrix treats the catalog as a living, constantly evolving repertoire that is “studied, internalized, and re-expressed in real time. It’s not revivalism; it’s conversation.”
Pevar and Jorgensen will also perform original material and will be joined by others, including veteran musician Matt Zeiner, a soulful singer and keyboardist best known for playing Hammond B3 organ and singing for The Dickey Betts Band and Great Southern.
Zeiner and members of his recent band, The Weight, which performs the music of The Band, will also join Pevar, Jorgensen and others in performances featuring music by The Allman Brothers Band, The Band and more.
As Dunnett explains, “Each of the three nights will feature different configurations of ‘Jeff & Friends,’ with local musicians joining in at various times.”
Pevar and Jorgensen said they are excited to bring such a talented ensemble to St. Croix.
“We’ll be performing music ranging from deep groove R&B to the searing classic rock of Zeppelin & Hendrix,” Pevar said. “This world class ensemble will be playing both infectious classic and original R&B/funk music and sets of classic Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin music to celebrate the weekend’s festivities!”
The Deep End Music Festival is, in part, the fruition of a vision Dunnett has pursued since moving to St. Croix 15 years ago. With wide-ranging connections throughout the music industry and 40 years of experience as a music promoter, Dunnett has long sought to bring world-class musicians and bands to the island.
It has also been a longstanding goal of Dunnett’s to create music events and festivals that encourage collaboration and exchange between local musicians and national and international performers.
Handling the planning and logistics for a large-scale event is no small task, but Dunnett said he has been encouraged by the commitment shown by Blair and the Deep End staff.
“Paul and his staff are doing an amazing job bringing the thunder and the great food to the Deep End,” Dunnett said.
While Dunnett was responsible for connecting many of the participating musicians, including longtime friends Pevar and Jorgensen, he is quick to credit Blair for organizing the event.
“This particular event at the Deep End is Paul Blair’s Music Festival,” Dunnett said. “And like with his other events, including the annual Pauloween, we have joined forces on this one.”
Organizers hope the Deep End Music Festival will become an annual summer tradition on St. Croix.
