Southern Hospitality

Home sweet home. This place was magical in every way. Great people, great food, great atmosphere. Saint Francisville is a small plantation community 30 minutes north of Baton Rouge, LA. We arrived in this sleepy little town and weren't sure what to expect, but it turned out to be our favorite stop so far. We've even been invited back to stay in the cabins to write our next record.   

Robin's grandchildren Blakely & Sean-David at the Magnolia Cafe

We played at a place called the Magnolia Cafe on the property of a lady named Robin who not only owns the cafe (this place has an amazing screened patio that is larger than the restaurant itself with a stage area and a bar too) but she also owns a series of 1940's style cabins/bungalo's on the property. Each band got their own separate family-style cabin with 2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms with spa, kitchen and 

full size southern-style porch with porch swing to boot! 

The ladies on the porch swing

The front porch of the Musical Charis cabin

And after a home-cooked meal of jumbalaya and chicken, feta, spinach pizza we were feelin' quite spoiled. Robin went around to all the family plantations in town to invite folks out to our show, and it seemed like the whole town was in attendance. We enjoyed their company just as much as they enjoyed our tunes and after our show we were even invited down the street to our new friend Chris' treehouse/fort that he built. 

Now this was no ordinary kiddie tree house. You have to walk down a hidden trail across a wooden bridge and onto the full size deck until you come upon a set of stairs that leads down to the bonfire and back up to the lodging quarters. The treehouse is one of 3 properties that Chris owns in the area. Saint Francisville is a known for it's deep historical roots and even has 

a couple infamous ghosts in town, or so they say. 

On the steps of the treehouse

Plantations have been passed down from generation to generation so the family roots are deep here, and everyone knows each other by name. After a night of music by the bonfire, we walked back to our cabin for a good nights' sleep, dreaming about the months to come when we would play at the Magnolia Cafe every Friday night to make trade for our rent in the family cabin. 

This is one of many beautiful Southern Plantation homes in Saint Francisville

Swamp lands just outside of Baton Rouge

The next morning, we woke up and had breakfast at Robin's sister's restaurant, also on the plantation, and met up with Chris who took us out in his fishing boat along the Bayou Sara. He was an excellent tour guide through the back waterways of the Mississippi river, showing us the unique elements of Bayou life including a beautiful cypress swamp with countless yellow flowers, lilly pads and of course the slender cypress trees that grow right up from the water and up into the clear blue sky. The whole experience was something we'll never forget. 

We were sad to go, but happy to know that we were welcome back anytime. Saint Francisville was a great refresher for us and 

a big dose of Southern Hospitality! 

See you soon Saint Francisville! 

We miss you Brian Jennings! Wish you were here with us!...You'd better be on the next one with us buddy!