The Story Behind the Peach Music Festival [VIDEO]

The Allman Brothers were hard at work recording an album in 1971, when their whole world changed. Band leader and slide guitar player Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle wreck.

Luckily, much of the 2 record set was live music that didn't make it onto their At Fillmore East album. And there was also the 33 minute Mountain Jam, inspired by Donovan's There Is A Mountain. Some of the album contained studio recordings, 3 of which featured Duane.

After Duane's death, the band re-recorded Melissa, which was Duane's favorite song.

The album name was originally The Kind We Grow in Dixie, but no one liked it and decided to use a comment Duane had said a few times: "...every time I'm in Georgia I eat a peach for peace."  Eat A Peach for short.

Last year was the 40th anniversary of the album's release, so the Allman Brothers called it the Year of the Peach! As they were talking about how to celebrate, the decided to hold a festival that was a celebration of collaborations and the music.

The Peach Music Festival was born. Last year's, at Montage Mountain in Scranton, was a success beyond all expectations, so it's back for a second year. It is next week, the 15th through the 18th. The list of artists taking part is impressive. For details on a show you don't want to miss, that will forever be a tribute to Duane, check out the details here.

And eat a peach!

My favorite performance from last year: Zac Brown Band & Charlie Starr.