This video features interviews, live performances and other highlights from the first annual Fire on the Swamp music festival which was held at the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation on Dec. 4-5, 1993. Pete Gallagher and Elan Chalford organized the festival along with Chief Jim Billie and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The festival featured American fiddle legend Chubby Wise and the traditional Irish fiddler James Kelly. There were three fiddle contests held that weekend with over $5,000 in prizes. We hope you enjoy this look back at a piece of Florida Folk history!

On September 12, 2019 Pete interviewed Chief Jim Billie on his front porch. Chief Jim Billie talks about his childhood growing up on the Dania Chimp Farm, his time deployed in Vietnam, his experience as Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, leadership, preserving Seminole culture and much more.

After the Florida Folk Night @ Old Key West, Pete sits down with Raiford Starke for an intimate interview in Pete's living room. They discuss Raiford's life, family and career. Raiford talks about growing up outside of D.C., how he first got into music, his time spent playing with Chief Jim Billie, spring break in the Florida Keys playing with Big Dick and the Extenders and much more.

This episode of the Florida Folk Show podcast is all about storytelling. It features some great segments including Chief Jim Billie telling the Seminole legend of the Kissimmee River, Will McLean telling the story of the massacre that started the First Seminole War, Chubby Wise explaining his role in writing Orange Blossom Special, and much more. We hope you enjoy these uniquely Florida stories and songs.

Robert Orr “Bobby” Hicks was a legendary Florida folk music songwriter best known for his celebration of the Florida cracker native and staunch defense of the Florida environment in story, song and a roaring activism that scared land developers, water polluters and, even, his own audiences, into paying close attention to a man whose passion for Florida and hatred for those who would despoil it knew absolutely no limits. He took no hostages. He told no lies. He never backed down. “I’m Florida,” he sung out at every show. “Need I say more?”