ONElive Music Brings National Touring Acts to Orlando

Orlando's music scene continues to grow.

Though Orlando has no shortage of talented local musicians, I sometimes find it difficult to find in town shows by nationally touring artists that I love. However, Orlando is becoming more of a hot spot for many scenes (music, fashion, food), and ONElive Music is one booking agency that is determined to bring more national acts to the streets of O-Town.

The Main Squeeze at Backbooth on 4/21/16 and Dangermuffin at Will's Pub on 3/26/16

Tonight, funk lovers can catch Chicago's The Main Squeeze with Sweet Bea & The Boys at Backbooth at 8 p.m. Currently touring Florida, The Main Squeeze is like a natural energy shot packed with all the vitamins and minerals you need to get down. This band's live show never disappoints, thanks in part to the powerhouse vocals of Corey Frye. Tickets for tonight's show are $15 at the door.

Escaping the Horde at Roosevelt Collier's Suwannee Getdown

Roosevelt Collier joins The Groove Orient on stage for its cover of "Whipping Post" by The Allman Brothers

A chance to see Suwannee Music Park differently

If you don’t already know how I feel about Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, let me tell you now: I absolutely love that place. The setting, the people, the vibes — I always feel at home when I’m there.

On Saturday, June 27, I made it out to Roosevelt Collier’s Suwannee Getdown — one of two happening this summer — for the second night of performances. On both nights, local acts took the stage before closing sets by The Roosevelt Collier Trio.

Saturday featured Post Pluto (Pensacola), The Groove Orient (Orlando), and Squeedlepuss (Jacksonville) on the Music Hall stage. Each band gave its all to the enthusiastic fans who'd gathered for a chance to enjoy the park a bit more intimately than is possible during a larger festival like AURA or Purple Hatter’s Ball.

Kaleigh Baker & The Groove Orient Announce July Tour Dates

More summer dates coming soon

7/10 - Hard Rock - Myrtle Beach, SC
7/11 - Island Bar - Pawleys Island, SC
7/12 - The Garage - Winston Salem, NC
7/13 - Preservation Pub - Knoxville, TN
7/15 - North Carolina - TBA
7/16 - One Stop - Asheville, NC
7/17 - Pigsah Brewery - Black Mountain, NC
7/18 - The Brothership Abduction Festival (Private)
7/21 - Nowhere Bar - Athens, GA
7/22 - TBA - Atlanta, GA
7/23 - Rhythm & Brews - Chattanooga, TN
7/26 - 7/27 - TBA - Nashville, TN
7/28 - 7/31 - TBA - Alabama
More dates TBA

Two Orlando favorites, Kaleigh Baker and The Groove Orient, recently announced over 10 tour dates in July with stops in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. Dates in Alabama and other states are still to be announced.

9 Affordable Summer Music Festivals in Florida

Feel the music and delight in the summer sun.

Summer is upon us. That means less time spent indoors and more time spent enjoying the outdoors with friends and family. So, to help you have as much fun as possible this summer without going broke, I’ve put together another list of affordable festivals happening this season in Florida.

Experiencing live music in the open air is one of my favorite pastimes, and each of these festivals is an opportunity to do just that. Additionally, many offer other ways to have fun in the sun, like water slides, yoga workshops, and games.

You can

• click on the flyer to view a larger image.
• click on the ticket price to see other available options and purchase tickets (price listed is the cost of a general admission full-event pass at the time this article was written).
• click to view the website or Facebook event (if one has been created).

Purple Hatter's Ball Benefits Rachel Morningstar Foundation

Momma Margie talks about Rachel and her foundation
before releasing a butterfly on Saturday of Purple Hatter's Ball.

Love inspired by loss

On May 8-10, I once again had the pleasure of attending at festival at Florida's beautiful Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. This time it was the eighth annual Purple Hatter's Ball, celebrating the life of Rachel Morningstar Hoffman, a 23-year-old Florida State University graduate who was killed during a failed drug sting run by the Tallahassee Police Department.

For three days (plus a Thursday night pre-party) many people who'd known Rachel and many who hadn't gathered together to honor her memory by sharing in one of her favorite pastimes: seeing live music. Ticket sales benefited the Rachel Morningstar Foundation, which works to educate the public on the dangers of acting as a confidential informant and establish guidelines for law enforcement officers engaged with confidential informants.

The lineup featured Lotus, Nahko and Medicine For the People, Toubab Krewe, The Werks, Random Rab, Greenhouse Lounge, The Malah, and many more. Over 15 live painters, including Alex and Allyson Grey, Christopher Morphis, Emily Kell, and Jerry Cahill were on site over the weekend. The Yoga and Arts Village held space for healing and reflection through workshops and interactive art installations.

Momma Margie (Rachel's mother) took the stage on Saturday to speak of Rachel's life, her death, and all those who had come together to make the festival possible.