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.

Giveaway: New Album from Rising Appalachia, Wider Circles

Wider Circles

Dynamic folk music for modern times

The latest release from Rising Appalachia breathes new life into folk music traditions of the American South. While traveling the Americas, Europe, and parts of India, sisters Leah and Chloe Smith have studied age-old musical traditions and integrated them with their own Appalachian folk music heritage.

After two years of songwriting, composing, and then recording at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, N.C., the Kickstarter funded album has been warmly received by long-time fans and newcomers alike. It was dubbed "Earth Day's Soundtrack" by The Huffington Post.

Nine years and six albums into an independent career, Rising Appalachia has developed a reputation for spirited music, galvanizing lyrics, and captivating live performances. It continues to abide by values of sustainability and social responsibility, traveling by rail for the first part of the Wider Circles Tour, and inviting up to two non-profits and other community groups to each show to educate audiences on local issues.

Since the tour won't be coming this far South (the closest shows are in North Carolina), here's a chance to win a copy of the new album.

5 Acts You Don't Want to Miss at Purple Hatter's Ball

It's almost time to dance.

With Purple Hatter’s Ball less than a week away, I’m getting ready to return to Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park for another weekend of stellar performances. On May 8-10, Florida’s premier outdoor music venue will host this festival, dedicated to the memory of Rachel Morningstar Hoffman, with a pre-party on Thursday, May 7.

This year’s lineup is more than worth the price (tickets are currently $138 for a three-day weekend pass and $45 for Thursday’s pre-party), featuring Lotus as a headliner and many other accomplished and up-and-coming bands from around the country. Here’s some background on five acts I’ll be sure not to miss this weekend.

Red Lion Pub Adds New Venue, The Lion's Den

Rosemarie Ryan prepares hors d'oeuvres for The Lion's Den's soft opening. View the entire album, Making of the Lion's Den, here. Photo by: AJ Hege Photography

A boon to Orlando's growing local music community

Winter Park’s Red Lion Pub has established itself as a home for local music in the Orlando area, playing a part in the success of many of Orlando’s favorite musicians; Evan Taylor Jones, for example, used to play here weekly with his original band.

Artists of all types, including funk, folk, acoustic, electronic, reggae, and rock have played the stage over the years, not to mention the spellbinding performances by fire spinners and other prop manipulators on Tuesday nights.

A labor of love by the Ryan family and many others who have long been supporters of the pub, The Lion’s Den is shaping up to be a popular spot where local musicians and artists can exercise their talents in a welcoming environment.

Located near the intersection of Semoran Boulevard and Howell Branch Road and directly adjacent to the Red Lion Pub, it shoots straight back with a raised stage at the far end. A wall of mirrors on the right reflects a 40-foot mural on the left, an ongoing project that is the work of numerous artists and tells the story of the pub and its many beloved characters. Wooden drink rests run along both side walls.

It is a work in progress, but the soft opening on Sunday evening was a treat and got me excited for what is to come. I spoke briefly with Christian Ryan, son of the pub’s owner, Rosemarie Ryan, to learn more.

Fun in the Sun at Cigar City Brewgrass Festival

Festival goers admire art by live painter Drake Arnold

Jam bands heat things up in St. Pete

Ferg's Sports Bar and Grill hosted the second day of the Cigar City Brewgrass Festival on Sunday, March 15, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The event was sponsored by Cigar City Brewing, and performers included The Werks, Zoogma, Holey Miss Moley, Ajeva, and Eddie Roberts' East Coast Sounds.

Two alternating stages in the outdoor area next to the open air bar made for a relaxed atmosphere, since there was no need to worry about missing a show and not far to walk for a cold drink. It was a beautifully sunny day of music, art, and laughter. Check out the photos below.

Why I Loved AURA Music & Arts Festival (Plus Photos)

Live painters creating during Break Science Live Band's set on Sunday night

Incredible music, inspiring art, and an immersive feel

It was a weekend of jam — the kind of jams that make you wonder just how music could be this good and what god blessed you with the ability to hear it. The kind of jams that give you a crooked smile because you feel like you've just learned the greatest secrets of the universe. The kind of jams that make you grateful for talented musicians with the heart to bare it all in such an evocative way.

This was the essence of AURA Music and Arts Festival: creative expression given the freedom to soar, supported by the winds of a fiercely receptive (and captive) audience of music (and art) lovers.

And there was no shortage of either. A short walk around the festival grounds revealed musicians playing to enthusiastic crowds in the charming venues offered by Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (the Amphitheater Stage, the Porch Stage, and the Music Hall) as well as in the Vibe Tent, which was also home to yoga and healing arts workshops and the late-night silent disco.

I was most engaged by sets from TAUK, The Motet, Consider the Source, Jimkata, Dopapod, and Papadosio. TAUK brought me back to life midnight Saturday in the Music Hall and Dopapod covered No Doubt’s “Just a Girl”. A Michael Jackson tribute set by The Main Squeeze was the dance party we all needed Sunday afternoon and Break Science Live Band’s debut performance closed out the festival with some funky breaks.

9 Affordable Spring Music Festivals in Florida

Discover new music without breaking the bank.

We're very lucky here in Florida: Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, one of the most beautiful outdoor music venues in the country (in my humble opinion), hosts several amazing festivals throughout the year, each with a stellar lineup and fantastic production. Unfortunately, those amazing festivals can come at a high price, often upward of $200 per ticket.

For someone who loves music as much as I do, seeing it live can become a serious financial drain, especially during festival season. So I've compiled a list of fests with tickets that can be purchased for less than $100 to help you get your fix this spring without going broke.

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 Facebook event (if one has been created).

Zach Deputy's "Gospel Ninja Soul" Comes to Downtown Orlando

Zach Deputy at Backbooth on 2/13

Feel Good Jams with a Side of Funk

Zach Deputy’s music is a balm for tired spirits, the work of a joyful man who lives with gratitude in his heart. On Feb. 13, he brought his one man show to Backbooth in Downtown Orlando for a funky night that opened with a set by Orlando’s own funkUs.

If you don’t know Zach, here’s the low-down: He’s a Southern boy, born in Bluffton, S.C. He’s a touring machine, hitting cities all over the country every year. He’s a lover of Florida; he can often be found playing shows in the state and even hosts a disc jam at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

He plays a mixture of funk, soul, and gospel music, heavily influenced by his rich cultural heritage. He loops and layers all the elements of his music (guitar, bass, beatboxing, vocals, drum sounds) during performances, allowing for flexibility and creativity so that each show is a unique experience.

Celebrate Life and Love at B.E. Easy Music & Arts Festival

Support the efforts of the B.E. Easy Scholarship Fund

This Valentine’s Day, the beautiful Bryant Park in Lake Worth, Fla., will host the B.E. Easy Music and Arts Festival featuring Nahko and Medicine for the People, Cope, The Resolvers, Unlimited Devotion and Friends, Ancient Sun, The Funky Nuggets, and Sawgrass Express.

Ancient Sun and The Funky Nuggets will also play a pre-party on Friday, Feb. 13 (that’s right, Friday the 13th), at the Funky Buddha Lounge in Boca Raton. Plus, Thriftworks will headline a Saturday night after-party at Propaganda, a venue located just one-half mile from the festival site, with support from Lucky Costello.

In addition to a fierce lineup of local and national acts, this fest truly has heart. B.E. Easy was created to honor the life of a young man named Benjamin Evans, who was prescribed opiates at the age of 19 and developed an addiction. Though he later got clean, he lost his battle one fatal night at the age of 23.

It was Benjamin’s brother Christopher’s idea to hold the festival in his brother’s memory, and with the help of loving family members and devoted friends, B.E. Easy saw its first incarnation two years later in 2013.

A change in date and location has moved the 3rd Annual B.E. Easy Music and Arts Festival to Bryant Park on Saturday, Feb. 14. Situated along the Intracoastal Waterway, the park offers enchanting views of the water, a built-in amphitheater, restroom facilities, and more.

How a Viral Facebook Post Recovered This Missing Painting

Drake Arnold and his painting at Suwannee Hulaween

An uplifting example of the power of social media

When I saw Drake Arnold’s Facebook post saying his painting Giver of Light had been stolen, I remembered being captivated by it at Suwannee Hulaween. It stood alone so I didn’t get the chance to acquaint myself with the artist, but I saw the post because it was shared by a friend who’d also been to the festival.

I felt dismay and disappointment hearing that this happened at what had been such a beautiful fest (and knowing that it happens at other fests, too). So when I saw the painting again at Bear Creek Music Festival, back in the hands of its creator, I was delighted and intrigued. I wanted to know how it had found its way home.

I spoke to Drake and learned that the Facebook post had actually played a big part in the painting’s return, a bigger part than even he thought it would.

Permaculture Action Tour Organizer Talks About Its Success

Jasmine says some people haven't been expecting to hear this message at the shows.

She hopes her work with The Polish Ambassador will inspire other artists to speak out for change.

David Sugalski, aka The Polish Ambassador, and Ayla Nereo have just wrapped up their cross-country permaculture action tour that brought permaculture education and hands on activism to each city on its route. Successfully crowdfunded in one month, this groundbreaking tour has received overwhelming support from music fans who are ready for their musicians to step up and use their voices for change. 

The aptly named “impact days” have seen high levels of attendance; on some days volunteers have even worked simultaneously on projects in different locations. At one of the Orlando events, I met Jasmine Fuego, a community organizer and dancer for the tour. In addition to doing her thing on stage, Jasmine was responsible for reaching out to local organizations to get them to come to the shows, educate the audiences on the organizations' work in their communities, and host the impact days where people could come out and do real work in the areas of permaculture, food justice, and sustainability. 

I sat down with Jasmine and asked her a few questions about the promotion of the tour, the response from fans, and the future of this kind of activism in the music industry.

So far it seems that you guys have been getting a very positive response to these impact days that you have been putting together. What kind of reactions have you personally been getting from people about what you guys are doing? How are they responding? 

Members of Papadosio Talk Shifts & Sound in Jax Beach

Papadosio plays Freebird Live in Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

"If our music was a spaceship, we’re taking little vehicles out and exploring ..."

I arrived in Jacksonville Beach a little early on Saturday to attend the “Inter-Kinnector” pre-show gathering hosted by my friends at C4 Collective at the Ananda Kula yoga studio. Anthony Thogmartin, Sam Brouse, and Mike Healy of Papadosio were leading a panel on the “kNew Paradigm” and discussing how we in the music festival community can be amicable in our pursuit of a new and sustainable model for living.

“In this community ... we have, in some way, bought into the idea of us and them," Anthony said. "And because of that, a lot of times our ideas, we feel like they fall on deaf ears … If we could do one thing better as our community, [it] is to try to relate to people. … We have to stop taking ourselves so seriously, and take what other people think of as serious, because we want to reach out to them; we want to be able to embrace them.”

Awareness of how we approach people with our truth is vital, especially in this time of transition.

“My parents weren’t all that environmentally friendly or forward-thinking until we started to be. So I feel like we are the first real generation that has a lot of forward-thinking individuals,” Sam added.

The conversation went on with several outbursts of laughter and thoughtful input from members of the circle that had formed on the studio floor. We discussed how music festivals themselves could do better at facilitating real change in the communities they temporarily occupy and living up to the “transfomational” moniker. But we also talked about the individual and how each of us has a responsibility to make an impact on the lives of those we come in contact with.

The time came to shift over to Freebird Live in preparation for Papadosio’s set. Rob McConnell was holding it down on stage with his second band, Asian Teacher Factory, a psychedelic-infused expedition through rock and roll soundscapes. I sat down for a brief interview with Anthony on the reasons behind some of Papadosio’s most recent moves.

The Imaginal Cells Fall Tour has you making a total of six stops in Florida (That’s quite a bit for you guys.), including Orlando where you haven’t been in a while. What made you decide to come back?

Earthdance: Uniting the World Through Music and Art

The largest global synchronized peace gathering

Earthdance Florida is part of a global party for peace.

Would you go to a festival where the theme was ancient mythology and you'd have the chance to recite a Prayer for Peace with people all around the world at the exact same moment? Attendees at Earthdance Florida 2014 will get to do just that, over the weekend of September 18-21 at Maddox Ranch in Lakeland, Fla.

This 4-day festival, presented by Earthdance Florida — a branch of Earthdance Global — is part of the largest global peace party that has been held in over 600 locations in 80 countries since 1997. Florida's event will feature art, music, workshops, live performances, and vendors spread over five interactive "realms", inspired by ancient cultures and the elements.

The Greek Realm (Air) will host Saturday's Prayer for Peace at 7 p.m., with an effigy performance and burn to follow at 8:30 p.m. It will also be home to the Lotus Tempe Stage and the vendor market.

The Egyptian Realm (Fire) will hold the Gateway to Eternity Stage and be the location of various flow workshops throughout the weekend. 

Vision Lab's visionary art galleries will be found in The Asian Realm (Spirit), as well as the Tribal Council dome where art, energy, and wellness talks and workshops will take place.

Local change organizations Rising Light and C4 Collective will host workshops on sustainability, upcycling, and more in The Celtic Realm (Earth), the site of the food market and recycling and compost station.

Finally, The Atlantis Realm (Water) will be a place to get wet in the pool or showers, open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Musical acts to include Random Rab, Phutureprimitive, Aphrodite, Govinda, The Human Experience, and Greenhouse Lounge, as well as local favorites Come Back Alice, The Funky Nuggets, and Holey Miss Moley will be performing over the weekend. Dela, Christopher Morphis, Emily Kell, and Bonnie Goodson are just a few of the visual artists that will be present at the festival.

St. Pete Artist Has This Advice on Becoming a Live Painter

Jerry Cahill's art on display at Blackstock Music Festival.

"Be persistent."

I had the chance to sit down with St. Petersburg artist Jerry Cahill while I was volunteering in the art gallery at Blackstock Music Festival. When we spoke, he had just quit his job, moved out of his house, and was planning to take his work on the road as a full-time artist.

He said that it was a good time in his life, that he had just gotten his A.A. degree, and that he had saved up some money in preparation. "... I gotta figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life, so I'm kind of taking a break on everything."

When I asked him to give some advice to upcoming/beginner artists, he had this to say to anyone wanting to get into painting live:

Local Singer/Songwriter Discusses Challenges of Full-Time Musicianship

Singer/songwriter Loi Head performs at the 13th Annual DeLand Original Music Festival. 

"It definitely brings up a lot of questions ..."

For Loi Head, music has always been a part of life, even in the early years. Her mother and grandmother sang to her as a child. Her older sister was a singer, and may have been the inspiration for her joining chorus as a young student.

In college, Loi joined a worship team and sang back up vocals for a campus ministry. This got her around musicians, and after college she picked up the guitar and started to learn.

The decision to become a full-time musician came after the encouragement of others piqued her interest.

"Several people had just randomly talked to me about that," Loi says, "which I had never thought of before on my own, like, oh, I should be doing this. So then words of encouragement got me thinking about it, and then picking up the guitar and learning that kind of flowed together. I would be practicing and just thinking about words and songs and melodies and everything kind of coming together. So just through writing songs, even when I wasn't proficient at the guitar, made me want to do it even more." 

5 Tips for Protecting Your Rights at Music Festivals

Photo adapted from The B's "Police Woman"

Knowledge is key.

The sun is shining, the nights are longer, and every weekend brings a different music festival jam-packed with camping, non-stop music, and the gathering of like-minded individuals from across the country.

Festival season is upon us and it is a mecca for some during these glorious summer months, but it is also a profitable time for police and task forces in the local governing areas. It’s important to remember that although being at a festival can feel like your own personal playground, “drink all day and rock all night, law come to get you if you don't walk right.”

The number of people arrested at music festivals is growing, and you don’t want to be one of them. A weekend of fun that changes your life could do so negatively if slapped with a drug charge. The majority of people arrested at music festivals are charged with drug charges that range from misdemeanor marijuana possession, felony distribution of LSD, trafficking a controlled substance, to knowingly obtaining, possessing, or using a controlled substance. 

So, if you are ready to get away from reality and escape to a festival for a weekend, let’s focus on how to keep it a pleasurable experience and create a more responsible, positive community.

The most important thing to remember is that you have rights, and you need to know them. If you are going to travel with anything illegal, be smart, drive safe, and don’t bring attention to yourself. Make sure all lights are working, registration is up to date, your car is insured, and that there is nothing that would make law enforcement suspicious of you and your vehicle. If you are traveling with other people make sure that they are not drawing attention to themselves and they are educated too.

If encountered by police at a festival here are some important tips: