Jaw-Dropping Jake Shimabukuro Touring the South Next month

One of the most mind-blowing musicians on the planet -- seriously -- will be touring Georgia and Florida in March. Jake Shimabukuro is a master player, of all things, on the humble ukulele.

In his hands, the ukele sounds like a 12-string guitar. From covers of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and George Harrison's While My Guitar Gently Weeps to classical compositions and jazz, Shimabukuro puts on an jaw-dropping show.

This link takes you to a USA Today article about Shimabukuro, who is the subject of a new PBS documentary which is coming out in May. Here's some more buzz he's been getting:

“Jake is taking the instrument to a place that I can’t see anybody else catching up with.” - Eddie Vedder

In his young career, ukulele wizard Jake Shimabukuro has already redefined a heretofore under-the-radar instrument, been declared a musical “hero” by Rolling Stone, won accolades from the disparate likes of Eddie Vedder, Perez Hilton and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, wowed audiences on TV (Jimmy Kimmel, Conan), earned comparisons to Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis, and even played in front of the Queen of England.

With his new record Grand Ukulele, Shimabukuro’s star may burn even brighter.

Below, I've pasted a video to give you an idea who this music phenom is and where he comes from.

But first, here are the tour dates:

March 2 -- Robert Ferst Theater, Atlanta
March 4 -- The Plaza Live, Orlando
March 19 -- The Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
March 20 -- The Florida Theater, Jacksonville

Buy tickets -- you will not regret it!

Two Great February Fests Coming Up

Virginia Key Beach Park

February is upon us, and (at least in Florida) fest season begins again...

I've already previewed the first Florida fest of February, the funk-jam-jazz-and live electronica dance party that is Aura Music and Arts Festival (President's Day weekend, Feb. 15-17, at the beautiful Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak.) Tickets are available at the bargain price of $119 for the weekend.

Now I give you heads-up for February's second cool Florida fest -- the Virginia Key Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance, happening in a coastal park outside Miami February 21-24. This is a super-interesting eclectic fest with world-beat, Cajun, Latin, blues, old-time, and reggae on the lineup. Much-touring jamband Donna the Buffalo hosts this fest, now in its second year. The great Rusted Root is also on the bill.

This is a camping festival -- primitive sites only -- and there are a bunch of different things you need to know -- car passes, carpooling deals, etc. It's $50 a night to bring in your car and tent-camp, $25 a night to tent camp if you don't bring your car in. RV passes are $150, and there are no hookups. No campfires are allowed.

Four day tickets to the fest are $100, and there are daily ticket options as well.

Here is a great video from the fantastic Spam Allstars, who are playing the festival:

Zach Deputy hosting cool event at Spirit of the Suwannee

Now, this is going to be some good, cheap fun in the sun.

The ebullient  traveling South Carolina musician Zach Deputy is hosting a Disc Golf Jam at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. March 8-10.

Zach -- who is sometimes a One-man Band and sometimes a Man with a Band, is known for his danceable grooves which wade in the funk, calypso, and reggae waters with humor and some real guitar and singing chops. He puts on a party. 

Tickets for folks who want to enjoy the weekend but not enter the disc tourney   are $35 advanced, $45 at the gate. (Ticket price includes primitive camping.) If you want to be part of the disc golf tournament, advanced tickets are $40 and $50, depending on what competition level you want to be involved in.

Zach will play Friday at 8, Saturday at 10, and Sunday at 3 pm.  Orlando jam bands funkus and Greensound play the weekend, along with the Legendary JC's, a fine neo-soul/funk band out of Gainesville.

Here is Zach's hilarious song "Chicken Pot Pie," which as you can see, does the important job of making us all cease to take ourselves too seriously:

The Great Sam Pacetti Tonight In Tallahassee

I just don't have enough superlatives for Sam Pacetti, who is playing Tallahassee's Mockingbird tonight (7-10 pm; no cover, tips for the musicians please.)

The St. Augustine-based guitar virtuoso, who was a  protege of Florida folk great Gamble Rogers, is astonishing with his prodigious guitar skills and a singing voice that, like Joni Mitchell, can flow effortlessly from deep timbre growl to heavenly falsetto without a hitch. He's a wonder.

festgrrl had the pleasure of attending a Tallahassee house concert by Pacetti last night. He brought the house (party) down with his lightning-fast fingerpicking performance -- from classical Segovia to down-and-dirty-blues, to Irish ballads, to a happy rendition of Vince Guaraldi's steppy "Linus and Lucy" soundtrack from Charles Schultz' Peanuts to some wonderfully inspired Richard Thompson covers. (Pacetti, in fact, has opened for the great Thompson.)

Pacetti plays a lot around St. Augustine. Tallahassee is lucky to get him here tonight, and you'll be lucky if you to go see him. If you can reserve a table in the music room, all the better. If not, you can usually find a spot at the bar. 

Here's a video to whet your appetite for the show:

Get Your Tickets Now for Next Month's Aura Festival

All the funky dancers are getting ready for the next stop on the Southeast fest lineup: The Aura Music and Arts Festival!

It's happening February 15-17 this year at the Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park in Live Oak, Fl. 

Although the festival has been happening in Florida since 2010, this is the first year it is being held at Spirit of the Suwannee, a most excellent venue. 

This is a camping fest, and features an eclectic mix of live electronica, funk, jazz, rock, reggae, jam and hip-hop. Three-day tickets, which include primitive camping, are $119 online right now. (They started at the sweet early bird deal of $75) Single-day tickets are also available. Gate price is going to be $150, so buy now to save.  

It's usually an awesome time for camping in North Florida, and although festgrrl has not had the pleasure of attending Aura before, fellow festivarian reviews of past Aura fests have been wildly enthusiastic. 

Aura headliners include national touring bands Perpetual Groove, Conspirator, Papadosio, and the Heavy Pets. (festgrrl likes the funk -- her pick is Kung Fu's tribute to Stevie Wonder with Dumpstaphunk's Nigel Hall Saturday afternoon in the ampitheater; also Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band out of North Carolina.) 

Late-night will feature DJ's Silent Disco.

You can check out the full lineup below, and the schedule here. 

* Papadosio
* Conspirator
* Perpetual Groove
* The Heavy Pets
* Dopapod
* Kung Fu
* RAQ
* The Lee Boys
* Greenhouse Lounge
* DrFameus
* Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band
* Stokeswood
* Consider The Source
* Break Science
* The McLovins
* Jeff Bujak
* Brock Butler Solo
* Lingo
* Former Champions
* The Main Squeeze
* Newton Crosby
* Todd Stoops
* Nigel Hall
* Roosevelt Collier

The Great Richard Thompson Plays Tallahassee Tonight

The big news around these parts tonight is British folk legend Richard Thompson in Tallahassee, playing at Florida State University's gorgeous Ruby Diamond Hall.

And tickets are still available on the Seven Days of Opening Nights website. 

Thompson is a prodigious songwriter and hellacious guitar player with a rabid folkie following.

To get you in the mood, here's a streaming live concert that National Public Radio recorded in 2007

Enjoy!

Wanee Lineup Announced

Hot off the press: Here's the lineup for the Wanee Festival, held April 18-20 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.


Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers (of course), Gov't Mule, Tedeschi-Trucks Band, Michael Franti, Tower of Power, Les Claypool, Leon Russell, Hot Tuna, -- oh just go to the link for the rest.

Tickets go on sale Jan. 26.