Daily Loaf

The city closes down two blocks of Central Avenue for the third edition of Creative Clay’s now-annual fundraiser, FolkFest St. Pete. The free two-day street party celebrates all things folk with food and drink, art booths spotlighting the works of a range of local artisans, and a solid lineup of music throughout. Florida’s finest singer-songwriters,  folk and blues artists join national talents on the outdoor stage. South Carolina kicks off the music on Saturday, with sets by Dave Hardin, Green Grass Boys and TC Carr, Sarasota Slim and Nitro, Rebekah Pulley and the Reluctant Prophets, Ben Prestage, and The New Familiars of Charlotte, S.C. to follow (and in that order). The Sunday bill features Veronica Jackson, Ella Jet, a “Tribute to Woodstock,” Have Gun Will Travel and the main headliners and a big score for the fest – NY’s Donna the Buffalo (pictured), their folky, rootsy jams marked by elements of zydeco, old time fiddle music and three-part harmonies. Sept. 26-27, beginning at 10 a.m. both days, Central Avenue, between 11th and 13 streets N., St. Petersburg, free admission. –Leilani Polk

Time to start mapping a route that hits every major museum and attraction this side of the Bay: ArtsAlive 2009: Free Museum Day includes the Salvador Dali Museum, the Dr. Carter G. Woodson Museum, the Florida Holocaust Museum, Florida International Museum, Great Explorations, the Fine Arts Museum, the St. Pete Museum of History, the Morean Arts Center, the Pier Aquarium, the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, the Florida Craftsmen Gallery and more. Visit stpete.org/artsalive for museum hours and more info. Sat., Sept. 26.

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A quick breakdown of this holiday weekend’s most worthy concerts. For a more comprehensive schedule, check out our Upcoming Events page.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
JJ Grey & Mofro w/Shooter Jennings/Earl Greyhound [pictured] A good ol’ boy from the backwaters of Jacksonville, JJ Grey is the creative force and frontman of Mofro, their music swamp-stomping, finger-licking, funked-out rock ‘n’ roll with a solid R&B groove marked by Grey’s husky soulful drawl. LA alt-country rocker Shooter Jennings (the sole spawn of country singers Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter) just released his first compilation, Bad Magick: The Best of Shooter Jennings and the .357’s, which includes select tracks from his first three studio albums, a few live recordings and a cover of Hank Williams Jr.’s 1976 single, “Living Proof.” And NY’s Earl Greyhound features afro-thrashing bassist/singer Kamara Thomas, who brings charismatic energy to the power trio’s fiery, heavy-handed blues rock. 8 p.m., The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City, $20.

Tom Goss w/Mara Levi Goss is an out-of-the-closet singer-songwriter who abandoned seminary school and impending priesthood to pursue social justice issues and his love of music. His vocals are high and pleasantly emotive, his acoustic pop touching and uplifting. He’s currently touring in support of his 2009 release, Back to Love.  4:30-6:00pm, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg,  free (students only). Read the rest of this entry »

All photos by Sam Goresh.

WMNF celebrated its 30th birthday in a big way this past Saturday September 12, at the Ritz Ybor. My mission, and I chose to accept it, was three rooms, 12 bands, and about six hours worth of music: GO!

The schedule included a line-up of amazing talent and I wanted to hear it all, or as much as I could of each band, at least. The Ritz Ybor was divided into three stage areas. The Main Stage featured Have Gun, Will Travel, then the Legendary JC’s and Paul Thorn (pictured), with Nervous Turkey closing out the night. Sarasota Slim kicked things off in the Royal Room, and sets by Knock Down Drag Out and Barley Pink rounded things out (Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers were supposed to play here but their performance was canceled at the last minute). Suite Caroline opened the music in the Rivoli Room, and Amanda Shires and her Roaring Fiddle, Tribal Style and Ray Olan and the Jazz Ole Band followed. After I was given the unofficial tour of the venue by my Tampa-native concert buddy, we sat down and came up with a game plan to ensure that we caught them all.

The overall atmosphere was fun, festive and generally awesome. Smiling faces and crazy outfits abounded, and the Ritz was decked out with birthday banners, signs, and celebratory glitz and glamour, not to mention a giant birthday cake drooled over for half the night by those of us with a sweet tooth. I spotted a few familiar faces from my GrooveFest experience, proving that WMNF certainly has its faithful supporters and is 30 years strong because of them. (More photos + a photo gallery after the jump) Read the rest of this entry »

Community radio has enjoyed a short but storied history in America, beginning on the West Coast in 1946 with the launch of KPFA at Berkeley by journalist/pacifist Lewis Hill and a group of like-minded individuals dedicated to fostering “a lasting understanding between nations and between individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors.” Community radio really blossomed in the 1960s during our country’s cultural revolution, when the appeal of breaking down prevailing traditions and boundaries became more widespread. Listener-supported stations were free from the corporate sponsors that exercised control over commercial stations, their minuscule budgets both a burden and benefit — virtually no money to work with, but a staff of community volunteers who actively participated as disc jockeys and producers, and brought color and variety back to radio with a diverse range of programming. By the 1970s, community stations had carved out a place amidst the corporate radio structure and were broadcasting in almost every state.

WMNF, the Bay area’s own beloved community radio station, first went on air in 1979 and celebrates 30 years of broadcasting on Saturday with its annual birthday party. This year’s event features 12 bands on three stages — national headliners Paul Thorn, Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers, and Amanda Shires, all pictured, as well as local and regional players like Nervous Turkey and the Legendary JC’s — at the Ritz Ybor. Here’s the complete breakdown, with video. Read the rest of this entry »