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Wednesday, June 17, 2026

The Avenue: Music

Gainesville’s High Dive closed temporarily for six months due to COVID-19 business shutdowns. Now, the venue is moving forward as Gainesville’s music scene recovers.

The Avenue

The show must go on: How Gainesville venues are moving forward

By Heather Bushman | Nov. 2, 2020

Live streams and fundraisers continue through uncertainty

Fireworks and a large crowd marked last year’s Tom Petty Birthday Bash. This year's virtual event will celebrate what would have been Petty's 70th birthday.

The Avenue

Tom Petty’s 70th Birthday Bash to be held virtually today

By Marlena Carrillo | Oct. 23, 2020

The free event will feature an all-star lineup with over 60 artists

“Red Corvette” represents a thematic and sonic departure from Bambii’s earlier projects.

The Avenue

Gainesville Artist Bambii Releases New Single ‘Red Corvette’

By Heather Bushman | Oct. 12, 2020

'Red Corvette,’ released Oct. 5, offers a chill-wave feel with a retro twist.

Gainesville music artist Azazus releases his new single "Reaper" on Oct. 1. The song features a horror music video inspired by Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

The Avenue

Don’t fear the reaper: Azazus to thrill viewers with Michael Jackson-inspired horror music video

By Marlena Carrillo | Sep. 30, 2020

The video for the rapper’s new single ‘Reaper’ drops Oct. 1

True to Still Woozy’s name, “BS” has a woozy and dreamy quality with echoed vocals and snappy rhythms.

The Avenue

Song ‘BS’ is anything but BS: A conversation with Still Woozy

By Katie Delk | Sep. 23, 2020

Still Woozy dropped new single ‘BS’ Sept. 10

Local music artist Azazus released a music video for his recent single, "Onlyfans," on Aug. 4.

The Avenue

Gainesville rapper Azazus supports adult entertainment movement with new music video

By Marlena Carrillo | Sep. 2, 2020

The song received over 100,000 plays on TikTok

This story is a part of an Avenue series called “The Voices of Gainesville” meant to spotlight black-owned businesses, black artists and black musicians in Gainesville.

The Avenue

The Voices of Gainesville: UF administrator drumming his way to inclusivity

By Katie Delk | June 8, 2020

Because of his name, Craig said that his identity shows up before he does

Live on the Arts in Medicine Facebook all-request concert, Musician in Residence Michael Claytor sings and strums his guitar.

The Avenue

Music In Isolation Takes On New Meanings

By Katie Delk and Thomas Holton | May 26, 2020

The pandemic has impacted and been impacted by music, and everyone has a story

These songs aren’t for functional relationships, they’re the soundtrack to breaking quarantine to go see someone you shouldn’t.

The Avenue

Rate and Review: Kehlani “It Was Good Until It Wasn’t”

By Thomas Holton | May 20, 2020

Kehlani tells a story of dependency and dysfunction on her provocative sophomore album

Gainesville’s The Florida Theatre, High Dive and The Fest punk festival, have joined the National Independent Venue Association, along with 1,600 other venues nationwide.

The Avenue

Gainesville joins the fight to support independent music

By Chloe Greenberg | May 18, 2020

Without federal help, small venues attempt to navigate the future

DaBaby's "Blame It On Baby" offers little more than run-of-the-mill trap beats and disposable lyrics.

The Avenue

Rate and Review: DaBaby's "Blame It On Baby"

By Manny Rea | Apr. 20, 2020

The “young CEO” falls flat, and that’s not on cap.

Katy Deitz performs in an empty Palomino Pool Hall. MusicGNV, a program of the non-profit organization Self Narrate, launched last month with a video series of local artists performing in their favorite locations, which have similarly been affected by COVID-19.

The Avenue

A pandemic's deafening silence

By Chloe Greenberg | Apr. 6, 2020

Local artists and supporters fight for the music industry amid COVID-19

The Avenue

Speed Demon Records: a safe haven for “soft boys”

By Julia Coin | Mar. 30, 2020

A UF freshman launched the record label in August 2019

High Dive has launched a GoFundMe page and a Summer 2020 season pass starting at $59 in an effort to offset the strain placed on the venue by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Avenue

Gainesville venues versus virus

By Chloe Greenberg | Mar. 30, 2020

Live streams and alcohol deliveries in the name of local venues

Jay Electronica's "A Written Testimony" gives away too much real estate.

The Avenue

Rate and Review: Jay Electronica’s “A Written Testimony”

By Christopher S. Cann | Mar. 23, 2020

The hip-hop myth has finally released his debut album, “A Written Testimony”

(L-R) Sooza Brass Band consists of Brian Burwell (trombone), Ryan Gamberino (saxophone), Adrienne Widener (trumpet), Bianca Maesa (sousaphone), Ben Elgan (trumpet) and Austin DiVito (drums). The band released their debut album, Bananaland, in December.

The Avenue

Student artists challenge music norms with variety of talents

By Marlena Carrillo | Mar. 18, 2020

There’s more to Gainesville than your average indie-pop band

EmoProm will take place at High Dive Saturday night following the Original Gainesville Food Truck Rally.

The Avenue

An Emo Night to Remember

By Chloe Greenberg | Mar. 11, 2020

High Dive hosts Gainesville’s first EmoProm

Tory Lanez sings his first song to the audience at the O'Connell Center Monday night, but stops in between songs to smile at the crowd. More than 3,000 people came to see Lanez perform.

The Avenue

Tory Lanez breaks it down for Black History Month

By AJ Bafer | Feb. 26, 2020

Lights dimmed down, hands were raised and the crowd turned up.

The festival features 37 musicians with about half a dozen national acts, including headliner Shaun Martin.

The Avenue

Heartwood Music Festival fosters a love for art

By Katie Delk | Feb. 26, 2020

The fourth annual two-day festival hosted 1,200 people

"Miss Anthropocene," Grimes' fifth studio album, muses on the end of mankind.

The Avenue

Rate and Review: Grimes’ “Miss Anthropocene”

By Gregory Florez | Feb. 26, 2020

Grimes has accepted her role as harbinger for our AI overlords

Solutions by The State News