Ben White has become a rising star in the Gainesville community as he sets out to release an Americana-folk-inspired album three years in the making. He sets to release his debut album Aug. 25, “Men as Trees Walking,” which serves as a critique of his Christian upbringing.
When the High Dive doors opened July 6, people ran to jump, twirl and scream to the music as multi-colored strobe lights pierced through the smoke. About 100 Swifties of all different levels of devotion came to High Dive on the eve of the “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” release to celebrate the re-release of the 2010 album. The entire night, the venue played songs from Swift’s discography.
A full house of punk-rockers dressed in their best black tank tops, skinny jeans and fishnet tights met Laura Jane Grace’s heavily anticipated return to Gainesville.
From 3 p.m. on April 15 to 2 a.m. the following morning, around 600 people gathered at the Celebrations Catering Warehouse, located at 317 NE 35 Ave., for Gainesville’s first hip-hop music festival. The lineup featured Localhotboy, Madwoman, Ladyboy, Raphdidit, Chuck Strangers, Kaelin Ellis and Zack Fox.
Flocked is a collective in Gainesville for artists and bands to work together for promotion, booking and performances. Founded around last November, the organization has helped artists book statewide tours, held a benefit show and started “Live from the Tavern,” a video series of intimate house shows.
“Tu Fiesta Radio Presents: LPT Latin Salsa Orchestra” took place at the Heartwood Soundstage from 7-11 p.m. and included music by the salsa orchestra from Jacksonville, LPT, and by Elio Piedra, the main radio host, along with two Latin musicians Luis “Torpedo” Aponte and Jorge Tamayo.
When Daniel Halal was 12 years old, he bought his first record — “Pinups” by David Bowie — from the dollar bin at Off the Record in Ormond Beach, Florida. From there, he became an avid collector and seller.
Getachew hosted her fourth basement session Thursday, attracting about 40 attendees from the UF and Gainesville communities. In honor of Black History Month, the event focused on highlighting local Black artists and small businesses.
“WORK TO DO” was released in conjunction with a GoFundMe campaign run by Schachter to raise funds for Katehwe’s family and SOS Children’s Village Zimbabwe, a nonprofit that provides support for orphaned children in Zimbabwe.
Audience members young and old filled the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Sunday, singing, dancing and clapping along as the Tedeschi Trucks Band performed songs from their ninth studio album.
Dylan O’Bryan, who since 2020 has performed as The Housing Crisis, released his first album, “Astral Apartments.” Monday. The album sonically and thematically blends the euphoria and anxiety that O’Bryan feels when he plays.
Several north central Florida bands will compete in a battle-of-the-bands-style concert Friday. They will be judged based on musicianship, stage presence, originality and crowd participation. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to perform at the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival.
The Wombat released the first episode of its newest radio show, RadioGNV, Jan. 6 to highlight past, present and future local Gainesville artists’ work and host select premieres for new music.
MusicGNV, a program by the storytelling-focused nonprofit Self Narrate, announced its lineups Monday for the next three shows in its Live & Local concert series.
José Valentino Ruiz, a 35-year-old UF School of Music assistant professor of music business and entrepreneurship, is nominated for two awards in the 23rd annual Latin Grammy Awards: Best Christian Album in a Spanish Language for “Viviré” and Best Latin Children’s Album for “A La Fiesta de la Música Vamos Todos.”
The BASH — a three-day music festival featuring national, regional and local rock 'n' roll, Americana, blues, soul and country artists — took over Depot Park this weekend. In addition to music, more than 70 arts, crafts and food vendors were also present.
FEST, the three-day, multi-venue event, celebrated its 20th anniversary Oct. 28-30. Performances were scattered across a variety of downtown Gainesville locations — with music venues like Heartwood Soundstage, bars like The Bull and other local establishments featuring lineups of punk rock, pop-punk and other musical genres — drawing in crowds from across the country.
Between Oct. 20 to Oct. 22, more than 3,000 Petty fans gathered to celebrate the life and music of the rock ‘n’ roll legend, who died in October 2017. Tickets ranged from free general admission passes to VIP gold and silver packages, which cost up to $125.
Gainesville’s local music scene is filled with UF students and alum who are juggling a full course load, work and aspiring music careers. Aside from balancing different responsibilities, college musicians also grapple with the business aspect of their craft — creating digital advertisements, promoting social media content, finding venues for performances and handling music production. Essentially, they become their own manager, publicist and producer.
Following the release of their previous six-track EP, “Feel Better Soon,” Driveaway is releasing a new single available for streaming and download Friday. The band has strayed from their usual pop genre, instead opting for a more rock ‘n’ roll sound.
Solutions by The State News
