The Avenue | Music - The Independent Florida Alligator

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Avenue roundtable: And the Grammy goes to…

By Avenue Staff | Mar. 28, 2022

The Avenue staff teamed up to give our breakdown of six Grammys categories — Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Rap Album — giving both our Grammys predicted winner and who we think deserves to win. Musical talent, lyricism, popularity and even drama are all on display in our analyses.

The hip-hop music scene in Gainesville has often been left unheard, five local artists are working to promote themselves in the area's emerging genre.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

New performance event will spotlight local rap talent

By Jared Teitel | Mar. 10, 2022

Rhymes, couplets, spoken word, metaphor and repetition promise to flood the stage at a small Gainesville bar during a night all about the art of rap. Five Gainesville artists will take the stage at Vecinos Neighborhood Restaurant and Bar on Friday, March 11, at 8 p.m. for the first Spring Break Rap Up. Tickets can be purchased in person or online through Eventbrite or Facebook.

Shane Malone, a Gainesville-based recording artist, plays his guitar in his home music studio on Wednesday, March 2. His new single "Waiting," dropped on music streaming services on March 4.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Indie-pop artist Shane Malone is tired of waiting and drops new song

By Dazion Prosser | Mar. 10, 2022

Love at first sight can quickly turn into frustration and impatience when you don’t get that call back from your crush. Shane Malone, a Jacksonville native and 20-year-old UF computer science junior, reckons with that feeling. His March 4 single, “Waiting” released via Havěa Records comes over seven months after his release “Split in Two.” Malone marches forward in the duet with Hannah Stomski or Sprig, a singer-songwriter out of Wilmington, North Carolina.

Grace Lamerson, 19, made her performance debut under the stage name Bambii Lamb Jan. 26. She brings a pop sound to a live music scene dominated by rock and punk.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Bambii Lamb brings synthpop to Gainesville

By Kristine Villarroel | Feb. 4, 2022

On a regular night, High Dive hosts a familiar performance to Gainesville’s live music scene: four dudes with guitars playing do-it-yourself indie pop-rock. Grace Lamerson is bringing a different sound to Gainesville.

Sebastian Sayavedra and Jose Piñeiro of Dionysus bundled up in onesies during the unexpectedly cold night. Photo taken by Aurora Jiménez Castro on Jan. 29.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Funk band Dionysus wins Destination Okeechobee competition, heads to March Okeechobee Festival

By Aurora Jimenez Castro | Feb. 3, 2022

Dionysus will perform in the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival March 3, joining a set list headlined by heavy hitters such as rapper Meghan Thee Stallion and Australian act Tame Impala.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Rate and Review: The Weeknd balances nostalgia and new age in “Dawn FM”

By Thandie Brown | Jan. 10, 2022

Producing an album like "Dawn FM" after experiencing a Grammy snub last year shows how The Weeknd’s artistry spotlights the things that bring him pain.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Live jazz band brings people to their feet at Celebration Pointe

By Erina Anwar | Jan. 10, 2022

Celebration Pointe hosts its Jazz on the Green event every two weeks, inviting different jazz musicians to perform in front of a live audience.

Lake is set to perform at Simon's Dec. 8 in a two-hour set

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Chris Lake to headline Simon's Dec. 8

By Maia Botek | Dec. 7, 2021

EDM artist Chris Lake will be playing a two-hour set at Simon’s nightclub Dec. 8.

Zelaya, an 18-year-old UF business administration first-year, performed at High Dive in October.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Local artist “Zzz” finds himself with his music

By Alexis Carson | Dec. 7, 2021

Sam Zelaya, known by his artist name “Zzz,” is set to release his new single and accompanying music video, “Another Day,” Dec. 24.

The Live and Local series was founded by MusicGNV, a local nonprofit dedicated to promoting Gainesville musicians.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Latest in Live and Local concert series takes place downtown

By Elliot Tritto | Nov. 25, 2021

Gainesville music lovers saw local artists Driveaway and Shane Malone at the latest installment of the Live and Local music series Nov. 18. The family-friendly concert ran from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Bo Diddley Plaza.

"Dying to Stay" is the first single from the Gainesville progressive rock band, which is composed of all UF students.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Gainesville band Red Letter Day releases new music

By Alexis Carson | Nov. 22, 2021

Local progressive rock band Red Letter Day released their debut single, “Dying to Stay,” Oct. 5.

Williamson, 21, launched "On Loop with Kara" in July.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

UF student launches music podcast

By Tara Carroll | Nov. 22, 2021

Kara Williamson, a 21-year-old advertising senior, created “On Loop with Kara” in July. She’s uploaded 13 episodes on Spotify since the podcast’s initial launch date.

Swift's nine albums in 15 years were all released to massive critical and commercial acclaim.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Look what you made us do: a Taylor Swift roundtable

By Avenue Staff | Nov. 12, 2021

"Red (Taylor's Version)," the latest in Taylor Swift's re-release series, dropped Nov. 12. To celebrate, the Avenue staff chronicled our top three Taylor Swift albums of all time.

The Hardback Cafe hosted a lineup of local acts for "Not Fest," an alternate event for Halloween weekend's FEST.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Not FEST gives local bands a stage during Halloween weekend

By Kristine Villarroel | Nov. 4, 2021

While FEST took over downtown Gainesville music venues over the past Halloween weekend, bringing hundreds of pop-punk bands from all across the country, the Hardback Cafe held its own “Not FEST.”

FEST 19, an annual punk rock festival, came back from Oct. 29-31 after being rescheduled due to COVID-19 last year. Bands played all over Downtown Gainesville, from Loosey's Downtown to Bo Diddley Plaza to Depot Park. Lights flashed, fans cheered and merch flew off the shelves. On Saturday, FEST Wrestling entertained attendees at Knockin' Boots Saloon with outlandish characters and tricks.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

FEST rises from the dead Halloween weekend

By Chloe Greenberg | Nov. 1, 2021

FEST returned Halloween weekend for its 19th year, inviting thousands of punk fans to the streets of downtown Gainesville for live music, independent professional wrestling and live comedy.

Festival-goers crowd a hot dog stand during FEST 14 on Oct. 31, 2015.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Gainesville’s FEST gearing up for its 19th year

By Chloe Greenberg | Oct. 19, 2021

Oct. 29 marks the start of this year’s FEST, which will take place across 18 venues and stages throughout downtown Gainesville. The multi-stage event showcases live music, comedians, independent professional wrestling and all things punk-rock.

The Oct. 16 show comes as a stop on Wavves' fall 2021 tour supporting their new album.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

California rock band Wavves crashes Gainesville for the first time

By Anushka Dakshit | Oct. 16, 2021

California rock band Wavves will be playing their first show in Gainesville at High Dive Oct. 16.

The Oct. 7 release is the first for Allen as Lady Laz (Photo by Cameron Hunter).

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Don’t ask her why she’s sad: UF alumna releases debut single

By Kristine Villarroel | Oct. 11, 2021

UF alumna Taylor Allen released “Normal People” on Thursday, Oct. 7, under the stage name Lady Laz, a nod to American poet Sylvia Plath.

Gainesville alternative band The Hails perform at High Dive Oct. 8.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Local band The Hails returns to Gainesville

By Luigi Bencosme | Oct. 11, 2021

The Hails returned to its Gainesville roots as part of its Blood Runs Cold tour, which spans five different cities across Florida and ends Oct. 14.

High Dive, a Gainesville music venue, is a registered participant in Independent Venue Week.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Gainesville concert venues continue to adjust amid the pandemic

By Anushka Dakshit | Oct. 7, 2021

With the recent resurgence of live music, Gainesville venues are adapting to COVID-19 protocols while keeping the spirit of concerts alive. These venues are tailoring the concert experience to the ongoing pandemic by instituting rules that will keep audiences as safe as possible.