Thursday, March 7, 2013
Organizers behind the second annual festival say there’s more to the event than meets the eye.
Scan the lineup for the upcoming Gasparilla Music Festival and it is clear organizers are hip on the idea of delivering an eclectic mix of sounds with artists ranging from blues and country to jazz and rock. What might not be clear is the vision for the festival, its future and the reasons why this one might be worth the short drive from Lutz to attend. Now in its second year, the festival was designed with two main purposes in mind, organizers say: “We want people to come out and see positive change (in downtown) and see what a great place Tampa is to live in,” said David Cox, president of the nonprofit festival’s board of directors. The intent is to “not just draw for one day, but also (to provide) a draw to stay.” Roots for the one-day …
The second annual music event takes place in Curtis Hixon Riverfront Park and Kiley Gardens.
Lutz residents with music on their minds need only drive to Curtis Hixon Riverfront Park this weekend to get an earful. The second annual Gasparilla Music Festival gets under way Saturday, March 9, at 11 a.m. Mayor Bob Buckhorn is expected to open the event with an 11:15 a.m. address to the crowd. This year’s lineup includes acts from all over the Tampa Bay area and beyond with music planned for four stages. Some of the draws include The Meter Men with Page McConnell, Dr. Dog, the Mt. Zion Sanctuary Choir and Applebutter Express. Kiley Garden will play host to a number of events just for children from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There’s even a related photography exhibit that will be open from noon to 5 p.m. at the nearby Florida Museum of …
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Check out the bands and vote for your favorite in the online portion of the annual competition.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Four of the eight bands in this year’s battle are set to perform Saturday, Feb. 23.
With bands coming from all over Hillsborough and Pasco counties, organizers say this year’s Rockus Maximus: Battle of the Bands 16 is going to jam. To show off some of the local talent, a free concert is being staged this weekend that will feature four of the eight bands lined up to battle it out in the final concert in March. Low Fuel Light, Orange Gravity, Heritage and Hang ‘Em High will take the stage at the South Holiday Library at 6 p.m. Feb. 23. The 4649 Mile Stretch Drive library is playing host to the first of two promo concerts featuring the bands. The slated acts were selected from a total of 17 that applied to take part in Pasco County Libraries’ annual battle of the bands. The production, now in its 16th year, pits local acts …
Monday, February 18, 2013
The Grammy Foundation is taking nominations for its first-ever music educator award and there’s $10,000 on the line for the winner.
They battle in the trenches every day teaching youngsters about Beethoven, Bach and the importance of proper form when signing or playing a musical instrument. In some students, they inspire a simple appreciation for music. In others, they foster a passion that leads them on a path toward life on the stage. Because of all they do, the Grammy Foundation says music educators rock and now it wants to honor them with a new award it intends to roll out next year. Nominations for the first-ever Music Educator Award are now open and the Grammy Foundation is looking for suggestions from all over the country, including right here in Lutz. “For every performer who makes it to the Grammy stage, there was a teacher who played a critical role in …
Saturday, February 16, 2013
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Thursday, January 31, 2013
American Rock School, a fixture at The Shoppes at Amberly for five years, is moving to Lutz.
American Rock School is rolling out of Tampa Palms and heading into Lutz. During the past five years, the business in The Shoppes of Amberly — Amberly Drive and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in New Tampa — has taught youngsters and others how to play music, including guitar, bass, violin, drums, piano and voice. “It’s basically because I have to downsize,” owner Dave Arazmo said of the move. “I opened up (in New Tampa) in ’07. … Then the economy situation happened and retail began taking a big dip.” Arazmo said the Lutz shop, 15915 "B" N. Florida Ave., near the corner of Lake Magdalene, will open in February. It will be different in that it will not include a retail component like the Tampa Palms shop. “We’re converting to kind of the same …
The members of Touch will demonstrate why they are “the world’s foremost iPadists” during a performance at the School of Music Concert Hall.
Apple’s iPad is great for connecting to the Internet on the go, keeping up with emails and playing fun apps to pass the time, but music? Absolutely say the folks at the University of South Florida’s School of Music. So much so, the school has its own iPad quintet, Touch. The group plans to show its stuff this Friday, Feb. 1, at 7:30 p.m. at USF’s School of Music Concert Hall, address here. Touch is made up of music school faculty members David A. Williams and Clint Randles. Graduate students Victor Ezquerra, Chris Morris and Nick Stefanic round out the musical talent. Electronic music is a growing trend around the world, according to USF News. “The schools in Great Britain, Scandinavia and Australia are 20 years ahead of this country in …
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The young members of Lutz-based MBL Trio, 2012's Rockus Maximus winners, continue to perform and record.
They’re young, “refreshing,” and, though separated by more than a thousand miles, still rockin’. The Lutz teens who make up MBL Trio, last year’s Rockus Maximus winners, are still at it, despite Michael Lindo’s move to Boston, where he now attends Berklee College of Music. “The band and I continue to perform together when I come down for breaks or if we have a really important gig,” Lindo wrote in an email. “We just finished playing a few shows one at the Market on 7th in Ybor, The State Theatre in St. Petersburg and we played the First Night in St. Pete New Years event.” The band, which includes Michael’s brother, Lorenzo Lindo, and Ben Kennett, both Steinbrenner High seniors, is also finishing up its new E.P. (extended play) That should …
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Performances are scheduled through April at the nearby Carrollwood Cultural Center.
Lutz residents who love classical music don’t have to drive far to take in live performances thanks to the Carrollwood Cultural Center. The 4537 Lowell Road venue has kicked off its Spring Classical Music Series with performances scheduled through April. A variety of artists – ranging from local pianists to world-renowned performers – are on the agenda. Up next in the series is “if Music Be The Food,” set for Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. The admission to this show is one nonperishable food item to be donated to Tampa Bay Harvest. The concert is a collaborative effort between the cultural center and the University of South Florida’s School of Music. “I think audiences who love classical music will really enjoy our line-up this Spring,” said center …
