Welcome to
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SPRINGING THE BLUES
oin us for the 28th Annual SPRINGING THE BLUES FESTIVAL! Springing the Blues is a three-day family-friendly music festival that celebrates the blues, featuring 23 of the hottest contemporary blues artists on two stages. Bring your crew for this FREE event that takes full advantage of our gorgeous oceanfront venue: Jacksonville Beach’s Seawalk Pavilion on Ocean Street, just behind Jax Beach City Hall. Celebrating to us means celebrating our community, too. That’s why our event is packed with plenty of fun for
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grown-ups, including Get You outstanding music, r a huge assortment of food and drink vendors, and artisanal See PG. boutiques and 13 for D etails! craftspeople. Plus, we offer affordable VIP PASSES so you and your friends can enjoy the best seats—and the best food and facilities! Visit us today at SpringingTheBlues.com to get your VIP passes along with the most up-to-date festival information!
VIP
PASSES
ERIC GALES BAND
Friday, April 6 • Main Stage • 8:40PM-10PM
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ric Gales grew up in a musical family, the youngest of four boys. At the age of three, he began his life-long love of music playing the drums. At four, he picked up the guitar. With his older brothers playing guitar and sharing their love of Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Cream, Eric Johnson, Foghat, Stevie Ray Vaughn and other contemporary artists of the time, Eric was destined to master the guitar.
As both an African-American left-handed guitarist of extraordinary ability and an expressive vocalist, Eric is often compared to Jimi Hendrix but Eric has developed a unique hybrid blues/rock sound that also draws upon influences as diverse as Albert King and Eric Johnson. A unique amalgam of styles, Eric Gales stands head and shoulders among other guitarists in his genre.
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LARKIN POE
Friday, April 6 • Main Stage • 6PM-7PM
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isters Rebecca and Megan Lovell of Larkin Poe are carrying on the American roots tradition with their own innovative blend of blues, Americana, rock, and beats on their new album Peach. Peach is comprised of half blues covers and half original material, that harkens towards Megan and Rebecca’s southern gothic heritage. Originally from Atlanta and currently living in Nashville, Larkin Poe named 4 • SPRINGING THE BLUES • April 6-8, 2018
the band after their great-great-greatgrandfather, a distant cousin of writer Edgar Allan Poe. Larkin Poe have performed at England’s Glastonbury festival twice, were named Best Discovery of Glastonbury by The Observer, recently performed at Pilgrimage and Newport Folk Festivals, and their electric and slide guitar riffs earned them the title of “little sisters of the Allman Brothers” among fans and followers.
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SUGARAY RAYFORD
Saturday, April 7 • Main Stage • 8:30PM-10PM
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exas born Caron “Sugaray” Rayford began his musical career at the age of seven, singing and playing drums in church, and his gospel influence can be heard and felt in his music. Rayford’s phrasing is intimate and conversational and the soulful gravel in his voice hints at his firsthand experience with hardship. When Sugaray belts out a song, you not only hear it, you feel it. The
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excitement in the room is palpable when he takes the stage. He’s a superb vocalist and entertainer. Sugaray’s dynamic voice is large just like the man. With his old school vocal style, echoes of Muddy Waters, Otis Redding and Teddy Pendergrass can be heard. At 6’5” he is a big man, but he moves with grace and energy.
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OFFICIAL EVENT SCHE MAIN STAGE
FRIDAY
Markey Blue Ric Latina Project 5:00 - 5:45 Larkin Poe 6:00 - 7:00 Selwyn Birchwood 7:20 - 8:20 Eric Gales Band 8:40 - 10:00
SATURDAY
Kim Reteguiz and The Black Cat Bones noon - 1:00 David Julia 1:20 - 2:20 JP Soars and the Red Hots 2:40 - 3:40 The Corbitt Brothers Band 4:00 - 5:00 Heather Gillis Band 5:20 - 6:20 Band of Friends 6:40 - 8:10 Sugaray Rayford 8:30 - 10:00
SUNDAY
Prestage Brothers noon - 1:00 Mama Blue 1:20 - 2:20 Jonn Del Toro Richardson 2:40 - 3:40 Tommy Z Band 4:00 - 5:00 Shane Dwight 5:20 - 6:20 Victor Wainwright 6:40 - 8:00
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FRIDAY-SUND
APRIL 6-
SEAWAL PAVILIO
JAX BEAC VIP PASSES
AVAILABLE!
SEE PG. 13!
Find Out How to Win VIP Passe for the Entire Season at JaxBeachFestivals.com
T SCHEDULE & LINEUP BLUES LOUNGE STAGE
FRIDAY
DAY-SUNDAY
PRIL 6-8
EAWALK AVILION
X BEACH VIP PASSES
AVAILABLE!
SEE PG. 13!
nd Out How to Win VIP Passes for the Entire Season at JaxBeachFestivals.com
5:00 - 6:00 Selwyn Birchwood 6:20 - 7:20 Parker Urban Trio 7:40 - 8:40 Markey Blue Ric Latina Project 9:00 - 10:00 Larkin Poe
SATURDAY
noon - 1:10 Cat McWilliams Band 1:30 - 2:40 Smokestack 3:00 - 4:10 Kim Reteguiz and The Black Cat Bones 4:30 - 5:40 David Julia 6:00 - 7:10 JP Soars and the Red Hots 7:30 - 8:40 The Corbitt Brothers Band 9:00 - 10:00 Heather Gillis Band
SUNDAY
noon - 1:00 N.W. Izzard 1:20 - 2:20 Prestage Brothers 2:40 - 3:40 Shane Dwight 4:00 - 5:00 Mama Blue 5:20 - 6:20 Jonn Del Toro Richardson 6:40 - 8:00 Tommy Z Band
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HEATHER GILLIS BAND Saturday, April 7 • Main Stage • 5:20PM-6:20PM
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orth Florida’s own Heather Gillis is the complete package as a guitarist, lap steel player, songwriter, singer and arranger. She and her band have the stage presence and confidence to appeal to a variety of musical tastes be it rock, soul, jazz, roots or gospel. Heather has formed not only a following at the local level, but has played alongside and befriended 10 • SPRINGING THE BLUES • April 6-8, 2018
members of the Allman Brothers, Col Bruce Hampton, Matt Schofield, North Mississippi All-Stars, Aquarium Rescue Unit, The Word, The Lee Boys and many more. Heather’s live shows are energetic and consist of her original music as well as unique covers of rock, soul and roots music.
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VICTOR WAINWRIGHT Sunday, April 8 • Main Stage • 6:40PM-8PM
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hough his career began more than a decade ago with genuine rock n’ roll honky-tonk, Wainwright has broadened his artistic scope over the years to include music representing virtually every corner of the blues. His insatiable interest in music discovery, sheer love for entertaining and curiosity have led him all around the world, and the resulting perspective is a reflection of his passion for entertaining and creating progressive roots music in an effort to
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move the art-form forward. Composer, producer, vocalist, entertainer and award winning piano player, Victor Wainwright is a raucous high-octane, dynamic performer and crowd pleaser with soul to spare. Wainwright was named the 2017, 2014 and 2013 Blues Music Award Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year, 2016 Blues Music Awards BB King Entertainer & Band of the Year and 2016 Blues Blast Contemporary Blues Album of the Year.
VIP PASSES You & Your Crew Can
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ow you and your entire party can share the fun and excitement of the festival in the most comfortable, convenient— and affordable!—way possible! Join Jax Beach Festivals in the VIP area for some great country music at the beach! Once you cross over into our VIP section, you’ll enjoy one-of-a-kind displays, demos, food and activities—all geared toward your entire family. Your VIP wristband gives you the enhanced festival experience you’re looking for, including armchairs, frontof-stage seating (or dancing!), private air conditioned restrooms, professional beverage servers, sidestage food and beverage stations (where the musicians are available!) and more.
WIN VIP PASSES! Visit Our Web Site to Find Out How!
WRISTBAND RULES
These are rain or shine events; no refunds or replacements; not responsible for lost or stolen wristbands, altered or broken wristbands are not valid; wristbands must be worn at all times and all sales are final. Tickets must be redeemed for a wristband at Will Call with photo ID. No transfers, no proxies (no one can pick up your badge for you). VIP open seating only, no reserved seats, no saving seats, no strollers, no umbrellas, no coolers, no chairs, no children under 5. Purchase of ticket constitutes agreement with these rules.
Have an Amazing Spring & Summer with VIP Passes to All Our Festivals! Get Yours Today at JaxBeachFestivals.com! April 6-8, 2018 • SPRINGING THE BLUES • 13
TOMMY Z BAND
Sunday, April 8 • Main Stage • 4PM-5PM
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op 10 Billboard Blues, Top 10 iTunes Blues and Number 1 charting/selling blues (RMR/ Amazon) artist Tommy Z hails from Buffalo, NY. He’s toured extensively around the world fronting his own groups as an international/national festival headliner and as sideman to the likes of Grammy winner Pinetop Perkins. Inducted into Buffalo’s Music Hall of Fame in 2007, Tommy’s performed for U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Micronesia. 14 • SPRINGING THE BLUES • April 6-8, 2018
Tommy’s award-winning and acclaimed guitar playing, singing and songwriting combine the best in classic and contemporary Blues with Jazz, Rock, and Funk influences. The last two self-produced CDs, Sometimes in 2013 and Blizzard of Blues in 2016, were both issued on his South Blossom Records label and were accepted for the first round of voting at the Grammy Awards in their respective categories for contemporary blues album, best American roots performance/song and CD package.
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