By Nanette Wiser
Hideaway Presents serves up twonot-to-be missed shows at the North Hall at Bayboro. On 12/9, celebrate the holidays with Have Gun, Will Travel and opening act Gator Tooth, merging members of The Cadillac Cowboys and The Hummingbirds. On 12/16, jam with TC Carr, one of Florida’s premier harmonica players and bluesmen, who sings and writes songs.
On 11/12, Plant City’s Wish Farms celebrated their 100th anniversary with a “berry” fun live concert that featured ZZ Top, Bishop Briggs, Saint Motel, Blanco Brown, Kim Richey and Shevonne. It’s just a taste of what you can expect at the Plant City Strawberry Festival. The music lineup is stellar, with Willie Nelson 3/3, Tanya Tucker 3/8, Wayne Newton followed by Train 3/10, Keith Sweat 3/11, Lynyrd Skynyrd 3/12 and more. (In honor of Wish Farm’s birthday, owner Gary Wishnatzki published a book about his 48 years in the berry business that takes the reader from streets of 1900’s New York to Florida’s strawberry fields, his father Strawberry Joe and the battlefields of World War II Europe.)
In mid-November, Free Range Strange released their EP Live From The Ghost Motel. The Road, the Wind, and the Will to be Free! Miles behind us, and miles to go. Let’s pull over and write a song. The circle of troubadours and gypsies that is Free Range Strange feels right at home sailing the highways and back routes that take them to the stages of America. They pour their heart into original tunes and are enthralled with the ones they choose to cover. Florida grown, Timber and Sunnie Rae met in 2014 at The Spirit of Suwannee Music Park. A place they call home. Both avid concert goers and tour followers, they immediately “Clicked” and knew they wanted to explore the wild world together. It wasn’t long before that Love gave birth to FRS. The two became one and the melodies plenty. Nilu Jimenez-Ross has been holding down the Upright with the group since 2019. Last year they picked up Patrick Doyle, the 5-string banjo picker and this year Savannah Lee fiddlin’ around brings heat to the stew that is Free Range Strange.
The first two songs of local wunderkind Leon Vincent’s upcoming album Good Guy have been released on multiple streaming platforms. How Can You Love Me and Is It Too Late To Kiss You? This amazing independent artist’s fans are growing on social media and his local/regional live performances in downtown St. Pete and Gulfport. Leon Vincent was born to perform and write music since he was a young boy; he wrote his first song Highway Girl at age 7. Hope he’s back playing the 41st John’s Pass Seafood Festival Jan. 13-15. www.linktr.ee/leonvincent
On FB, Brazilian jazz queen Daniela Soledade paid homage to the passing of legendary Gal Costa at 77, “Tropicalia’s innovative spirit” for five decades. Her other inspirations? Brazilian artists Chico Buarque and Djavan. Join she and other local jazz luminaries at The Palladium 12/8 for the annual Nate Najar’s Jazz Holiday.
Add magic to your family and friend’s next outing with a Gift Certificate to the Zubrick Magic Theatre with a performance that features an exhilarating blend of sleight-of-hand, family-friendly comedy, and breathtaking grand illusion. Illusionists Chris & Ryan Zubrick guarantee to capture hearts and imaginations. Special “holiday magic” will be featured in performances until the New Year. www.zubrickmagic.com.