The first annual South Florida Music Fest takes place on Friday and Saturday, March 23-24 at Abacoa in Jupiter. This 2 day event features several bluegrass acts, including the headliner Marty Raybon who was the lead singer of country hit-making band Shenandoah! Tickets are just $15 per day or $30 for a 2-day pass. You can purchase them online by clicking here. Kids 12 and under get in free when accompanied by an adult! Some of the proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated as a charitable contribution to Healing Touch Buddies, Inc. and C.R.O.S. Ministries. There will be a lawn for you to sit on, so bring a chair or a blanket!
For more information about the South Florida Music Fest, visit their website at southfloridamusicfest.info. If you’d like to set up a booth as a business or food vendor, please email Kelly at kelly@southfloridamusicfest.info.
The gates open at 1pm on Friday and the show goes on until 10pm. On Saturday, the hours will be 11am-10pm. Below are the lineups for the amphitheater stage:
Friday March 23, 2012
1:00p.m. The Ashley Gang
2:00p.m. Stone Family Band
3:00p.m. Mountain Therapy
4:00p.m. Rodney Dillard
5:00p.m. Marty Raybon
6:00p.m. Mountain Therapy
7:00p.m. Donna Ulisse
8:00p.m. Marty Raybon
9:00p.m. Rodney Dillard
Saturday March 24, 2012
11:00a.m. Mountain Therapy
12:00p.m. Up the Creek
1:00p.m. Rockin’ Acoustic Circus
2:00p.m. Monroeville
3:00p.m. Up the Creek
4:00p.m. Donna Ulisse
5:00p.m. Marty Raybon
6:00p.m. Rockin’ Acoustic Circus
7:00p.m Monroeville
8:00p.m. Donna Ullise
9:00p.m. Marty Raybon
More about the artists:
Throughout his epic journey, spanning nearly three decades, Marty has produced a remarkable list of career accomplishments including; multiple number one singles, top selling albums, CMA, ACM, IBMA, and Grammy Awards, along with scores of other accolades. Among his contemporaries, he is considered to possess one the purest natural country voices in the business.
As the former lead singer of Shenandoah, Marty has five #1 hits on the country charts and a total of fifteen Top 10 hits, as well as three albums certified Gold.
Rodney Dillard and the Dillard Band
Rodney Dillard is a founding member of the legendary group THE DILLARDS, and beloved member of the most often seen Bluegrass group in the world, THE DARLINGS, on The Andy Griffith Show. The DILLARDS are seen nearly every day somewhere in the world thanks to the still enormous popularity of The Andy Griffith Show re-runs. Rodney Dillard wrote and collaborated with others to write such classic songs as “There Is A Time”, “The Darlin’ Boys”, “Ebo Walker”, and “Dooley.”
Donna Ulisse & The Poor Mountain Boys
Donna made her first appearance singing at the tender age of three when she wandered onto the stage with a bluegrass band and broke out into “Take This Hammer”. From that moment until now, there has never been any doubt that she would be creating music. In the 1980′s, Donna moved to Nashville and stayed busy singing demos for publishers and writers. When renowned country songwriter Glenn Sutton was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, it was Ulisse who was called upon to sing some of his hits recorded by Tammy Wynette and Lynn Anderson for the who’s who of the music industry crowd and she brought the house down. She was signed with Atlantic Records and released the album “Trouble At The Door” in 1991. The album produced three singles and two videos. During this time, she appeared on the network TV show “Hot Country Nights”, was a guest on “Hee Haw”, “Nashville Now” and “Crook and Chase”. After Donna’s deal on Atlantic Records ended, she turned her attention to songwriting and has since formed her own band, “The Poor Mountain Boys”.
Every so often a group of musicians come together to create a fresh sound that captivates a listening audience. The impressive musical prowess and boundary pushing style of Rockin’ Acoustic Circus is a refreshing and promising sign for the future of acoustic music. With their hearts in traditional music and their heads in the 21st century, this young group is sharing their original interpretation of what acoustic music should be on stages across the country. Their unique sound pushes the boundaries of typical string instruments and is gaining critical respect from traditional and progressive fans alike.
Monroeville is an exciting new acoustic band with a combined experience of almost 80 years of playing and singing. Individually they have been nominated for GRAMMY® awards, won prestigious competitions, founded bands, and have been highly influential to their following and peers. Collectively, in their few months since forming, they have appeared on the Today Show, started a record label, gathered a solid fan base, produced an album and music video, and established themselves as a powerful new act in the business. The group consists of Daniel Salyer, Matthew Munsey, Seth Taylor, Zane Petty, Travis Houck, and Matt Flake who make their homes around the East Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina areas.
At the Barberville (Florida) Fall Jamboree in 1998, two solo singer/songwriters from distant points along Florida’s East Coast decided to share sets. Al Scortino of Sebastian and Paul Garfinkel of Jacksonville were already both multi-award winners for their writing. Both had successful solo recordings on the market. Both were well known within the thriving Florida acoustic music scene. Both performed with bassist and backup singer Michelle Moncrief-Lowe from Flagler Beach. And both were looking for something bigger and better. Adding Al’s percussionist and back-up singer, norm mcdonald of Rockledge, the not-yet-named Ashley Gang stepped on stage after 30 minutes of rehearsal time. The feedback was amazing as new harmonies were tried, and instrumental styles tentatively mixed for the first time.
Two CD’s and a few years have brought some changes to the Gang, but the heart and soul of the group remains same. The core of the group, Michelle Lowe on Bass and vocals, Norm McDonald (The Most Dangerous Man in Folk Music) on percussion, vocals and accordion, and Al Scortino on Guitar and Lead vocals, are still keeping the Gang tradition alive. Joined occasionally on stage by an assortment of guitar slinging outlaws, and when possible, original members Paul and Kay Garfinkel.
Mountain Therapy is a band that has seen many years of playing bluegrass in the northeastern U.S. area. Formed over 20 years ago, this band has come to be known as a high-energy ensemble, playing everything from traditional and contemporary tunes, to fast-paced instrumentals and high-lonesome vocals.
These talented musicians have been influenced by everyone from the old-school fathers of this genre, to the youngsters who are out in the parking lot flat tearing it up with the yet-to-be-heard sounds of tomorrow’s bluegrass.
With strong original songwriting and their creative presentation, Mountain Therapy is truly one of those rare, ‘must see’ acts.
Lonnie, Tim, Ron & Mike continue to lead Mountain Therapy along the cutting edge of innovative bluegrass music.
Stone Family Band infuses Bluegrass, Celtic and Folk music with the Light of the Gospel. Drawing on their Scotch/Irish heritage and the airy sound of folk music, the Stones have branched out and created a genre all their own.
If one thing is to be noticed about the Stone Family Band’s music, it is their unusual harmonies both vocal and in instrumentation. After the loss of their son and brother, Isaac, back in 2007… the Stone family turned more attention to their music as a balm to their soul. They had always sang together in church, but had not really focused much on the instrumental aspects of their music. They officially started The Stone Family Band in Spring of 2008. All being from one family, they have similar voices which makes their harmonies blend almost seamlessly.
Up The Creek offers traditional Bluegrass music filled with heart pounding instrumentals and beautifully blended vocal harmonies. The band was originally formed in 2002 by Pam and John Curtis. John passed away in 2006 and Pam moved from Fort Myers to North Florida in the hopes of some day reforming the band.
During the summer of 2008 after several chance encounters at local Bluegrass events and festivals, Pam met Lance Ohl and the father and daughter team of Ed and Chris Wybranowski. It was obvious to each member from the start that this was the beginning of a very special and exciting sound.