Erykah Badu among performers at the Tampa, Florida, festival March 12-13
Tampa, FL (Jan 22, 2016) – The Gasparilla Music Festival (GMF) presented by SYKES announced Friday a partial list of the bands that will be performing at the 5th edition of the annual festival taking place March 12-13, 2016, along downtown Tampa’s Riverwalk. GMF 2016 will feature over 50 bands on 5 stages. While more bands will be announced in the coming weeks, the initial list of bands reflects the eclectic array of musical styles, critically acclaimed talent and regional musicians that has become the signature of the festival.
Initial artists include: Erykah Badu, Greensky Bluegrass, MS MR, Houndmouth, Charles Bradley, Talib Kweli, Savoy, Antibalas, Carlos Varela, Blitzen Trapper, Kermit Ruffins, David Wax Museum, Andrew & Polly, The Whiskey Gentry, Sweet Crude, Gumbi Ortiz & New Groove City, New Breed Brass Band, Damon Fowler, Fruition, Gwan Massive, Resinated, DieAlps!, Serotonic, The Woolly Bushmen, Poetry ‘n Lotion, Ries Brothers, Samurai Shotgun, Jackson Davis & the Jackettes, Gritt, Mr Tommy, Mt Zion Gospel Choir, Seminole Indoor Percussion Ensemble, and Dunedin Highland Middle School Pipe Band.
Badu, 44, one of the most respected, enigmatic and brilliant artists of modern times, first emerged with her 1997 debut LP Baduizm before releasing a critically-acclaimed sophomore release, Mama’s Gun, in 2000. Her live set is widely regarded as one of the best of all time, befitting of her status among music fans as one of the all-time boldest, innovative stars unafraid to straddle the avant-garde or play the occasional pop star. Badu is currently enjoying a career resurgence thanks to a flurry of new, conceptual mixtapes that have earned unanimous praise from outlets ranging from Pitchfork to Rolling Stone.
She is joined by an eclectic roster of artists including proggy-bluegrass outfit Greensky Bluegrass, New York dream pop duo MS MR, hip hop hall of famer Talib Kweli, retro rock & roll Americana makers Houndmouth, livetronic trio Savoy, legendary funk and soul revivalist Charles Bradley, Georgia alt-country stars Whiskey Gentry, folk-party starters David Wax Museum, Oregon experimental folk/country quintet Blitzen Trapper, and Daptone Records afrobeat superstars Antibalas. World-class jazz trumpeter Kermit Ruffins is also playing a rare non-New Orleans set. The Crescent City is well represented in this year’s lineup thanks to orchestral-pop septet Sweet Crude and second line brass collective New Breed Brass Band.
In keeping with GMF traditions, the festival is welcoming bandleader Carlos Varela from Havana, Cuba, and tapping a host of the area’s best & brightest local acts — including world music collective Gwan Massive, indie-pop ensemble Jackson Davis & the Jackettes, prog post hip-hop group Samurai Shotgun, and blues legend Damon Fowler for the festivities. Kids’ festivities include a set from Los Angeles tot-rock duo Andrew & Polly.
More info on the artists can be found at www.gasparillamusic.com/2016-lineup/http://gasparillamusic.com/2016-lineup/
Tickets for the festival are priced as follows: $60 2 Day General Admission; $40 Saturday General Admission; $30 Sunday General Admission; $150 2 Day VIP; $100 Saturday VIP; $75 Sunday VIP. Tickets can be purchased at GMFtickets.com or directly from an official GMF Ticket Outlet.
In addition to the remainder of the 2016, GMF will be providing more details on its newest stage addition and its expanded Kids’ Fest in the coming weeks.
About GMF
GMF is produced by the Gasparilla Music Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In addition to the music festival held each year during the 2nd weekend of March, the foundation works year round to support music outreach and education initiatives. Its flagship program, Recycled Tunes, is now entering its fourth year of providing instruments to local schools. This past year, the festival announced a partnership with Little Kids Rock, a national organization dedicated to providing underserved schoolchildren across the U.S. access to fun, engaging, Modern Band music classes and brand new instruments at no cost to the students, teachers, or school districts.
I grew up in a household full of rock music, studied journalism in college, and then became a scientist.Although my science career has served me well, music has always played a major role in my life. I grew up reading "Creem" magazine; I play several musical instruments as a "hobby";and it seems a camera has always been in my hand. Now, I am combining what I love the most--music and photography--serving as editor of Rock At Night. I travel between the US and UK seeking my dream! My motto: life is short...no regrets. Chyrisse
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