Liza Mitchell
Event: First Coast Music Fest
Location: Underbelly, 1904 Music Hall, Burro Bar
Date: August 30-31
Contact: www.firstcoastmusicfest.com
Two days. Three venues. Four stages. The numbers don’t lie. The Elbow is heating up downtown Jacksonville, and the 2nd annual First Coast Music Festival is fanning the flames with over 60 artists slated to perform over Labor Day weekend. Sponsored by New Leaf Vapor Co., the First Coast Music Fest is blowing up August 30th-31st with two days of music at Underbelly, 1904 Music Hall, and Burro Bar. The all-ages event is an original festival designed to promote the staggering number of bands hailing from the First Coast.
Festival founder and photographer Shawn Jasmin says he was inspired to create an event to showcase all of the local artists in the area that were going largely unnoticed. As a band photographer, Jasmin took it upon himself to set the stage for all bands in all genres of music to play together. Last year, Jasmin says 750 people attended the inaugural event. This year, he hopes to more than double that number with an estimated 2,000 expected to attend. “I started out taking photos of local bands and I discovered the level of talent in the city that was not getting any exposure and not getting the attention they deserved,” Jasmin says. “I tried to mix it up well so the fans can enjoy all of the music playing on each stage and be happy and engaged with the music.”
The eclectic lineup features performances by Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, World Gone, Lucky Costello, Fusebox Funk, Mama Blue, Palm Trees & Power Lines, Sir Charles, S.P.O.R.E., City Boi, G Mayne Frost, Viktr, EverSay, Bryce Alastair Band, Denied Til Death, Askmeificare, Stayne Thee Angel and more. Most of the bands approached Jasmin about performing, which he considers to be a sign that his event is a positive step in the right direction. “If we don’t help where people came from, the bands that come in the future aren’t going to be able to have this experience. It not only helps the bands but it also helps the economy and helping more talent in Jacksonville to be able to create music,” he says. “It helps create more opportunities for these bands.”
Jasmin says it’s important to invest in local creative community and encourage people within the city to venture outside of their comfort zones and experience new things. He is certain that the First Coast Music Festival has more than enough variety to satisfy even the most discerning musical palate. “People can definitely expect to be entertained,” he says. “We’ve got everything from bluegrass to hip hop to R&B and Metal. So they will definitely experience music that they have possibly never heard before.”
The First Coast Music Fest is presented by New Leaf Vapor Co, Jam Brothers Music, Movement Magazine, Crazy Dave’s Music, Thirty Three Star, JaxLive, 904 Happy Hour, The Elbow, City Xtra Magazine, The Loop Pizza Grill, Free Time Radio, and Black Key Designs. For a complete lineup visit www.firstcoastmusicfest.com and make sure to #FCMF2 on social networks. Tickets & Info: www.firstcoastmusicfest.com. Single and two-day tickets are available for the general admission event. Tickets are also available at Crazy Dave’s Music, 192 Arora Blvd in Orange Park (276-2472) and Stay Tuned Studios, 5570 Florida Mining Blvd. S., Jacksonville (292-9997).
Follow FOLIO!