FOLIO
This summer, Jacksonville isn’t just turning up the volume — it’s orchestrating a full-scale musical revival. Whether you’re the type who gets goosebumps from a screaming guitar solo or the swell of a string section, the Florida Theatre is offering something electric for every classic rock lover. Two powerful concert series, Jacksonville Rock Orchestra and Classic Albums Live,promise a summer soundtrack that hits all the right notes.
Jacksonville Rock Orchestra: Where Symphony Meets Stadium Rock
Jacksonville Rock Orchestra (JRO) isn’t your grandfather’s orchestra. This 27-musician powerhouse — half rock band, half symphonic firestorm —fuses timeless rock anthems with lush orchestral arrangements in a way that’s anything but polite. It’s symphonic swagger with amps cranked to 11.
Hosted in the acoustically flawless Florida Theatre, the JRO Summer Concert Series doesn’t just cover the classics — it elevates them. Think “Stairway to Heaven” backed by timpani and brass. Picture “Don’t Stop Believin’” swelling across the theater in a sea of violins and cymbals. It’s not a concert; it’s a sonic epiphany.
2025 Jacksonville Rock Orchestra Lineup
June 4 – The Music of Led Zeppelin
Thunder, power, and the hammer of the gods. Expect nothing less than transcendence.
July 11 – The Music of Fleetwood Mac
Emotion. Harmony. Heart. It’s “Rhiannon” reimagined — and yes, there will be tambourines.
August 8 – The Music of Journey
If “Open Arms” doesn’t leave you misty-eyed, you might be made of stone.
Tickets are available for individual shows or as a discounted three-show series.
Classic Albums Live: Vinyl Fidelity, No Frills
Classic Albums Live is not your standard tribute act. In fact, they bristle at the word “tribute.” No lookalikes in wigs and sequins, this elite musicianship treats the most iconic rock albums with the reverence of a sacred text.
Founded in 2003 by Canadian producer Craig Martin, Classic Albums Live brings together a rotating cast of world-class session musicians to re-create albums—note for note, cut for cut. No improvisation. No liberties. Just pure, spine-tingling accuracy.
2025 Classic Albums Live Lineup
June 19 – Stevie Ray Vaughan: “Texas Flood”
A blues masterwork, recreated with the same fury and finesse that made Vaughan a legend.
July 18 – Lynyrd Skynyrd: “Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd”
Hometown heroes get their due. From “Tuesday’s Gone” to “Free Bird,” this one’s personal.
September 14 – Led Zeppelin: “Led Zeppelin II”
Raw, heavy, and unapologetically loud. This is Zep as it was meant to be heard—live and lethal.
Each show delivers the album in its entirety, followed by a second set of greatest hits. It’s the closest you’ll ever get to seeing these records come alive without hopping in a time machine.
Both of these series are meant for the rock purist. So go ahead and ditch the streaming playlists and immerse yourself in something real. Whether you want to feel your ribcage rattle during a Zeppelin crescendo or relive “Texas Flood” like it’s 1983, Jacksonville has your front row seat to classic rock reborn.
For more information and to buy tickets, visit floridatheatre.com.
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