Tag Archives: Sam Veal

When you think of the rich landscape of blues history, palm trees and sandy beaches might not be the first place that springs to mind. is a distant cultural cousin of the birthplace of the blues, far removed by geography and tradition. Yet, there’s an inextricable current connecting the past and present that exists at the annual . It’s all part of the same story. The 29th Annual Springing the Blues Festival is held April 5-7 at the SeaWalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach with Danny Delves & the Deadly Nightshades kicking things off on the SeaWalk Pavilion stage. Weekend performances …

The is changing the way we look at public transportation. TryTransit is a new campaign designed to encourage new ridership with a series of upgrades to boost service of the fixed route buses, the downtown Skyway system, the St. Johns River Ferry, the Paratransit system for handicapped customers, and trolleys. JTA has introduced the TryTransit Challenge open to Jacksonville residents to show their support of public transportation by encouraging customers to take a selfie and post a challenge with the hashtag #TryJTA using social media. Once the challenge is posted, challenge colleagues, friends and family to do the same within …

Growing up, it was no surprise that was destined for a career in music. The tow-headed toddler would slip on his shades and into character as Ray Charles, playing along at the piano to the soundtrack of The Big Chill. “I would wear my sunglasses, and no one knew why I was Ray Charles singing along to the Big Chill soundtrack, but I was. I think I always just loved music. I asked my parents when I was in my 20s and had been playing professionally for a number of years, you know, ‘Did you guys know I was going …

Salt Life is more than just a slogan; it’s a lifestyle that’s reflected in everything from the surfers, anglers, boaters, sun worshipers, and simple appreciators of island time. It’s Pura Vida. The first annual will celebrate it all Saturday, June 18 at the SeaWalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach. Festival director has assembled an eclectic lineup of artists to reflect the nature of the salt life with , , , , , , and headliner . “First and foremost, [Salt Life] will be reflected in the music. Our lineup is such a terrific array of talent. Everything from the steel drum …

This year celebrates the 26-year tradition of sun, fun, and music. Exciting changes are underway for , the free outdoor blues music festival at the , April 1-3. It’s now known as and will spotlight the youngest array of talent ever. As the new title sponsor, Belk will help contribute to a greater talent reach and an increased production value. “They are very, very big into southern music and of course, that’s what Springing the Blues is all about,” says festival founder .   Veal shared some of their excitement about the partnership: “Belk is honored to be the title …

With the holiday season behind us, the 2016 festival season is right around the corner. This year, a new VIP season pass from offers premium seating and other amenities good for all four music festivals held at the in Jacksonville Beach. For just $99, festival patrons can get up close and personal with the artists with first rate seating and access to the backstage dining area. Perks also include exclusive restrooms and beverage attendants. The kicks off the season Saturday and Sunday, February 27th and 28th with an emphasis on regional music (www.communityfirstseawalkmusicfest.com). Festival founder says the original local footprint …

The vibrancy of our local music, art and food scene will be on full display June 20 at the 3rd annual . The free festival spotlights local food vendors, artists, and culture with an eclectic collection of the area’s top musicians including , , , , , , and . Read EU’s interview with Herd of Watts HERE. With such a feel-good menu of music from blues to southern rock, festival organizers are hoping to introduce up and coming local artists to a wider audience. Festival founder is also unveiling several new elements designed to appeal to the target audience. …

For many blues performers and their audiences, the relationship between the musical performance and storytelling is definitive of the genre and central to the blues tradition. These stories are rich in history, building a legacy of perseverance and success from the early days of field hollers and slave spirituals to the stories born on dimly lit stages and preserved in dusty tomes. The started small, as stories do. Founder had an idea to create a local music festival celebrating blues music. Plans were simple – one day and six bands on a tiny, open-air stage in the heart of Jacksonville …

There are so many reasons to love where we live, and the 2nd Annual  celebrates them in abundance. The event is held from noon to 10pm on June 14th at the  in Jacksonville Beach. The free festival spotlights local food vendors, artists and culture with an eclectic collection of the area’s top musicians, including , , , , , , , , and . With such a feel-good menu of reggae, funk, bluegrass, southern rock and blues, festival organizers are hoping to introduce up-and-coming local artists to a wider audience. “This year we will present a very eclectic lineup of …