Sea-Blues Festival Boasts Fine Lineup in Clearwater
The Sea-Blues Festival makes its annual return to Coachman Park in Clearwater, Florida, this Friday and Saturday, February 22-23. Once again there is a lot of outstanding talent on stage over the course of the two days.
SATURDAY
Gates open at 2. Get there on time, or you will miss a truly outstanding group from Orlando: Someday Honey. This band wraps itself around the amazing blues-belting voice of Kaleigh Baker, highlighted by the great guitar work of Matt Walker.
Reverend Barry and the Funk are also Floridians, from Sarasota. Barry Nicholson, bass and lead vocals, heads up this octet which just released a new EP titled A Thousand Lives We’ve Lived.
Chicago blues-rocker RJ Howson is up next, although he is a Floridian now (smart man). Great harp man Brandon Santini and his backing trio hail from Memphis.
And speaking of Memphis, the riveting young band Southern Avenue also call Memphis home. Enjoy our interview with this skyrocketing band here.
There is great buzz about the night’s headliner, Allen Stone, who calls Washington State home. His most recent album is Building Balance (2019).
SUNDAY
It would be wise once again to drive on time for the reserved seats as gates open at 2 again, and outstanding Asheville sextet The Broadcast will speed-shift the day into high gear. Read our current article about them here.
The soulful Betty Fox and band will be augmented by horns for this show. The Tampa singer’s foundation in gospel and soul have helped define her musical approach.
It’s been more than a hot minute since Heather Gillis has been in the area. The guitar slinger from Florida now calls Nashville home. She is a fine singer and killer on lap steel guitar, and she is adept at a wide swath of genres rooted in rock, blues, and R&B.
Victor Wainwright and the Train are closing out their Frosty Funk Tour here in Clearwater. Pianist Wainwright and the crew play rompin’ Memphis boogie-woogie and blues drenched in soul.
Tab Benoit is on Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea cruise at the moment, but he will return in time to headline Sunday night at Sea-Blues. The Louisiana man has been keeping the blues alive for years, and it’s not likely he’ll slow down any time soon!
