The Avett Brothers - Sunday July 19th @ Parker Playhouse

The Avett Brothers - If you put your ear to the street, you can hear the rumble of the world in motion; people going to and from work, to school, to the grocery store. You may even hear the whisper of their living rooms, their conversation, their complaints, and if you're lucky, their laughter. If you're almost anywhere in America , you'll hear something different, something special, something you recognize but haven't heard in a long time. It is the sound of a real celebration. It is not New Year's, and it is not a political convention. It is neither a prime time game-show, nor a music video countdown, bloated with fame and sponsorship. What you are hearing is the love for a music. It is the unbridled outcry of support for a song that sings to the heart, that dances with the soul. The jubilation is in the theaters, the bars, the music clubs, the festivals. The love is for a band. The songs are honest: just chords with real voices singing real melodies. But, the heart and the energy with which they are sung, is really why people are talking, and why so many sing along. They are a reality in a world of entertainment built with smoke and mirrors, and when they play, the common man can break the mirrors and blow the smoke away, so that all that's left behind is the unwavering beauty of the songs. That's the commotion, that's the celebration, and wherever The Avett Brothers are tonight, that's what you'll find. For more info visit www.theavettbrothers.com

$26 - All Ages - 7:30pm

Gogol Bordello - Tuesday July 28th @ Revolution

 

Combining elements of punk, gypsy music, and Brecht-ian cabaret, Gogol Bordello tells the story of New York's immigrant diaspora through debauchery, humor, and surreal costumes. Leader and singer Eugene Hütz's taste in music was spun out of black market tapes of the Birthday Party in his native Ukraine. After being evacuated to western Ukraine in 1986 following the Chernobyl disaster, Hütz became enamored of the mystical, outsider qualities of gypsy music. Living as a refugee in Poland, Hungary, Austria, and Italy before moving to the United States in 1993, he experienced life as an outsider himself. After arriving in New York, he teamed up with guitarist Vlad Solofar and squeezebox player Sasha Kazatchkoff. American Eliot Fergusen added a strong rock sound on the drums and the band was also augmented by Sergey Rjabtzev on fiddle, a former theater director from Moscow whose past experience would prove helpful in the future in crafting Gogol Bordello's bizarre stage shows (like one that tells the story of super-powered immigrant Ukrainian vampires). The group's early gigs involved playing straight gypsy music at Russian weddings, but their music soon evolved into the hyper-kinetic explosions that earned them a solid following among New York's downtown hipsters. Hütz helped bolster the band's popularity by becoming somewhat of a celebrity in the downtown scene, in part fueled by his Thursday night DJ gigs at Bulgarian club/restaurant/bar Mehanata, where he played Ukrainian, gypsy, rai, and flamenco music for a crowd of artists, models, Ukrainians, Russians, Gypsies, and Bulgarians with tendencies toward exuberant dancing and smashing plates.  For more info visit www.gogolbordello.com

Tickets $19 - All Ages - Doors 7:30

Blazed and Confused Tour with Slightly Stoopid and Snoop Dogg - Saturday August 1st at Bicentennial Park

 

Illustrating the perfect underground success story (and a testament to the new music model), Slightly Stoopid, and their label Stoopid Records, has become a case study in how to ‘make it' without the aid of radio or MTV circa the early 21 st century. Slightly Stoopid is all the proof you'll need to show that once and for all, with hard work, new technology and file-sharing, die-hard fans, and the right tunes, anything is possible. The group – which features Miles Doughty (Guitar, Bass, Vocals), Kyle McDonald (Guitar, Bass, Vocals), Ryan ‘RyMo' Moran (Drums), C-Money (Trumpet, Keyboard), DeLa (Saxophone), and Oguer ‘OG' Ocon (Congas, Percussion, Harp, Vocals) – has built a large n' loyal fan base, who are lovingly known as either Stoopidheads or Ese Locos. And the buzz surrounding the group continues to increase with each successive release – as their album catalog sales have topped the 500,000 mark, while the group has no problem filling prestigious concert venues throughout the world.  And through it all, Slightly Stoopid has logged some serious road miles – in addition to their incessant criss-crossing of the U.S., which includes appearances at prestigious festivals such as Coachella, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and New Orleans Jazz Fest, among others, the group has played sold-out shows in Australia, Japan, Guam, Amsterdam, Portugal and Denmark, the U.K., Germany, Holland, and the Dominican Republic. “ Without [the fans], we'd just be playing at the bar,” admits Kyle. “They make it worth our while – when we go out and people are having that good of a time, the energy goes back and forth. Just a good time – we rely on each other's energy.” And all you have to do is look at the list of artists that Slightly Stoopid has played with, to get a feel for how much of a large and diverse audience they appeal to - the Dave Matthews Band, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and the Marley Brothers, Sublime, the Roots, G. Love & Special Sauce, Ozomatli, Toots and the Maytals, and Pennywise, among others, as well as their first-ever sole headlining tour of amphitheatres in 2008, joined by their friends Pepper and Sly & Robbie. For more info visit www.slightlystoopid.com

 

Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus is a rare exception in the turbulent world of entertainment. After bursting on the scene in 1992, Snoop was crowned the king of the West Coast and single handedly put Long Beach on the map in terms of hip hop. Gritty lyrics and unmatched charisma made him a superstar but nobody could have guessed back then that his appeal would soon be widespread. From "Doggystyle" to appearances on the Martha Stewart show, Snoop will always be recognized and loved by all ages – from grandmothers to grandchildren and everyone in between. The long career Snoop has sustained is not only contributed to his time in the studio, but also his time in the boardroom. With nine solo offerings, and over 30 million albums sold worldwide, Snoop has his hand in many other ventures and has transitioned from gangsta rapper to mainstream staple effortlessly. Over the years Snoop has been involved in a myriad of branding and co-branding opportunities from dolls and pet clothes to the custom Snoop deVille. These days he is paring down his products, in order to really be involved and touch the ones he is most passionate about. After 17 years, Snoop has not only maintained his relevance but he has done so without changing who he is – a rare feat for most celebrities who constantly have to reinvent themselves to stay on top. True stars never lose their luster – and if history is an indication, Snoop is here to stay. For more info visit www.snoopdogg.com

 

Tickets Onsale Now $36.50 Advance - $45 Day of Show - All Ages - Doors 5pm

Counting Crowes and Michael Franti & Spearhead - Tuesday August 18 @ Bayfront Park Amphitheater

The Grand Re-Opening of Bayfront Park Amphitheater

Counting Crows is one of those bands you follow for the long haul. For those that first heard them opening for Bob Dylan long ago, or subbing for Van Morrison one memorable night at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, much of the soundtrack of our times comes from the Crows -- from their vivid musical landscapes as well as the feverish brilliance of singer/songwriter Adam Duritz. Counting Crows hail from the San Francisco Bay area and consist of Adam Duritz (vocals), David Bryson (guitar), Charles Gillingham (keyboards), David Immergluck (guitar), Dan Vickrey (guitar), Jim Bogios (drums), and Millard Powers (bass). Counting Crows success dates back to their 1993 debut release August And Everything After and the hit single “Mr. Jones.” Subsequent albums include Recovering the Satellites (1996); Across A Wire: Live in NY (1998); This Desert Life (1999) and Hard Candy (2002) which featured the band’s Top 10 cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi”. The band’s most recent success included a # 1 hit with the song “Accidentally In Love,” which was featured on the Shrek 2 soundtrack, as well as nominations in 2005 for a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for the track. In 2004 the band released their first ever “Best Of” set Films About Ghosts which featured songs from every phase of Counting Crows’ recording career, followed by the live album *New Amsterdam: Live at Heineken Music Hall 2003, which appeared in 2006. Counting Crows most recent studio album, Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings, was released in March of 2007. Counting Crows has sold over 20 million records worldwide. For more info visit www.countingcrows.com

“Music is the thread that’s gone through my life and given it so much meaning” Michael Franti

Michael Franti is a very big man who has always dared to say very big things through his joyous and passionate music during an unusually diverse and highly impressive career. Yet for all the wide-ranging, yet consistent excellence of his body of work, what’s most impressive about Michael Franti as a recording artist and live performer is his ability to inspire. Ultimately, the heartfelt music that Franti makes and his dedication to greater understanding on a global level, are not two aspects of his life, but very much one and the same. The Bay Area born Franti has been bringing our world exceptionally powerful, deeply felt music under a variety of names and in a wide range of genres for twenty years. From the intense punk rock of the Beatnigs, to the deeply political rap he made with the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy to his joyful and meaningful modern soul music with Spearhead, and now as Michael Franti & Spearhead, this still young man has released an impressive series of recordings that have vividly reflected his status as a musical citizen of this world. Consider Franti’s most recent musical masterpiece, All Rebel Rockers, an album featuring the legendary production team of Sly & Robbie that reinforces his place as a global force and a true musician of his time. Recently, Franti’s latest release entered the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart in the Top 40 and hit #4 on the Top Independent Album Chart, and further demonstrated that Franti remains very much at the height of his artistic powers. Through his entire musical career to date, Franti has continued to slowly, but surely build an extremely dedicated global grass roots following. He’s done it with a new spin on an old fashioned way. He’s earned his fans, one winning concert at a time. Ultimately what unites Franti’s remarkable and impressive career is, ironically, the man’s ongoing search for harmony. For more info visit www.michaelfranti.com

with special guests Augustana

Advance Tickets $31-$66 - All Ages - Show at 7pm

Col. Bruce Quark Alliance & Blueground Undergrass - Friday August 21st @ Revolution

Col. Bruce Hampton has been making music since he formed his first band in 1963. Col. Bruce has been in constant motion ever since leaving a trail of memorable live performances with his bands The Hampton Grease Band, The Late Bronze Age, and The Aquarium Rescue Unit. Along the way he starred in the cult classic movies "Sling Blade" and "Outside Out." The Colonel is currently playing with his band The Quark Alliance. Still rolling down the road, Col. Bruce continues his quest for the tonal center at each exit #6. For more information and to listen to The Quark Alliance visit www.thequarkalliance.com

Formed originally in 1998 by Jeff Mosier, Blueground Undergrass has developed a solid reputation and nationwide following by playing its multi-faceted music mix coast-to-coast. The band has always been known for exciting performances and eclectic arrangements. Its sonic wall of twang type sound pleases the whole spectrum of fans from hippies to cloggers to rockers, taking Blueground Undergrass to the brink of almost moshpit energy, yet guiding each show with song-driven clarity along the way. By successfully parlaying an extensive knowledge of bluegrass music with major elements of jazz and Southern rock, Blueground Undergrass has forged a unique, new listening experience, one rooted in the essentials of great American genres. Their Landslide Records debut, Faces, represents a strong culmination of the bands lengthy musical experience as well as its legendary live shows. Speaking recently of Blueground's sound Mosier said, "I never want our music to lose the tradition of the porch no matter how much remodeling was done to the house over time. The band will continue in that spirit and tradition by re-creating old Blueground Undergrass originals, rocking out bluegrass standards, and by introducing new songs and sounds to their live shows. " For sure, Blueground Undergrass will be doing what they have always done best, which is to provide every audience with an energetic and unforgettable live show of great music. And with the superb studio offering that is Faces, the band is poised to take on a whole new set of devoted listeners. For more information and to listed to Blueground Undergrass visit www.bluegroundundergrass.com

Advance Tickets $17 DOS $20 - Doors 8pm - All Ages

Hot Tuna - Saturday August 29 @ Revolution

From their days playing together as teenagers to their current acoustic and electric blues, probably no one has more consistently led American music for the last 50 years -- yes! -- than Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, the founders and continuing core members of Hot Tuna. In the mid 1960s, Jorma was asked to audition to play guitar for a new band that was forming in San Francisco. Though an acoustic player at heart, he grew interested in the electronic gadgetry that was beginning to make an appearance in the popular music scene -- particularly in a primitive processor brought to the audition by a fellow named Ken Kesey -- and decided to join that band; soon thereafter he summoned his young friend from Washington, who now played the bass. Thus was created the unique (then and now) sound that was The Jefferson Airplane. Jorma even contributed the band's name, drawn from a nickname a friend had for the blues-playing Jorma. Jack's experience as a lead guitarist led to a style of bass playing which took the instrument far beyond its traditional role. While in The Jefferson Airplane, putting together the soundtrack of the 60s, the pair remained loyal to the blues, jazz, bluegrass, and folk influences of the small clubs and larger venues they had learned from years before. While in San Francisco and even in hotel rooms on the road, they would play together and worked up a set of songs that they would often play at clubs in the Bay Area and while on the road, often after having played a set with the Airplane. The first thing an early Hot Tuna fan discovered at their concerts of the early 1970s was that the band was growing louder and louder. In an era in which volume often overtrumped musicianship, Hot Tuna provided both. The second thing a fan would discover was that Jack and Jorma really loved to play. "Look around for another band that plays uninterrupted three- to six-hour sets," wrote reviewer Jerry Moore. What Moore could not have known was that had there been no audience at all, they would have played just as long and just as well, so devoted were they to making music. Of course, the audience wasn't superfluous by any means; it energized and continues to energize their performances. After two decades of acoustic and electric concerts and albums, the 1990s brought a new focus on acoustic music to Hot Tuna. More intimate venues with a more individual connection to the audience became increasingly frequent stops. Soon, the loud electric sound (and the semi trailer load of equipment) disappeared entirely from Hot Tuna tours. Maturity brought the desire to do things not instead of but in addition to being a touring band. Both had become interested in teaching, passing along what they had learned and what they had uniquely developed to a new generation of players. Jorma and Jack certainly could not have imagined, let alone predicted, where playing would take them. It's been a long and fascinating road to numerous exciting destinations. Two things have never changed: They still love to play as much as they did as kids in Washington D.C., and there are still many, many exciting miles yet to travel on their musical odyssey. For more information and to listen to Hot Tuna please visit www.hottuna.com

Advance Tickets $23 DOS $25 - Doors 8pm - All Ages

O.A.R. with Brett Dennen - Saturday August 29 @ Pompano Beach Amphitheater

Sometimes the road already traveled can provide vistas never before seen. One would think after more than a decade of crossing this country's highways, the last thing O.A.R. co-founder and lyricist Marc Roberge would want is more time on the blacktop. But as he prepared to record the band's sixth studio CD, "All Sides," Roberge, his wife, and their dogs drove cross country. "I decided it would be interesting to make the drive from New York to L.A. to start my journey into this album," Roberge says. "I knew once I got there, time would be spent focused completely on music, so I wanted to gather some experience first. It was a completely different view of America than from a tour bus. You see so much more when you are in the driver's seat." Of course, some would say Roberge and his O.A.R. band mates have been in the driver's seat since he, guitarist Richard On and drummer Chris Culos formed their first group in 8th grade in Maryland in the early '90s, bonding over their love of Pearl Jam. Three years later, in 11th grade, bassist Benj Gershman came on board and O.A.R. - of a revolution - was born. Saxophonist Jerry DePizzo, after meeting Roberge and Culos at Ohio State University, joined the band full time in 2000. Eleven years after the group's first release, O.A.R. has come to stand for authentic rock music that reflects the collective triumphs and tragedies we all experience in this world: Real people making real music that resounds deeply with their fans. For more info visit www.ofarevolution.com

Of the numerous striking qualities Brett Dennen has displayed during his ascendance onto the national music scene, it is perhaps simply his own authenticity that accounts for his remarkable rise in popularity and acclaim. With his long red hair, headband and guitar held high on his stocky frame, he may seem like an unlikely front-man for 2008, but the 28 year-old singer/songwriter/musician is the rare performer that radiates confidence and ease in his own skin, a quality that has earned him an increasingly devoted fan-base. And in tandem with constant touring, word-of-mouth buzz, high profile media attention and a successful album, So Much More, Dennen has arrived as a significant new artist to watch. Raised in Oakdale, California, near the Bay Area, Dennen found inspiration to start playing guitar, in all of all places, summer camp. Dennen recollects, “I went to this summer camp and all of my favorite counselors were the ones that played acoustic guitar around the fire at the end of the day and night. I idolized those counselors.” Dennen experimented through high school and college with different styles; informed by his love of acoustic based music, jam bands and harder rock like Pearl Jam and Rage Against The Machine. After a short period of playing in bands, Dennen soon realized that writing his own music was where his passion lay. Upon graduation, he began playing in coffee shops and bars by himself on the west coast, just hoping to be heard. He started writing and recording in a friend's home studio, and the result was his first, self-titled album, which was released in 2004 on the Flagship label. For more information visit www.brettdennen.net

Tickets on Sale Saturday 5/16 @ 10am - 8pm - All Ages

The Black Crowes - Tuesday October 6 @ Pompano Beach Amphitheater

At the time of their 1990 debut, the kind of rock & roll the Black Crowes specialized in was out of style. Only Guns N' Roses came close to approximating a vintage Stones-style raunch, but they were too angry and jagged to pull it off completely. The Black Crowes replicated that Stonesy swagger and Faces boogie perfectly. Vocalist Chris Robinson appropriated the sound and style of vintage Rod Stewartwhile guitarist Rich Robinson fused Keith Richards' lean attack with Ron Wood's messy rhythmic sense. At their best, the Black Crowes echo classic rock without slavishly imitating their influences. The Robinson brothers originally formed the Black Crowes in Georgia in 1984. By the time of their 1990 debut, Shake Your Money Maker, the group comprised Chris Robinson (vocals), Rich Robinson (guitar), Johnny Colt (bass), Jeff Cease (guitar), and Steve Gorman (drums). "Jealous Again," the first single from Shake Your Money Maker, was a moderate hit but it was the band's cover of Otis Redding's "Hard to Handle" that made the group a multi-platinum success. "Hard to Handle" climbed its way into the Top 40, propelling the album into the Top Ten. The acoustic ballad "She Talks to Angels" became the band's second Top 40 hit in the spring of 1991. Shake Your Money Maker would eventually sell over three million copies. The Black Crowes delivered their second album, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, in the spring of 1992. It entered the charts at number one, but it didn't have as many hit singles as the debut; none of the singles cracked the Top 40 and only "Remedy" and "Thorn in My Pride" made the Top 100. Nevertheless, the band established itself as a popular concert attraction that summer, selling out theaters across America. During 1992, the band added keyboardist Eddie Harsch as a permanent member. The Black Crowes' third album, Amorica, arrived in late 1994. Amorica debuted in the Top Ten, but none of the singles from the album made the charts; even though the record went gold, it slipped off the charts in early 1995. Following a series of lineup changes, the retooled band then hit the road for a proper tour before setting to work on their first studio effort in seven years. Joined by newcomer Luther Dickinson, guitarist and co-founder of the North Mississippi Allstars, the Black Crowes combined the rootsy appeal of their early work with a newfound political awareness on 2008's Warpaint. For more information and to listen to the Black Crowes please visit www.blackcrowes.com

With special guests Truth and Salvage Company

Tickets On Sale Saturday July 18th - Show 8pm - All Ages