Orange Blossom Jamboree Turns 10
OBJ turns 10 this year. How is that possible? For the tenth time, Orange Blossom Jamboree will rock Sertoma Ranch in Brooksville, the annual Sunshine State showcase. As is always the case, we are blessed with enough talent to take up two entire weeks. We’ll have to settle for five glorious days, May 15-19.
Florida just got to show our stuff at last weekend’s astounding Suwannee Rising Music Festival at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (review soon, we promise!). Eleven of the 25 bands were ours. OBJ, presented by Dunedin Brewery, has an amazing lineup of 55 of Florida’s best (plus one dude who claims he’s from Maine, probably just coming to thaw out).
At the top of the list are six of the very best, including Florida’s “senior” statesmen, The Heavy Pets, an amazing twist-up from The Grass is Dead, king of the steel guitar Roosevelt Collier and incredible trio, The Groove Orient, celebrating their excellent new album, and two of the Suwannee Rising stars: Come Back Alice, who crushed their set, and the Melody Trucks Band, finally getting that much-deserved Amphitheater set.
The funk-rock-jam collection is Marianas Trench deep: The Legendary JC’s, Shak Nasti, Electric Kif, Future Vintage, High Test, Guavatron, S.P.O.R.E., Leisure Chief, Tand, and Side Hustle are all in the mix. So are Holey Miss Moley, who might have had Suwannee Rising’s single best performance when they played their new tune “Here to Dance” (gospel truth).
Uncle John’s Band, The Applebutter Express, Antelope, Bonnie Blue, Daniel Heitz Band, Troy Youngblood and The Soulfish, Skull and Bone Band, Souljam, Firewater Tent Revival, Grindstone Sinners, and the Fil Pate Trio play various forms of roots music, from the roots of the Dead and Phish to Americana and bluegrass — and everything in between.
It’s about damn time that Vlad the Inhaler will be in the house, and you can count on great hip hop and lots of rhymes from Jon Ditty and Dizzlefunk. Row Jomah and shoeless soul continue to dance that beautiful line between rock and “pop” (well, as they interpret it, anyway). Feeling a little veird? Follow the Monarchs will set you up, uh, well, not straight, exactly, but…
We can expect the usual magnificence from Legacy Orchestra Collective and Este’s Church of Love, and silky soul from Ella Jet & Future Soul. Plan to hit all three stages and discover lots of bands you’ve never seen before. There is so much greatness. The rest of the lineup includes Franscene, Oddessey, I’Magine, The Conglomerate, Wildroot, Mind Medicine, Pockit, Spiral Light, Deja Voodoo, Tropico Blvd, Shaw Davis and The Black Ties, Flint Blade Trio, Victoria Cardona, The Good Wood Band, Phunk It, HeadStash, and SYZYGY.
There will be food vendors, craft merchants, a children’s play area, ice available on site, and lots of activities through Rising Light. We will explore the schedules for music, Rising Light, and the children’s activities soon. In the meantime, jump on those tickets now.
HE WHO HESITATES IS JUST KIDDING HIMSELF.
Admit it: you didn’t really need to see the lineup to know you need to be there.
Orange Blossom Jamboree
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