Sunshine Get Down Lineup: This Isn’t a Splash; It’s a CANNONBALL!

Turner Moore and Jillian Grant and crew decided to throw a party at Florida Sand Music Ranch in 2023, and Sunshine Get Down was born. Earlier this year, they upped the ante with the sophomore edition of the Get Down, and last month they absolutely blew the roof off the suck with the brilliant inaugural Sunshine Hootenanny, both events part of the Sunshine Music & Arts Festivals group.

And then Turner, Jillian, et al. said HOLD OUR BEERS. The lineup for Sunshine Get Down — April 10-12 — is here (with a couple names to be revealed in January), and it is THE. BOMB. Let’s dive in!

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and BIG Something are two bands that used to play the small venues here in Florida and across the country back in the day. Now they are superstars who headline festivals everywhere, and they are both coming to rock the stage at Florida Sand Music Ranch. OH HELL YES!

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. 📷: Kendall McCargo Photography

Some Dead music? Grateful Shred from L.A. are as good as it gets, and South Florida’s amazing Crazy Fingers will also be there to deliver the vibes!

LaMP trio feature three great jazz players: Russ Lawton, drums; Scott Metzger, guitar; and Ray Paczkowski, Hammond B3. Always thrilled to see sacred steel juggernaut The Lee Boys on the bill! And you’ll get plenty of psychedelic punk-grass rock from Nashville’s Sicard Hollow.

sgd Sicard Hollow 📸- @iamtourmalet
Sicard Hollow. 📸: @iamtourmalet

Piling on, Florida provides plenty more, including rock ’n’ roll duo The Ries Brothers from St. Petersburg; Silver Springs’ Propaganjah, bringing soul and R&B-infused reggae; Kettle of Fish (Sarasota) playing their Tom Petty tribute set Free Fallin’; rockers Tuff Son from Punta Gorda; superb instrumental jazz fusion quintet Sauce Pocket from Jacksonville; and great St. Petersburg multifaceted band Tropico Blvd.

The Rise Brothers - Hulaween 2024 - @VonRphoto-6
The Ries Brothers - Suwannee Hulaween '24. 📸: @VonRphoto

sauce pocket 📸- @treadbrightlymedia 1
Sauce Pocket. 📸: @treadbrightlymedia

Bespeaking the excellent diversity of the lineup (similar to Sunshine Hootenanny), there are two bands that will really make a splash. Western Gypsies from Gulfport play gypsy jazz and blues; think Stepane Grapelli and Django Reinhart and more. They will knock you out. And Sarasota’s Jazz DaddyOs will knock you out of bed Saturday morning as they parade before hitting the stage with great jazz swing.

Ted Cautious is the host of The Bunny on SiriusXM’s Phish Radio; he will host silent disco and throw the Tad Cautious Talking Heads DJ Dance Party. DJ MIDIcinal will also host silent disco.

Last — but absolutely NOT least — are Displace and their leader, Chris Sgammato, whose magic filled a last-minute cancellation at Hootenanny. They are always welcome!

And more information from the organizers:

PLUS five more artists will be announced in early January including our Saturday night headliner!
We’re adding Premium Experience Packages with exclusive viewing area and lounge, dedicated bar, chairs and couches, bathroom trailer plus hotel packages with round trip shuttle available.

AND THIS:

There will be a special sale on Monday, December 23, for 24 hours. You can buy TWO three-day passes and get a $20 discount.

Sunshine Get Down Lineup: This Isn’t a Splash; It’s a CANNONBALL!