Originally launched in 2013 by the Tedeschi Trucks Band (that collab between husband-and-wife blues and roots maestros Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks), the two-city Sunshine Music & Blues Festival has not only become the group's signature event but marks the first festie of the year here in sunny FLA, and the fourth annual edition has been confirmed for January 16-17, 2016.
In addition to the 12-piece TTB — which claims the headlining slot — other confirmed acts spread over the two stages at the 2016 Sunshine Music Festival include folkie duo The Indigo Girls, NOLA funk, soul and R&B rockers Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, roots rock supergroup Hard Working Americans (featuring singer-songwriter Todd Snider, bassist Dave Schools of Widespread Panic, Neal Casal from Chris Robinson Brotherhood on guitar and vocals, Chad Staehly of Great American Taxi on keys and Duane Trucks, younger brother to Derek, on drums), and West Cost jazz-funk-jam staples, Karl Denson’s Tiny. Other confirmed artists include the Jerry Douglas Band, Jorma Kaukonen, Bobby Lee Rodgers, Joanne Shaw Taylor and The Revivalists. Craft beers, food by local eateries, and other diversions are also planend.
The festival takes place Sat., Jan. 16, 2016, 11:30 a.m., at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg, as well as Sun., Jan. 17, 11:30 a.m., at Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton. General Admission tickets for the day-long event are $49.99 (reserved tickets $99.99) and go on sale this Fri., Oct. 9, at 10 a.m. via Live Nation. For more info, visit the Sunshine Music Festival website.
This article appears in Oct 1-7, 2015.