Gasparilla Music Festival’s October lineup announcement featured its strongest group of initial acts to date (Avett Brothers, Gary Clark Jr, Tank & the Bangas, Lukas Nelson), and fans have been waiting for phase two of the lineup coming to downtown Tampa March 9 to 10.
Well, that announcement came today at 2 p.m. — and we like what we hear.
South Carolina producer Toro y Moi brings a new album to the agenda, and CL is stoked to see that Gasparilla Music Festival has continued its tradition of booking the country’s best just-under-the-radar hip-hop acts by adding Washington D.C. emcee Oddisee & Good Compny to the bill (the rapper’s 2016 show at The Orpheum was one of the year’s best).
Indie-rock fans will also be happy, as GMF added Los Angeles trio Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Texas psych-rock outfit White Denim and New Zealand indie-pop band The Beths to the lineup. Americana is well-represented in the latest announcement, too, thanks to the addition of Sleepwalkers, Ruen Brothers and the Michigan Rattlers.
What we’re most excited about, however, is the lineup of local acts that were added to GMF’s 2019 bill. The festival has always booked the cream of the Tampa Bay scene’s crop, and this year is no exception thanks to several bands CL featured in its latest Music Issue (Fever Beam, Danny & Alex, Glove, Garden Club), as well as one that released one of our favorite albums of 2018 (Jordan Esker & the 100 Percent).
What's more, Florida-based pop (The Hails, Flipturn) joins the lineup alongside a few soul and funk outfits (J,Nelle, Venus Bleu, Savants of Soul), songwriters (Joshua Reilly, Hannah Harber) and a Bay area emcee who clamored to be on the GMF bill (Rolling Loud L.A. alum Gat$, who also recently interned at CL, where he helped interview a past GMF performer, Chali 2Na).
Returning locals include OG local reggae favorites Tribal Style and electro-pop producer Fr33dback, who brings a live band to his set this time.
Planner-type festgoers will even enjoy the festival's day-by-day lineup (see it below). Single-day tickets start at $30, and two-day passes cost $60. VIP options (food, drinks, air-conditioned bathrooms) are available starting at $100.
Gasparilla Music Festival. March 9-10. Gates at 11 a.m. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park & Kiley Gardens, Tampa. $30 & up. gasparillamusic.com.
Full disclosure: From 2013-2016, this writer helped coordinate social media efforts for GMF — read about that here.
Gasparilla Music Festival daily schedule
Saturday, March 9
The Avett Brothers
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Toro y Moi
Tank & the Bangas
The Pharcyde
White Denim
Oddissee & Good Compny
Sleepwalkers
Uncle John's Band plays Dick's Pick Vol 1 - Curtis Hixon Hall
Magic City Hippies
J'Nelle
Parrotfish
Gat$
Danny & Alex
Glove
Fr33dback Live Band
Jordan Esker & the 100%
Flipturn
Mr. Tommy
Sugar Rush
Venus Bleu
Florida Gospel Music & Arts w/ Dr Kevin Parrot
Sunday, March 10
Gary Clark Jr.
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
The Infamous Stringdusters
New Orleans Suspects' Tribal Gold
The Beths
Jared & the Mill
Laurie Berkner
Ruen Brothers
Hannah Harber & Lionhearts
Joshua Reilly
Garden Club
Michigan Rattlers
Fever Beam
The Hails
Savants of Soul
Tribal Style
Tampa Metro Youth Orchestra
