Staying power is hard to come by in the world of music festivals, and while giants like Clearwater Jazz Holiday and WMNF's Tropical Heatwave have been around for decades, you won't really find smaller, one-day fests that have withstood the test of time.
Summer Jam is an exception, and on August 30 the Ybor-centric celebration of the end of summer is finally calling it quits with its 10th — and perhaps strongest — lineup yet.
Athens, Ga. hyphy-pop gurus Reptar lead the bill along with breaking Sunshine State acts Roadkill Ghost Choir, Beach Day, and South Florida makers of soul-laced house and disco, Millionyoung. Another Georgia band, Southern indie-rockers New Madrid, provide additional out-of-state anchors, but the rest of the bill showcases some of the best bands our neck of the woods has to offer by welcoming Bradenton-exports Have Gun, Will Travel and Good Graeff, Jax-beach psych rockers Swimm, Miami pop-gaze outfit Sweet Bronco, as well as BOTB-winning Bay area favorites Gwan Massive, DieAlps!, and Gainesville art-rock group Dear & Glorious Physician, which reunited seven years after the release of their brutally beautiful eponymous LP in 2007.
"We are honored to have so many of our favorite bands on the bill, many have been dear friends since the beginning of Summer Jam," festival co-founder Joe D'Acunto told CL. "It's quite honestly exactly what we intended from the start and it's with great joy that we feel we'll be going out on top with all of our friends and family by our side."
Early bird tickets go on sale today for just $15. They increase to $20 and will be $25 on day of show when Crowbar (1812 N. 17th St., Ybor City) and New World Brewery (1313 E. 8th Ave, Ybor City) play host. More information on the festival is available here.
