Hello summer, now that it’s official can we put a little more sunshine into the mix?
Keep your umbrella handy and dive into the music for the summer solstice.
Here’s a roundup of entertaining events around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts online listings and elsewhere.
1. Remedy Tree brings the cure to the Req Room
The music cure is coming with a dose of bluegrass and Americana from the Remedy Tree on Saturday, June 21.
Get your weekend started at the Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St., at 5 p.m. Friday, June 20, with Two Clever, followed at 8 p.m. by the Atala Quartet, featuring Joe Shahady – trumpet; Blake Dwelle – piano; Andres Aybar – bass and Nygel Anderson – percussion. Instructions are to “Bring your horns!” So that means the last set will be an open jam. $10 cover. Visit bluetaverntallahassee.com.
3rd Saturday Traditional Irish Session kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at Blue Tavern to warm things up for Remedy Tree in the Req Room, 1280 N. Monroe St. The Americana band from Altoona is a hard driving modern Florida bluegrass band focused on lyric-driven songs and big energy.
The band was founded by Gabriel and Abigail Acevedo in 2015, with a strong indie-folk sound. Remedy Tree added a banjo player and were subsequently thrust into a bluegrass trajectory. Gabriel Acevedo was born in Bayamon Puerto Rico and was raised in rural Umatilla. An original music band at heart, Remedy Tree recently welcomed Isaac Taylor (banjo) and Nathan Beaumont (mandolin) into the band, some of the region’s best players. $10 cover.
2. Welcome summer with Make Music Tallahassee
Tallahassee is joining an international effort to celebrate music and highlight musicians on Saturday, June 21, with a slate of events being held at venues around town to coincide with the summer solstice.
Make Music Day was dreamed up in 1982 by former French minister of culture Jack Lang and his staff, as a day where music would be all around cities, from street corners, parks, rooftops, and gardens to store fronts, on the summer solstice. It’s now celebrated in over 1,000 cities.
Make Music Tallahassee 2025 is the second annual iteration of the local event. Visit the Make Music Tallahassee page on Tallahassee Arts Guide to see events happening on June 21 or upload your event at tallahasseearts.org. To view music events year-round, check out musiclocal.org.
Here’s a look at who’s playing where around the capital city:
Rise Up Singers at Cascades Park, near Korean War Memorial, 10:30 a.m.-noon; Summer Luau at Oyster City Brewing, 2-10 p.m.; Summer Solstice and Faerie Festival, 3-10 p.m., Unity Eastside Church; Jam Session at The Blue Tavern, 4-7 p.m.; Remedy Tree Performance, 8 p.m.; Jim Ed at Cafe de Martin, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Hot Tamale at Klemen Plaza Amphitheater, 8 p.m.-sunset; The Shahid Malik Experience, The Wine House on Market St., 7-9:30 p.m.; and Bill Rigsby Band at The Getaway Grille and Bar, 7-10 p.m.
3. Catch blues with Big Al at House of Music
New Orleans band Big Al and the Heavyweights stops in at the House of Music Tallahassee at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 21, on a tour in support of their latest Vizztone Label Group album, “Blues Power.” From greasy funk to grinding blues sprinkled with bayou soul and zydeco, this album represents the best of roots music. Tickets are $20 advance, $25 at the door. Visit houseofmusictally.com.
Big Al and the Heavyweights formed in 1996 as the Unknown Blues Band with founding members Al Lauro, Warren Haynes and Rick Gergen (Sweethearts of the Rodeo). Warren is no longer in the band, but Big Al has formed a solid array of musicians including critically acclaimed guitarist vocalist, Marcel Anton, on bass guitar and vocals Dennis “The Menace” Cedeno from Brooklyn, NY, and on harmonica and vocals, Motor City’s Dale Robertson. The band was inducted into The Alabama Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2023.
4. Kettle Black kicks off summer at The Sound Bar
Tallahassee cover band Kettle Black cranks up a rockin’ summer kickoff party at The Sound Bar, 1105 W. Tharpe St., at 7 p.m. Friday, June 20.
The Tallahassee Vinyl Club is taking over The Sound Bar, 1105 W. Tharpe St., from 3-6 p.m. Saturday, June 21, for Operation Roots and Culture. Whether you’re a serious collector or just love the sound of a record spinning, you’re in good company. Come hang with folks who speak fluent vinyl. Seminole Uprising & Palace Rats liven up the space at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 21. Visit thesoundbartallahassee.com.
5. Tune into the Sounds of Downtown
Downtown Tallahassee strikes up the bands for a music crawl starting at 7 p.m. Friday, June 20, at venues in the heart of the city. Get ready to groove to the vibrant melodies at the Sounds of Downtown event on Friday, June 20. Let the music guide you through the heart of Tallahassee Downtown.
This free event features local bands who will be staggered across downtown businesses throughout the evening on Friday, creating a music crawl. Here’s the lineup: Chris Seepersaud – 7 p.m. at La Florida, 350 S Duval; Brett Richter – 7:30 p.m. at JoEllen’s, 215 W. College St.; Kristellys – 8 p.m. at- Harry’s in Kleman Plaza, 301 S. Bronough St,; and Brian Bowen – 8:30 p.m. at Hayward House., 228 S. Adams St.
OTHER EVENTS
Apalachee Center: Apalachee Center will host its 11th Annual Art Show, “In Motion: Artful Journeys toHealing,” at Apalachee Center’s Leon County campus – Building J, 2634 Capital Circle NE, 32308, noon to 3 p.m. Friday, June 20.
Blue Tavern: Shape Note Singing begins at Blue Tavern at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, followed at 8 p.m. by Bluesday Tuesday with Belmont & Jones. Cover is $5. Conor Churchill plays happy hour at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, followed at 8 p.m. by Open Mic Night. Come on in from 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 26, for the June Birthday Playlist Party. Free film night starts at 8 p.m.
Great Oaks Pub at Southwood: The Screaming Oysters make a splash from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, June 20, at the Great Oaks Pub, 3750 Grove Park Drive. These musical veterans have over a 100 years of experience between them. Ray Wiley, Tom Bevis, Dick Hosford, Frank Pervis, and Rick Weathersby have fronted or played in practically every major group Tallahassee has produced. No cover, full restaurant and bar, call 850-942-4653 for reservations.
621 Gallery: Super Cool Awesome Music Studio presents Briana Marela (Oakland, CA), Whilynn (TLH), Pollyena (TLH) , Taylor Pecori (Panama City) , Death Jett 88 (Panama City) for a show at 621 Gallery in Railroad Square on Friday, June 20. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with show at 7 p.m. $15 (No One Turned Away For Lack of Funds).
Quilt Show: The Quilt Guild City Hall Exhibition is a Triennial collaboration between COCA and the Quilters Unlimited of Tallahassee Quilt Guild. Over 30 quilts are exhibited this year from 25 different artists within the Big Bend Region. The Opening Reception celebration is from 6-7:30 p.m. June 19 at the Tallahassee City Hall Gallery. The exhibit continues through Aug. 4.
Secrets of the Wacissa: Guided all-day paddling adventure down the legendarily wild and historic Slave Canal from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 21. Braided channels, rapids, swallets, paleontology, and beautiful swamp wilderness. $125 fee includes shuttle service, canoe/kayak, safety gear, complimentary beverages with expert guide and outdoor educator Ryan Means. Details: 850-544-5661; CoastalPlainsAdventures@gmail.com; and coastalplains.org.
Tallahassee Film Society: Michelle, a retiree in Burgundy, expects her grandson Lucas but a mistake ruins her plans in “When Fall is Coming,” at 3 p.m. June 21 and 5 p.m. June 22 at the Challenger IMAX, 200 S. Duval St. 104 minutes. 2024. French with English subtitles. Not Rated. Admission is $11 general admission, $9 for TFS members and students. Visit tallahasseefilms.com.
Have an event coming up? Email details to limelight@tallahassee.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Looking for fun events? Top 5 things to do around Tallahassee
Reporting by Martha Gruender, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
