Four Great Shows Coming to Fogartyville in Sarasota — Americana Pioneer Steve Forbert Takes to the Fogartyville Stage

For more than four decades Steve Forbert has been a torchbearer for the Americana sound, having helped develop the genre’s folk and roots-rock qualities. Since the start of his career as a 17 year old in the 70’s, Forbert has continued to hone his craft and has released 23 studio albums and 4 live albums. He will be bringing his vast experience to the Fogartyville stage on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $27 for members and $30 for nonmembers. 

Described as “an introspective, homespun philosopher” by the New York Times, Forbert is well known for his lyrical nuance and humorous wit. His 2022 album Moving Through America tackles a range of characters that Forbert brings to life through his americana storytelling and ability to convey the many sides of America living. His songs have been featured in a variety of media through the years, including the film Margot at the Wedding, and he has received multiple Grammy nominations. Artists such as Keith Urban have covered and recorded Forbert’s Americana music, and Elvis Presley’s former pianist Bobby Ogdin joined him on the 1979 single “Romeo’s Tune,” which hit No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Characterized as a longtime road warrior, Forbert spends a majority of the year touring, on the road, and in the writing room. Despite having witnessed the many changes in music throughout his decades of work, Forbert continues to promote traditional americana storytelling.  Visit Steve Forbert.

Grass is Dead Returns

Witness bluegrass tradition collide with the music of the Grateful Dead at the February 3rd Grass is Dead show. Originally formed in 1998 as an offshoot of one of the most beloved Grateful Dead tribute bands, Crazy Fingers, Grass is Dead has made a name for themselves on festival stages across the United States. Known for their bluegrass style, the group has trailblazed the world of GD tributes, and will be bringing their unique flare back to Fogartyville on Friday, February 3rd at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. 

Grass is Dead credits the tradition of roots music as their inspiration and the inevitable collision of traditional and modern music. This is clear in their performances, as the spiritual and psychedelic attributes of music align with traditional bluegrass, blues, and rock to create the energetic tribute fans have come to love and expect. Pulling from such diverse influences as Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, John Hartford, Allman Brothers Band, Pink Floyd and so many others, Grass Is Dead have created a sound that not only pays homage to roots music and the songs of the Dead and Jerry Garcia, but expertly travels through time and space to explore the galactic and psychedelic nature of music itself. They have been credited for their ability to pull out the gems of wisdom buried in the Dead and Jerry Garcia’s melodies and lyrics, and present them anew.  Grass Is Dead

Genre-Defying Miss Tess to Perform at Fogartyville

Defined by her indefinable sound, Miss Tess has been breaking the rules of so-called “outlaw” music since her college days. Her genre-defying qualities break boundaries and land her somewhere in the realm of jazz, country, blues, and old school rock n’ roll. With her voice, she would be just as at home in a jazz club as a dark honky tonk filled with dancing people. Miss Tess will bring her versatile vocals to Fogartyville on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $18 for members, $22 for nonmembers, and $11 for students.

After over a decade of touring and releasing six full length albums, Miss Tess has gained notoriety from various media sources and has been heard from coast to coast on taste maker programs such as XM/Sirius’s The Loft and Outlaw Country, NPR’s Folk Alley, Santa Cruz’s KPIG and Boston’s WUMB. Rolling Stone describes her music as “rooted in a retro groove that’s equal parts blues, mid-century rock & roll and Booker T-worthy R&B.” With experience from her childhood, as well as time spent studying at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, Miss Tess has established herself as a formidable songwriter and performer. Her performances are often joined by her partner Thomas Bryan Eaton, whose guitar skills heighten her music even further. The two worked to create Tess’s sixth album, The Moon is an Ashtray, which held a spot in the top 20 of the Americana Radio Charts for several weeks.  Miss Tess Music.

Michael Ross Tribute to NOW Band

Bass player Michael Ross is a fixture on the Florida jazz scene. He has led two long-standing Tampa Bay–area groups, Liquid Bebop and the Michael Ross Quartet.  The Tribute to NOW Band consists of Michael Ross on bass, Daniel Jordan on saxophone and flute, William Evans on piano, and Walt Hubbard on drums. This performance will feature some of Ross’s new compositions combined with a few new arrangements of jazz standards by Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner and Dexter Gordon.

Modern jazz largely based in the blues, the musicians in this group are old friends and colleagues who have appeared with a variable who’s who of jazz greats, and played on Ross’s “Ginger” album, so this performance will be a happy reunion.  The performance will take place at Fogartyville on Sunday, February 5 at 7pm. Doors will open at 6pm.  Tickets are $18 for members and $20 for nonmembers.  Half-price tickets are available for students.  Advance tickets are available at WLSR.

Photos from WSLR / Fogartyville