Here’s some big news about the Sarasota / Bradenton music scene. RJ Howson just announced that a new bass player has joined the band. George Potsos, from St. Louis, MO, formally of the Devon Allman Band, “Honeytribe” will be making his first appearance tonight with the RJ Howson Band, atContinue Reading
Last night was a very special evening at Ca ‘d’ Zan at the Ringling complex. The Lauren Mitchell Band performed to a huge and I mean HUGE crowd. The weather was absolutely perfect, the water views were extraordinary and the entertainment was magical. If you are a “blues” fan, this was the event to be at last night! My pal Laurie and I had such a great time. What a great way to spend a Thursday eveining in the beautiful Sarasota sunshine and fresh air!
Savannah Brady & Her All Star Band
Laurie and I had the pleasure of attending the 3rd Annual “Food and Wine on Pine,” on Anna Maria Island on Saturday. It was the first time we ever attended this great event. Fabulous food, lot’s of street vendors, awesome beverages and great music. It was an all day event. The main reason for going is that I heard that Savannah Brady and the Jimi Gee “All Stars” were going to be playing.
It’s was about two years ago when I first heard Lauren Mitchell sing. I immediately knew that she would become someone very special in the local music scene and beyond. She had a quality that not very many singers have, and that is Star Quality. We met in person a couple of months later to discuss a charity event for breast cancer that was to be held at the Flying Dog Cafe. I asked Lauren if she would sing and she jumped at the opportunity. That was the day that I agreed, with much excitement, to have my company build a website for the Lauren Mitchell Band.
The Sarasota Film Festival had a major announcement today! Several films that were a big hit at Sundance plus a new comedy from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Noah Baumbach and a documentary about Mariel Hemingway, who will be making an appearance, will be the main attractions at the 15th annual Sarasota Film Festival taking place in Sarasota from April 5 through 14.
The SFF folks announced today that Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s documentary “Blackfish” will be the opening film this year with a screening at The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on April 5. Baumbach’s “Frances Ha” will screen as the closing night film on April 13 at The Sarasota Opera House. James Ponsoldt’s “The Spectacular Now” and Barbara Kopple’s “Running Crazy” are the festival’s centerpiece films.
Meredith Garofalo, New Opportunities
by Laurie Mirkin
I spoke to Meredith yesterday, and I have to say that she can talk! That makes my job so much easier, so I appreciate that, and Meredith has already done so much in her young life that I could barely keep up trying to write it all down. Thanks, Meredith.
We talked about her love of music, which started when she was just a little girl. She loved being in several different choirs as a young girl, and has taken acting lessons and participated in plays and musicals. She says she feels like a lot of her musical influence came from her grandfather, who had an accordion band. I asked her if she’d be interested in acting, and I was surprised when she said she is seriously considering joining a local theatre company. I can easily see where she’d be perfect for theatre.Meredith is from Cleveland, Ohio. She’s got family there and also in New Port Richey. She has a younger sister who is 24, and her parents are both residing in Cleveland. Meredith told me she has worked in Ohio, Indiana, South Dakota and Florida, building her television career. She has moved too many times and is happy to call Sarasota her home. Her experience with ABC,Channel 7 in Sarasota, Florida, having come to a close, leaves her with time to really discover her surroundings and do everything she had no time to do before.
Once every few months, the Sarasota/Bradenton area’s finest blues music performers get together and give a full-throttle performance to raise money to help local charities. Every event is performed on behalf of a different charity, and the spirit of giving comes alive in the local talent that performs. Ladies SingContinue Reading
From Lauren Mitchell…..this just in! We are so excited to announce our CD Release Party!!!! The album is finally finished and we’re gonna GET DOWN and CELEBRATE!! Please join us as we mark our triumphant return to The Palladium to celebrate the release of our debut album – “Please ComeContinue Reading
Sarasotapost.com wants to be one of the 1st in SRQ to congratulate Lauren Mitchell and the Lauren Mitchell band for successfully completing their “Kickstarter” project. It is always a joy to acknowledge our local SRQ talent. And, congratulations to everyone who supported Lauren and helped to make this project aContinue Reading
Does anyone recognize these 2? It turns out that the lovely lady and her band performed last night at the Manatees Sports Grill. Yes, the very talented Melanie Massell and her band, “Hot Item” put on quite a performance doing songs from Carol King, Mary Wells, Frankie Ford, Bonnie Raitt,Continue Reading
From a very reliable source, sarasotapost.com has some big news. Steve Arvey, the hardest working performer on Florida’s “left coast” is about to get involved in a new profession! We can’t say what it is yet, but stay tuned and we will have more news for you next week.Continue Reading