Music Archives - Robert Redd Historian & Author

Posted on October 19, 2024October 20, 2024 by Robert — Leave a comment

The Best Events and Festivals in Florida November 2024

Are you searching for the best events and festivals in Florida in November 2024? Thanks for visiting. Please use the links below to find fun events for all ages.

Florida hosts some amazing events and festivals. Each month I hope to take a look at a dozen or so of these in hopes of bringing you fun, exciting, and unexpected ways to enjoy our state.

If you have an event or know of one coming up that you feel should be highlighted, please drop me a line with as much information as you can, including a website. I’ll be glad to include your suggestions in future posts. Maybe we can work together and put together a promotional post for your event.

I have listed events in date order.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. Affiliate programs or sponsors providing products do not influence my views and opinions.

November 1st and 2nd 61st Annual Apalachicola Florida Seafood Festival

The festival features delicious seafood, arts and crafts exhibits, seafood related events, Musical Entertainment. Some of the notable events include Oyster Eating and Oyster Shucking contest, Blue Crab Races, Photo Contest, Parade, 5k Redfish Run, The Blessing of the Fleet, History of the Festival Exhibit and Tonging For Treasure.

They make a point on their website in bold lettering that pets are not welcome and go further with a long paragraph about it. This is unneeded in my view but it’s not my event.

Rexipet Elk Antlers dog chews — Rexipets Elk Antlers are a natural, sustainable dog chew your pet will absolutely love. Loaded with nutrients, these long lasting chews have no odor. Health benefits to your best friend include cleaner teeth, better smelling breath, and these chews help prevent bad behavior caused by boredom. Your dog will thank you! Click the image for further details and to order.

November 2nd and 3rd Right Whale Festival Fernandina Beach

The Right Whale Festival celebrates the annual return of endangered North Atlantic right whales to the warm coastal waters off northeast Florida and Georgia, where they give birth to and nurse their young.

With less than 360 remaining, this family fun event raises awareness of the threats to right whales and how we can help in their recovery. The festival highlights efforts to protect these whales from extinction, as well as ocean-themed activities and exhibits that emphasize education and environmentally responsible adventures and products.

Free Admission – Come early and spend the day! Music, kids events, a kids obstacle course, mermaids and pirates, rescue vessels, movie in the park, and more.

November 2nd and 3rd Florida International Air Show Punta Gorda

Witness the United States Air Foce F-16 Viper Demo Team. The Chuters Jump Team will perform precision aerial demonstrations. Aerobatic flier Patty Wagstaff will be on hand. And much, much more.

No pets. outside food or drinks. beach umbrellas or ticket refunds.

Bring your own folding chairs.

Multiple ticket options. Check online to purchase in advance.

November 7th through 10th Daytona Beach Greek Festival

Join the fun at the 47th Daytona Beach Greek Festival. Enjoy food, music, dancing, and vendors. Free parking and shuttle are available.

Be Greek for a day!

Use Trip.com to find the best prices on domestic and international flights, rental cars, and hotel rooms. Covering more than 3,400 airports worldwide, they’ll find the best flight option available. After going to the Daytona Beach Greek Festival, maybe you’ll be inspired to visit Greece. Let Trip.com help you find that dream vacation.

November 9 and 10 Country Bay Music Festival Miami

Country music’s top stars arrive in Miami for a weekend like no other.

Experience unforgettable performances from the Zac Brown Band, Carrie Underwood, and many more on Miami’s stunning waterfront. Performers subject to change. See the website to keep current on who will be attending.

Parking passes are sold on the day of the event. Credit cards accepted. Rain or shine event. See the website for a long list of prohibited items. Alcohol may not be brought into the concert grounds. It will be available for purchase to those age 21 and older. A wristband is mandatory to purchase and consume alcohol. No exceptions.

Two day general admission tickets start at $199.99 on their website. Try Ticket Network for great pricing on tickets to events of all kinds, including the Country Bay Music Festival.

November 10 South Florida Seafood Festival Miami

Get hooked on the 11th Annual South Florida Seafood Festival at its new home in The Wynwood Marketplace!

Attendees can expect to indulge in some of South Florida’s most notable seafood cuisines from our local favorites. With 30+ local seafood favorites, 10+ of Miami’s finest chefs firing up our Kitchen Lab in live demonstrations, amazing cocktails that will make you reel, live tunes all day, a vendor market, sponsor activations, family fun activities, and more!

Early bird, general admission tickets start at only $12. Tickets will cost more at the door and are not guaranteed. Event is rain or shine. No refunds.

November 15th and 16th Florida Surf Film Festival New Smyrna Beach

Featuring the best in surf documentary filmmaking. They show films that invigorate surf culture with surfing as a focus along with story driven narratives.

They offer quarterly film festivals along with their Surf Stories Podcast which you can access on your preferred podcast provider.

Surfing in New Smyrna Beach Images of America book — Surfing is synonymous with New Smyrna Beach. Kate Cumiskey has gathered dozens of photos showcasing the surf life in what used to be a small beach town. Click the image to order your own copy.

November 16 and 17 Orlando Taco Festival

We showcase the best local taco restaurants & eateries and food trucks near you, get ready for TACO HEAVEN!! Enjoy tons of different TACOS, margarita bars, tequila flights, ice cold beer, live bands & DJs on stage all day long, Lucha Libre live wrestling, and so much more.

Get your tickets online. The earlier you buy, the less expensive they are. Hint, hint. Click the photo or link to visit the website.

November 21st through 24th 34th Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship Fort Myers Beach

The 34th Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach promises to be an extraordinary event, showcasing the incredible talents of World Class Master Sand Sculptors. With the addition of the Advanced Amateur State Championship and an Amateur contest, it offers a unique opportunity for artists of different skill levels to demonstrate their creativity.

The event is not just about the competition; it’s a celebration of art, community, and family fun. The vendor village will provide an array of shopping options, while children can engage in a variety of activities designed just for them. The inclusion of food stands, live music, and the welcoming of furry friends ensures that every family member, on two legs or four, can enjoy a day filled with excitement and entertainment.

It’s an event that encapsulates the spirit of community and the joy of artistic expression, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Fort Myers Beach.

Buy tickets in advance online.

Skirtoy 35 piece beach sand or snow toy kit. Kids can make all kinds of shapes while using their imagination. Fun for adults and children. — From skirtoy is this 35 piece beach sand toy kit. This kit features plenty to keep the kids, and maybe even adults, occupied and enjoying their beach time. From elephants to bears to castles and more, this kit has it. Use it in the snow during winter. Includes a handy carry kit to keep everything ready for the next use. Highly rated on Amazon. Click the image or **THIS LINK** for details and to order.

November 23rd and 24th Fall Festival of the Arts DeLand

The Fall Festival of the Arts in DeLand returns on November 23-24, showcasing over 150 artists along Woodland Boulevard. Enjoy free entry, live music, local cuisine, and creative activities for kids. A weekend bursting with art from paintings to pottery awaits!

November 28 through December 1 51st Annual Daytona Turkey Run Daytona Beach

Whether you want to show off your car, are looking to purchase a classic car, want to buy or sell auto parts and memorabilia, or just make contacts in the industry. The Daytona Turkey run is for you. Enjoy special night time events or maybe take in the Hops and Hoods Beer Festival featuring over 40 breweries and more than 120 beers.

Tickets are $20 per day.

Click the link for all the information you need whether you are looking to sell, buy, or browse. It’s a great Thanksgiving tradition as only Daytona Beach can offer.

To conclude, I want to thank you for reading my listing of the best events and festivals in Florida in November 2024. Check back every month otherwise you might miss out on a great event you did not know about. If you are sponsoring or hosting an upcoming event, drop me a line so I can include it. Maybe we can work together on a blog post and social media posts to promote the event. Let’s hear your ideas.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. Affiliate programs or sponsors providing products do not influence my views and opinions.

Bamboo Charcuterie Board and Cheese Board Set. Perfect holiday, birthday, wedding, or anniversary gift. Includes knives, labels, and a wine bottle opener. Made from 100% sustainable bamboo. Functional and stylish, the board will be a hit at your next party. Click the image for further details and to order. — **Bamboo Charcuterie Board and Cheese Board Set from the Bambusi Collection.** Perfect holiday, birthday, wedding, or anniversary gift. Includes knives, labels, and a wine bottle opener. Made from 100% sustainable bamboo it will last for years. 13.5 x 13.5 this board has plenty of room for cheese, crackers, fruits, nuts, veggies, and meats. Functional and stylish, this board will be a hit at your next party. Put it out and be ready to refill it. Click the image or **THIS LINK** for further details and to order.

Posted on June 18, 2024June 17, 2024 by Robert — Leave a comment

The Best Events and Festivals in Florida July 2024

Are you searching for the best events and festivals in Florida in July 2024? Thanks for visiting. Please use the links below to find fun events for all ages.

Florida hosts some amazing events and festivals. Each month I hope to take a look at a dozen or so of these in hopes of bringing you fun, exciting, and unexpected ways to enjoy our state.

I have listed events in date order.

Key Lime Festival July 3-7 Key West

2024 is shaping up to be the best Key Lime Festival yet. We’re pleased to offer a full 5 days of culinary events for every taste, including favorites from past years like the Key Lime Cocktail Sip & Stroll and Key Lime Pie Hop and new favorites for Key Lime lovers! We’ve also added a few intimate culinary events for our VIP Key Lime lovers!

Want to know more about the history of the Key Lime Pie and how it came to be the dessert of Key West. Read David L. Sloan’s fascinating book, Key Lime Pie: An Intriguing History of Key West’s Native Dessert

BBQ Challenge on Flagler Avenue July 6 New Smyrna Beach

Like other food challenges on Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach, the NSB Bbq Challenge guests will use their tasting passports to visit the host sites and taste sample sized bbq portions prepared in multiple different ways like chicken, beef, pork, seafood. Tasting passports and maps picked up at the Welcome corner of S. Cooper Street and Flagler Avenue on the day of the event. Passports will be for sale on the day of the event starting at 1230 pm however, we strongly suggest pre-ordering your passport on Eventbrite as WE WILL SELL OUT!

Tickets available in advance using the link provided. Tickets are $20 plus service charge.

Orlando Tiki Fest 2024 July 9 Kissimmee

We are proud to present for the third consecutive year the Orlando Tiki Fest 2024 with great celebrities from the industry, where we will have tastings of Rum, and other spirits, including emerging experiences Master Classes, as well as the most important cocktail competition at the national level “Tiki League USA”, heading to the Grand Final of the Latin American Cocktail Championship (LACC) and for the first time more than 20 countries compete for the great BARTENDERS LATAM USA CUP 2024 with great prizes.

Buy your tickets online, starting at $14.99.

Mango Festival July 13 and 14 Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden in Coral Gables

Make your mango dreams come true at the 2024 edition of Fairchild Garden’s annual Mango Festival. This highly-anticipated, two-day mango fest showcases countless varieties of the succulent fruit as well as an exciting lineup of events and activities that include cooking demos, mango tastings, signature mango brunch, mango lectures, live music, lawn games and more. Food options abound with refreshing mango smoothies, an assortment of food vendors featuring mango-based menus and specialty mango cocktails. If you’d like to grow your own mangos, mango seedlings will also be available for purchase.

The festival is slated to run over the weekend from Saturday, July 13 through Sunday, July 14. Tickets for the Mango brunch, mango tasting, mango smoothie, mango cocktail flight and La Tropical Beer tasting must be purchased separately in addition to festival admission.new sTickets are about $25 per adult. Discounts for seniors and children.

While in the Miami area, be sure to take a visit to the Little Havana area. This incredible area is filled with music, food, history, and culture of all types. To make the most of your time, take a 2.5 hour guided walking tour. From the Bay of Pigs to Santeria to the story of cigar making to the famous chess players you see and hear it. Get recommendations on where to eat and avoid the average, while enjoying traditional Cuban fare. Click the link for details and to reserve your tour.

Ballroom Blues Festival July 13 and 14 Cocoa

Hosted by the Space Coast Convention Center in Cocoa, Florida, Ballroom Bluesfest is a two-day, indoor festival that includes all-day LIVE blues from your favorite national artists! Also, featuring VIP reserved and reserved seating, full liquor bar, food packages, secured VIP car and motorcycle parking, optional overnight accommodations, and no need to worry about the weather!

Featuring acts such as Pat Travers, The Robby King Band, Solomon Hicks, The Boneshakers, and many more, this is an event any blues fan will want to attend.

Tickets start at $66 per person.

Loxahatchee River Heritage Day

July 13 Jupiter Inlet

Join us at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum on July 13th for Loxahatchee River Heritage Day, a unique event designed for adults to explore and celebrate the rich history and natural beauty of the Loxahatchee River region.

Meet local history authors and representatives from various historical societies and museums at our vendor booths!

Admission to the lighthouse looks to be $12 with a couple of discount programs for seniors, children, and veterans.

Hemingway Days

July 16-21 Key West

Ernest Hemingway look-alikes, writers, anglers, and fans of the late author’s work are to gather in Key West Tuesday through Sunday, July 16-21, 2024, for the annual Hemingway Days celebration. The festival honors the legacy of the American literary giant who lived and wrote on the island for most of the 1930s.

Hemingway Days events take place throughout Key West.

33rd Annual Caladium Festival and Annual Car and Bike Show July 26 through 28 Lake Placid (located near Sebring)

Lake Placid, Florida and the surrounding Sebring area are rich with natural beauty, excellent growing conditions, and talented people. While caladiums are the heart of our popular Caladium Festival, the event also highlights our creative community as well as our local heritage and culture.

In addition to caladiums, find a car & bike show, floral arrangement competition, art & craft booths, food, entertainment, and bus tours. The event looks to be free but there is a charge for the bus tours.

They advise not bringing your pet due to the July heat in Florida. The hot pavement can become dangerous for little paws.

To conclude, I want to thank you for reading my listing of the best events and festivals in Florida in July 2024. Check back every month otherwise you might miss out on a great event you did not know about. If you are sponsoring or hosting an upcoming event, drop me a line so I can include it. Maybe we can work together on a blog post and social media posts to promote the event. Let’s hear your ideas.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. Affiliate programs or sponsors providing products do not influence my views and opinions

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Posted on December 22, 2022March 17, 2024 by Robert — Leave a comment

“Blind Willie” McTell and the 12-String Strut in Thomson Georgia

Blind Willie McTell

William Samuel McTier (McTear) was born in Thomson, Georgia on May 5, 1898, though some researchers contend that he was born in 1903, and his headstone gives the year of 1901. I have yet to find a source on how he became known as McTell. It is also unclear if young Willie was born blind or lost his sight during childhood. The New Georgia Encyclopedia indicates McTell attended schools for the blind in Georgia, New York, and Michigan. Whatever the origins of his name, Blind Willie McTell of Thomson, Georgia is a legendary blues guitarist with a deep influence in the genre.

While in his teens, McTell and his mother moved to Statesboro, GA, and it was here where Willie learned to play the six-string guitar.

By the 1920s, McTell had left the family home, taking to the road as a traveling musician, playing carnivals, bars, parties, churches, and street corners to earn a living.

Young and talented, McTell became popular in Atlanta, regularly playing at house parties and similar events. By this time, he had upped his game to the twelve-string guitar, an instrument that helped him project his music better in the crowded areas he often played.

By 1927, recording companies had noticed McTell and other blues musicians and he cut his first tracks for Victor Records, following that with a 1928 session for Columbia. The New Georgia Encyclopedia lists multiple studios that McTell recorded for, often under different names. Musicians of the era would often record under similar, but different, names in order to avoid contract conflicts.

McTell was wed to Ruth Kate Williams in 1934. They were to later record several tracks together.

John A. Lomax recorded McTell as a part of the Archive of American Folk Song in 1940. These recordings, held by the Library of Congress, have been released under the title The Complete Library of Congress Recordings.

Commercially, McTell’s sales were declining during the 40s, and he found himself playing more on the streets. He did record for Atlantic Records in 1949 and Regal Records the same year. Atlanta record store owner Edward Rhodes made McTell’s final known recordings in 1956.

Starting in 1957, McTell served as the preacher at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Atlanta and devoted himself to religious music. Blind Willie was to only live a short time longer and passed away on August 19, 1959, due to a cerebral hemorrhage. McTell is buried in Jones Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Thomson, Georgia.

McTell’s 12-String Strut

Located in the downtown Thomson, GA area is a public art exhibit titled McTell’s 12-String Strut, honoring the locally born Blind Willie McTell. There are twelve, seven-foot-tall Stella guitars in the installation, each painted by a different artist. The guitar models were created by Icon Poly Studio and are made of polyurethane.

The installation was presented to the public in 2016 after a Georgia Department of Economic Development report suggested a public art component and providing additional exposure for one of McDuffie Counties most recognized citizens as part of the county’s tourism marketing efforts.

Below, find images of 6 of the 12 guitars that are located throughout Thomson. 11 of these are very easy to find. The 12th however took a bit more digging. It is located outside the McDuffie County Government complex.

Posthumous Recognition

The Blues Hall of Fame inducted Blind Willie in 1981 and in 1990, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame bestowed the same honor.

Blind Willie McTell Georgia Historic Marker in Thomson, Georgia — Georgia Historic Marker in honor of Blind Willie McTell, located in Thomson, GA

A Georgia Historic Marker was unveiled in Thomson, GA, in 1993, near the old railroad station. The marker honors McTell and his legacy. The text (including a few small grammatical errors) reads as follows

Willie Samuel McTear (1901-1959) was born between Big and Little Briar Creeks in the Happy Valley Community. In 1911, he and his mother moved to Statesboro, where he began his life of traveling and performing. Although blind from infancy, Willie developed a lifelong independence based on his acute sense of hearing., remarkable memory and versatile musical genius.

Willie performed and recorded under many names but favored “Blind Willie” McTell. Best remembered for his blues, McTell, had a remarkable repertoire of blues, spirituals, gospels, rags, fold ballads and popular music. McTell played from “Maine to Mobile Bay”, and at theaters, taverns, road houses, churches, medicine shows, train stations, barbecue joints, house parties, and on the streets.

His blues feature his trademark twelve-string guitar played in rapid and intricate patterns of jagged, shifting rhythms accompanying his clear tenor voice. He started recording in 1927 for RCA Victor Atlantic and the Library of Congress. He last recorded in 1956 and returned to McDuffie County shortly before his death. Blind Willie McTell is buried in Jones Grove Cemetery. The Georgia Music Hall of Fame inducted Blind Willie in 1990.

McTell has also played a considerable influence on musicians after him. Performers as diverse as Taj Mahal, the Allman Brothers Band, Ry Cooder, Jack White, and Bob Dylan have covered his songs or singled out the blind guitar player for his influence on their careers.

Blind Willie McTell Music Festival

Blind Willie McTell mural located in downtown Thomson. — Blind Willie McTell mural located in downtown Thomson, GA

Each year the Blind Willie McTell Music Festival, held in Thomson, GA, celebrates the legacy of blind guitar player. Ticket prices for the event seem quite reasonable. The lineup for 2022 included Jimmie Vaughn, the Texas Gentlemen, Joachim Cooder (son of the legendary Ry Cooder), and more. For more information on the festival check their website.

Sources:

Burditt, Erin. “Guitars are Back.” The McDuffie Progress. April 13, 2021.

Jacobs, Hal. ““Blind Willie” McTell.” New Georgia Encyclopedia, last modified Jun 1, 2020.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. All views and opinions provided are my own and are never influenced by affiliate programs or sponsors providing products.

The Rough Guide to Blind Willie McTell is an excellent introduction to the genius that poured from his fingers. It contains 25 key tracks including some of his best known such as Statesboro Blues. There is no full length biography on the life of Blind Willie McTell.

Tag: Music

The Best Events and Festivals in Florida November 2024

November 1st and 2nd 61st Annual Apalachicola Florida Seafood Festival

November 2nd and 3rd Right Whale Festival Fernandina Beach

November 2nd and 3rd Florida International Air Show Punta Gorda

November 7th through 10th Daytona Beach Greek Festival

November 9 and 10 Country Bay Music Festival Miami

November 15th and 16th Florida Surf Film Festival New Smyrna Beach

November 16 and 17 Orlando Taco Festival

November 21st through 24th 34th Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship Fort Myers Beach

November 23rd and 24th Fall Festival of the Arts DeLand

November 28 through December 1 51st Annual Daytona Turkey Run Daytona Beach

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. Affiliate programs or sponsors providing products do not influence my views and opinions.

The Best Events and Festivals in Florida July 2024

Key Lime Festival July 3-7 Key West

BBQ Challenge on Flagler Avenue July 6 New Smyrna Beach

Orlando Tiki Fest 2024 July 9 Kissimmee

Mango Festival July 13 and 14 Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden in Coral Gables

Ballroom Blues Festival July 13 and 14 Cocoa

Loxahatchee River Heritage Day

July 13 Jupiter Inlet

Hemingway Days

July 16-21 Key West

33rd Annual Caladium Festival and Annual Car and Bike Show July 26 through 28 Lake Placid (located near Sebring)

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. Affiliate programs or sponsors providing products do not influence my views and opinions

“Blind Willie” McTell and the 12-String Strut in Thomson Georgia

Blind Willie McTell

McTell’s 12-String Strut

Posthumous Recognition

Blind Willie McTell Music Festival

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. All views and opinions provided are my own and are never influenced by affiliate programs or sponsors providing products.

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