Van Wezel Announces FRIDAY FEST

Join us for The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall's FREE outdoor summertime concert series! The events run from 5-9pm and are located on the Bayside Lawn of the Van Wezel. Each of the four events will feature food trucks, beverage vendors and more - it's the perfect spot to enjoy a summer sunset over Sarasota Bay.

Opening our Friday Fest series on June 22nd is reggae band Jah Movement. Fronted by hometown hero and vocalist extraordinaire Shantel Norman, Jah Movement plays top 40, Funk, Soul, R&B and Calypso Dance music. Winners of Creative Loafing's 2016 'Best Local Reggae Band' in the Tampa Bay Area and recent 2nd place winners of Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Best Local Entertainment for 2017, Jah Movement is made up of some of the best musicians in the South West Florida Region. Don't miss out - "The Movement" is sure to get you dancing!

Grooving in on July 27th is Florida's own Reverend Barry & the Funk. Featuring 3 Grammy®-nominated musicians, this 8-piece band plays a high-energy set of originals and covers of funk & soul music including Earth, Wind & Fire, Commodores, Kool & the Gang, and Prince. Whether you sit back and relax or prefer to dance the night away, this incredible group has something for everyone.

Sarasota's Rebel Heart will be continuing our series on August 17th, featuring some of today's most popular country songs, mixed with a healthy dose of hits from pop, rock, dance, and the blues. Rebel Heart's 5-piece band puts on a high-energy, powerful and melodic country rock act that is a must-see!

Wrapping up our Friday Fest series on September 14th is the Dr. Dave Band. A Bradenton favorite performing for more than a decade as a top-choice house band, this group knows how to wow a crowd with high-energy Southern Rock blended with bluegrass banjo and fiddle. The Dr. Dave Band just received the 2018 Reader's Choice Award for "Best Musical Group" from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune for the third time.

While blankets and lawn chairs are welcome at all Friday Fest events, outside food and drink, including coolers, are prohibited. Friday Fest takes place in "rain or shine;" in the event of inclement weather, the festival will move indoors to our grand foyer or main stage of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Lead sponsors of Friday Fest are Gettel Automotive and Cool Today; the talent sponsor is BNI Business by the Bay. For additional information, visit VanWezel.org.

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