New Orleans fathers of funk The Meters break down into a smaller sub-group — Zigaboo Modeliste, Leo Nocentelli and George Porter Jr. — to perform as The Meter Men with special guest keys maestro, Phish's Page McConnell. The foursome headlines the
2013 Gasparilla Music Festival. Also heading up the bill and causing a minor league buzz amid the indie music-loving sect is
Best Coast, the surfy garage pop darlings (Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno, pictured) from LA who've earned all manner of acclaim for their two LPs, 2010's
Crazy for You and 2012's California-themed
The Only Place. And finally, another NOLA act, The Iguanas, bring their fusion of blues, zydeco, Cajun, classic R&B, Tex-Mex, and swampy roots pop to the fest. UPDATE: Two more new additions were made to the bill on Friday: blues-roots reggae singer-songwriter
Corey Harris and heart-squeeze charming indie rock outfit
Dr. Dog.
These three acts fill out a lineup of national artists that already includes
Ozomatli,
Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears,
Dawes, and
Lord Huron. Adding local flavor is
Applebutter Express,
Nervous Turkey,
The Hip Abduction, and
Damion Suomi. More acts will be announced in the coming weeks.
Other fest diversions include a Children’s Festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Kiley Gardens, featuring a special Ozokidz set, arts and crafts, games and other activities; "Tibbet’s Corner," named for one of downtown's first retail stops and featuring retail vendors, children’s activities and performances; a
Tampa Bay Rocks: Four Decades of Rock and Roll Photography exhibition from the Tampa Bay Times Photo Archive, showcasing four decades of rock n' roll in Tampa Bay; and plenty of food and drink by a range of local vendors.
Finally, GMF teams up with Don Banks Music to stage Recycled Tunes, a new pre-festival initiative to collect used instruments that can be refurbished and donated to music programs at needful schools in Hillsborough County. For each instrument donated to Don Banks Music on Sat., Feb. 16, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., donors receive one ticket to the fest. In addition, GMF will ante up $1,000 to purchase parts for donated instruments and Don Banks will deliver the manpower to refurbish said instruments.
The fest takes place Sat., March 9. General admission tickets for GMF are $25 through March 8, $30 at the gates; free entry for children ages 12 and under. Tickets are available now through the GMF website and at various local ticket outlets (Daddy Kool Records, The Hub, Microgroove, Mojo Books and Music).
