Things to do in Tallahassee: Gov't Mule rules rockin' weekend at amphitheater

Get ready, Tallahassee, this weekend is slammin'.

Three big concerts, including the rescheduled JJ Grey and Mofro, followed by Gov't Mule and then Trombone Shorty and Big Freedia are all on tap in the next few days. Beautiful fall weather combines with a full slate of entertainment at the Capital City Amphitheater and all over town.

Mr. Sipp checks in at Bradfordville Blues Club on Friday, Mean Mary makes good at Blue Tavern on Saturday and Moon Over Maclay gets mellow with a night of jazz under the stars.

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Theater:'Sweet Charity' kicks off the FSU School of Theatre 2022-23 season in October

Pool party:Pups in the Pool: Dog Days of October arrive at Trousdell Aquatics Center

It's First Friday with a fresh slate of art and both football games are away with FSU at NC State at 8 p.m. and FAMU at SC State at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Here's a roundup of entertaining happenings around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts online listings and elsewhere.

JJ Grey and Mofro on Friday

Jacksonville soul rock band JJ Grey and Mofro with special guest Young Bucks should have much better luck with the weather when they pull in for a rescheduled date at Capital City Amphitheater Friday, Oct. 7. Gates open at 6 p.m. Young Bucks are set to play at 7 p.m. and JJ Grey at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are $30 general admission and $50-$40 for reserved. Visit moonevents.com.

From the days of playing local juke joints to headlining major festivals, JJ Grey remains an unfettered performer, singing with a blue-collared spirit.

Gov't Mule and Mike Campbell on Saturday 

Renowned quartet Gov’t Mule – led by Grammy Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, guitar legend, and producer Warren Haynes – is out on the road this year in support of their critically acclaimed, chart-topping blues album, "Heavy Load Blues." 

Their fall tour stops on Saturday, Oct. 8, at Capital City Amphitheater in Cascades Park with special guests Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs. Gates open at 6 p.m. and show is at 8 p.m. Opener and native Floridian, Campbell (former lead guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) and his band are known for rock 'n' roll with a touch of the blues.

"Heavy Load Blues" (Fantasy Records), Gov't Mule's first-ever blues album, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart upon its November 2021 release. The 13-track album, produced by Haynes alongside engineer and co-producer John Paterno, encompasses an even mix of Haynes’ originals, such as “Heavy Load,” and covers, including their rendition of the Tom Waits classic “Make It Rain.”

Tickets are $30 general admission; $40-$55 reserved. Visit moonevents.com.

Trombone Shorty and Big Freedia on Thursday 

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue with special guest Big Freedia are set to light up the stage with funk, soul and psychedelic rock on Thursday, Oct. 13, at Capital City Amphitheater. Gates open at 6 p.m. and show starts at 7 p.m.

It's the third in a series of amphitheater shows presented by Leon County and Scott Carswell. Tickets are $30 general admission; $40-$55 reserved. Visit moonevents.com.

Trombone Shorty's latest album "Lifted," features Gary Clark, Jr., Lauren Daigle, and the New Breed Brass Band. Trombone Shorty (born Troy Andrews) is a native of New Orleans’ Tremé neighborhood and got his start performing at Jazz Fest with Bo Diddley at age 4 and leading his own brass band at 6. Since 2010, he’s released four chart-topping studio albums.

Known as the Queen of Bounce music, Big Freedia is a New Orleans-based hip-hop artist and worldwide ambassador of bounce music. After a series of cult hit singles during the mid 2000’s, she was tapped for a reality show, "Big Freedia Bounces Back on Fuse TV." The docuseries followed the life of a choirboy turned bounce rapper and remains the highest rated original series on the network.

Blue Tavern: Indie folk with Kipyn Martin, banjo with Mean Mary 

Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St., brings in guest artists for happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Friday. The Ringnecks are taking the week off to make way for a couple of acts out of Gainesville – Palm Valley Duo first hour, with Barbie & Dave for the second hour. If you've been to the Florida Folk Festival, you'll recognize them. Kipyn Martin, an Indie Folk artist with roots in the banks of the Shenandoah River, steps in from 8-11 p.m. $5 cover.

The 2nd Saturday Old-Time Jam cranks up at Blue Tavern from 4-7 p.m. with host Shanice Richards. Stay tuned for Mean Mary from 8-11 p.m. Saturday. No Depression calls her “the voice of a ragged angel combined with the banjo playing of the devil." 

Deering Banjo’s named her their Goodtime Ambassador, and Janet Deering describes her banjo playing as giving her “chills.” Equally versatile on guitar, fiddle, and 8 other instruments, Mary is known for her lightning-fast fingers, haunting vocals, and intricate story songs. $10 cover.

Paddy League brings Brazilian guitar to happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11. Tuesday is Bluesday from 8-10 p.m. with Ken & Kaye. Ken Gemmer (guitar, vocals) and Kaye Rhinehart (upright bass, vocals) play blues and a variety of other tunes. $3 cover.

Pickfoolery, led by Butch Burns & Brent Kittrell of the Bottom Dollar Boys, plays 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Blue Tavern. Doc Russell hosts Open Mic Night at 8 p.m. 

Angel's Share with Steve Hodges on guitar and Emily Pritchard on violin plays happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Thursday. Craig Daniel Hardin hosts Songwriters in the Round from 8-10:30 p.m. October's tour guides are Eddie MacFarland, Steven Brown and Adrian Fogelin. $5 cover.

Meet Mr. Sipp and more at Bradfordville Blues Club 

Blues Under the Oaks returns with a bang when Mr. Sipp, the Mississippi Blues Child (aka Castro Coleman) brings his infectious, danceable groove to the Bradfordville Blues Club at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7.

Coleman is the epitome of blues dancin' music: crisp sharp blues pickin', growlin' vocals, stage presence and consummate entertainer (James Brown bio-pic "Get On Up," and "Sun Records," cast as BB King). Advance tickets are $25 at bradfordvilleblues.com. Cover at the door is $30. Bring chairs and blankets for the outdoor show. Ms. Ernestine will be serving catfish next to the bonfire.

JP Soars’ Gypsy Blues Revue featuring Anne Harris shake the moss from the oaks at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the BBC. This ensemble is fronted by JP Soars, a multiple Blues Music Award nominee, a phenomenal and versatile guitarist, singer and songwriter whose talents extend into the blues, rock and jazz.

JP is backed by the high energy blues unit of Chris Peet on drums and the jazz, Latin, reggae and African influences of Cleveland Frederick on bass. Anne Harris is a dynamo on fiddle, violin, mandolin with jazzy and emotive vocals.

Advance tickets are $20 available at bradfordvilleblues.com. Cover at the gate is $25. 

The Hughes Taylor Band makes its first BBC appearance for a Sunday matinée under the oaks at 5 p.m. This power trio from Macon, Georgia, is fronted by Hughes Taylor, a ferocious guitarist who burns up the frets in the vein of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn and his home town hero's, the Allman Brothers. Bring chairs and blankets for the outdoor show. Advance tickets are $20 at bradfordvilleblues.com. Cover at the gate is $25. Carlito's Way food truck will be serving.

A jazzy Moon Over Maclay

The Friends of Maclay Gardens 11th Annual Moon Over Maclay Jazz Concert takes place from 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, on the front porch of the historic Maclay House. Gates open at 5 p.m. The Scotty Barnhart Quintet headlines the concert with hometown favorites Thursday Night Music Club opening the evening.

Attendees are encouraged to bring folding chairs, blankets, a picnic supper, and beverages of choice to enjoy during the show.  

Tickets are  $25 for adults and $10 for students with ID. Advance purchase is recommended by visiting the Friends of Maclay Gardens website at friendsofmaclaygardens.org.

From strings to tubas at FSU Symphony Orchestra 

Performances of Jessie Montgomery’s “Strum” for String Orchestra, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Tuba Concerto and Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 1 will highlight the University Symphony Orchestra’s second performance of the season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall.

The evening features innovative symphonic works, from modern compositions that challenge the boundaries of symphonic music to time-honored works that have set the bar for instrumental virtuosity. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for children and free for FSU students. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit tickets.music.fsu.edu.

THEATER

'She Kills Monsters' opens at TCC

Theatre TCC! presents "She Kills Monsters" by Qui Nguyen, directed by Hannah Talbot, at 8 p.m. Oct. 6-8 and Oct. 14-15 and 2 p.m. Oct. 16 at TCC’s Turner Auditorium, 444 Appleyard Drive.

Written by a Vietnamese storyteller, "She Kills Monsters" tells the story of Agnes Evans as she deals with the death of her younger sister, Tilly. When Agnes stumbles upon Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook, she finds herself catapulted into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure. Rated PG-13.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $13 for seniors and $10 for non-TCC students and children. TCC students, faculty and staff receive free admission. Tickets can be reserved online at tcc.fl.edu/theatretcc. Cash and checks at the door (the box office opens one hour prior to curtain).

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EXHIBITS

Jefferson Arts Gallery: “Mark Fletcher: Out of the Woods”: Paintings, Drawings and Illustrated Poetry, Oct. 8 thru Nov. 5. Jefferson Arts Gallery, 575 W. Washington St. Monticello. Opening from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Mark Fletcher will host the International Sketchcrawl on Saturday, Oct. 22, beginning at Jefferson Arts Gallery. Gallery hours are Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.  Call 850-997-3311 for appointments. Visit jeffersonartsgallery.com.

Venvi Gallery: Works by Michelle (Wilcox) Phillips. Oil on Canvas for “In the Light of Day” first Friday closing reception 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at Venvi, 2901 E. Park Ave. Show close Oct. 9.  

LeMoyne Arts: Beam with PRIDE, featuring Dan Taylor, is a mixed media exhibit that celebrates LGBTQ+ History Month. LeMoyne, 125 N. Gadsden St. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, through Oct. 29.

Anderson Brickler Gallery: Artist/Architect, Valerie S. Goodwin, "Mapping: The work of a Textile Artist," Sept. 28-Dec.28. Opening reception from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 An Artist Talk by Goodwin is scheduled for 3-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. 1747 S. Adams Street – Lower Level. Visit andersonbricklergallery.com.

Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum in Carrabelle: Special exhibit on the Guadalcanal Campaign from Oct. 4-29. This campaign was one of the first offensive campaigns against the Japanese in WWII. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Donations welcome. For more information, go to campgordonjohnston.com.

OTHER EVENTS

Animal 19 with Curly Q, Satin & Hollow Memories: Saturday, Oct. 8, 926 Bar, 926 W. Tharpe St. Doors open @ 8:30 p.m., show @ 9 p.m. $8 over 21, $10 under 21, all ages,

Great Oaks Pub at Southwood: Friday, 8-11 p.m. Great Oaks Pub, 3750 Grove Park Drive. The  “Funky Taters,” 9-piece group brings the groove to Southwood with an array of horns and harmony getting down with that Funkadelic sound. No cover; restaurant buffet and bar. Call 850-942-6345 for reservations. 

Lucy Dacus with Crooks & Nannies: Club Downunder presents Lucy Dacus at The Moon, 1105 E. Lafayette St., on Monday, Oct. 10. Doors open at 7 p.m. Show at 8 p.m. Since the release of "Home Video" (Matador Records) last year, Dacus has performed on Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers and NPR's Tiny Desk. Free to FSU students with ID. General admission $25. Visit moonevents.com.

Crooked River Lighthouse for a Full Moon Lighthouse Climb and Sacred Drum Ceremony: 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, in Carrabelle. The musical duo, “Blues Meets Girl” will be entertaining. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children. 

12th Annual Havana Reggae Fest: 5F Farm Event Center, 8583 Salem Road, Quincy. Live acts from 1:30-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Authentic island cuisine and outdoors family fun for all. Live acts include Ras Keebo, caribe groove, Root Sea, Army Gideon, Rob Brown, and White Abbot. VIP package $70. Regular admission $20. Kids 12 and under $10. Children 5 and under free. Visit havanareggaefest.com.

Have an event coming up? Email details to limelight@tallahassee.com.

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