Looking for fun events? Top 5 events in Tallahassee this weekend
It's a hot weekend in more ways than one. If you've been to Target you know students are back, and the entertainment lineup has heated up to match the 98 degree happy hour temperatures.
FAMU's Grape Harvest Festival uncorks a new element this year, Revival checks into Adderley Amphitheater for a downtown concert at Cascades Park and the Sauce Boss stirs up a big pot of gumbo at BBC at the Legion.
Here's a roundup of entertaining happenings around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts online listings and elsewhere.
1. Sauce Boss stirs the pot at the Legion
After a summer tour all the way to Ottawa Bluesfest (where the Foo Fighters played), Tallahassee's Sauce Boss is back with Extra Sauce and a pot of gumbo.
Mac Daddy Blues Production presents Bill Wharton and crew at BBC at The Legion at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug 25. Tickets are $20 advance, $25 at the door. Visit bbclegion.com.
Wharton is a powerhouse entertainer, mixing his Bluesy slide guitar and soulful voice into an unforgettable, high energy show. Wharton's sauce spices up the gumbo while he spices up the show with his own original blues.
Blues club regular E.G. Kight takes up the blues fight at BBC at The Legion at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $25 advance and $30 at the door. Visit bbclegion.com.
2. Get stomping at Grape Harvest Festival
Florida A&M University's Annual Grape Harvest Festival, now in its 21st year, will open with an inaugural “UnCorked” event from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25, at the Art Garden, 620-1 Railroad Square.
“UnCorked” will serve as the official kickoff for the Grape Harvest Festival and a scholarship fundraiser for students in the University’s 14 colleges and schools. Guests can enjoy wine from FAMU’s Center for Viticulture and local wineries, mingle with guests and bid on FAMU memorabilia to support scholarship funds.
The Grape Harvest Festival runs from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the FAMU Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research, 6361 Mahan Drive. The festival celebrates family, food, fun, and agricultural discovery in honor of FAMU’s leadership in viticulture research, recognized internationally for excellence in warm climate grape research.
Activities include vineyard trailer rides, grape and wine sampling, grape stomping contests, water slides, grape throwing competitions, hula hoop contests, live entertainment, vineyard run and walk-a-thon, grape picking, health fairs, and more than 60 exhibitors and vendors from the community.
Tickets for “UnCorked,” which include admission to the Grape Harvest Festival, are $35 general admission and $60 for VIP. General admission festival is $10 per person, with free entry for children under 12 and FAMU students. Festival parking will be available at the Antique Car Museum, 6800 Mahan Drive. A complimentary shuttle bus to the festival grounds will be provided every 10-15 minutes. For tickets, visit my.famu.edu.
3. Swing out for Hot Tamale Southern Soul Review
Tallahassee acoustic duo Hot Tamale is teaming up with Scott Buchanan, the frontman of the Lil’ Grizzly Boogie Band, to put on a full-blown theatrical stage show called “The Hot Tamale Southern Soul Review” at the historic Quincy Music Theatre, 118 E. Washington St., Quincy, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26.
This show will celebrate the great southern tradition of Blues, Soul and R&B music, including songs by such artists as Robert Johnson, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, and the great Ma Rainey, a blues singer from the 20s and 30s who has been a profound inspiration for Hot Tamale. This power trio of musical talent premiered the show last year at the Palaver Tree Theater in Crawfordville. They are offering a new and improved version of the high-energy show. Tickets are $10. For reservations call 850-875-9444.
4. Downtown Concert Series lights up Cascades Park
The summer's free Downtown Concert Series continues with local bands Revival headlining and Moonbleach (formerly Kids on Call Street) opening at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Adderley Amphitheater in Cascades Park, 1001 S. Gadsden St. A Tallahassee powerhouse, Revival is led by Avis Berry’s dynamic voice and stage presence with ensemble of gifted local musicians including Jeff Davis on bass, Dillon Bradley-Brown on drums, Chris Skene on guitar and vocals, John “JB” Babich on piano and vocals, and Paul M Harvey on percussion and vocals.
5. Raisin' Cane gets clicking at Blue Tavern
Kick off the weekend with piano jazz at happy hour from 5-6 p.m. Friday at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St., with Everett Young. Vocalist Lori Grills, who is in a band with Everett called "Clever Girl," joins during the second set for a fun trip through the world of pop music. Young Lions Collective gets jazzy at 8 p.m. Young Lions is a jazz quintet headed by Manny Lumapas, saxophonist, in collaboration with Keshawn Hardy (trumpet), Nygel Anderson (drums), Kaleb Thompkins (bass), and Asher Pereira (piano). $5 cover.
4th Saturday Old Time Jam runs from 4-7 p.m., followed at 8 p.m. by Raisin' Cain, Elizabeth Fravel's new band with Chris Wright and Rob Schoen. Featuring blazing newgrass and blistering covers with special guests Ross Beck and Dave Langston. $5 cover.
OTHER EVENTS
Blue Tavern: Happy hour with Shanice Richards, 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, followed at 8 p.m. by Tuesday is Bluesday with Belmont & Jones. $5 cover. Happy with Mes Amis from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, followed at 8 p.m. by Open Mic Night with Doc Russell. Happy Hour Haiku Slam runs 5-7 p.m. Thursday, followed at 8 p.m. with more Japanese themed entertainment with the film "House," a 1977 Japanese experimental comedy horror film directed and produced by Nobuhiko Obayashi.
Fire Betty's: 8 p.m. Saturday, Adam & The Testifers, free funk show, 1122 Thomasville Road.
Great Oaks Pub in Southwood: Bada Bing, Bada Boom: It’s time for Sonic Boom to hit the stage at the Great Oaks Pub, 3750 Grove Park Drive, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday. Frank Simmons will be headlining the show with his group playing all the danceable favorites from the '60s forward. Check out his newest member and Sax player, Elliot Shea. Music will be on the outdoor stage. No cover, full bar and restaurant, and reservations at 850-942-4653.
House of Music: Electric Mayhem, 5-piece classic rock band of musicians in the St. Marks/Tallahassee area, takes the stage at 8 p.m. Friday at House of Music, 2011 S. Monroe St. $10 at the door. Nightshift takes over at 8 p.m. Saturday, featuring musicians Rick Christian, Stan Gramling, and Bobby Jett for a wide variety of great dancing, listening and singing along tunes. $10.
Have an event coming up? Email details to limelight@tallahassee.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Top 5 things to do in Tallahassee this weekend
