Children’s Activities
Coordinated by the Tampa Museum of Art, the Children’s Activity Area provides children the opportunity to learn techniques from artists. Kids can also color, paint and draw … and be real artists for a day!
Food
Friends of the Museum sponsors the food court. Many other specialty vendors are also on-site providing food and beverages, with all proceeds benefiting the festival and the Tampa Museum of Art. If you are interested in being a food vendor, contact Jessica Raia-Long at gasparillaarts@yahoo.com or 813.876.1747.
Collector’s Showcase
Each year, serious collectors are invited to view award-winning works from the festival. This year’s Collector’s Showcase PM will be held Saturday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. and the Collector’s Showcase AM will be held Sunday, March 4, from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
Live Entertainment
In addition to works of art to view and purchase, the Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts features performances by local vocalists and bands.
Saturday, March 3
10:00-11:30am – Folk By Association
After ten years of performing as Folk By Association, Karen Krajacic and Jill Cowen have traveled a long and interesting road together. They’ve now played hundreds of shows in 26 states, gaining a reputation for both their top-notch vocal harmonies and their grassroots approach to working as independent artists. They uniquely blend folk, rock, bluegrass, jazz, and world music, using guitar, mandolin, banjo, shaker, and even toy xylophone. Said to be both nostalgic and modern, soothing and energizing, Folk By Association is both a throwback and a surprise. 2012 finds Karen and Jill recording a third CD, touring and making their respective homes in VT and NJ.
12:00-1:30pm – Denise Moore Trio
Only an ensemble as brimming with sultry energy, invention and rhythmic poise could please jazz aficionados of the Tampa Bay area for more than 15 years. The ensemble’s front woman, Denise Moore, is an engaging jazz and blues songstress with a wide vocal range and a phenomenally accurate ear. This blue-eyed chanteuse is more than a percussionist and arranger, for she injects personal style into many of the great standards and classics. She is deeply influenced by Joni Mitchell, Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles, but it is likely you will also hear Denise eloquently perform songs by recent chart-toppers like Diana Krall.
2:00-3:30pm – Guisando Caliente Latin Jazz
After decades of popularity in the Tampa Bay area, along with the praise and support of other Latin Jazz greats including the late Tito Puente, Guisando Caliente is looking to bring its music to new audiences worldwide. Recorded at the Palladium in St. Petersburg, Coolantro is the first step, enabling Piñeiro and the band to send their spicy Afro-Cuban beats to music lovers far outside the Tampa Bay area. Guisando Caliente in Kenny Drew Jr. on Piano,Mauricio Rodriguez on Bass, Jef Pupert on Tenor Sax, John Jenkins on Drums and Frankie Pineiro on Conga Drums.
4:00-5:45pm – Shelia & the TSP Orchestra
“Sheila Kirsten Hughes and the TSP Orchestra serve up a heady brew of original music. Their sonic palate is a hybrid of folk, celtic, and earthy tones with saxophone surges reminiscent of LeRoi Moore of the Dave Matthews Band.” (-TBT) The band is comprised of songbird multi-instrumentalist Sheila Kirsten Hughes (guitar, piano, cello), who recently released her debut LP with the TSP Orchestra, If These Stones Could Speak. Rounding it out is Chris Hughes on bass, drummer/percussionist/guitarist Alex Wolfe Parnes and Jim Mara, who adds instrumental layers on sax, tin whistle and clarinet.
Sunday, March 4
10:00-11:00am – Liz Hollister
Liz Hollister – a favored performer in Tampa Bay, is considered by her fans and peers as a “musician’s” musician. She is known for her energetic song styling, eclectic song choices, captivating voice and rock solid guitar playing. Whether with a band or solo, Liz engages you with her humor and statuesque presence then holds you with a top-shelf voice that is as comfortable channeling Joni Mitchell, jazz standards or funky blues as it is country ballads, original songs or current hits. She has the rare capacity to mesmerize you with simplest of songs, past or present that can lead you inside yourself to a warm, cherished place. Liz Hollister simply creates special moments and invites us to share them with her. You simply will want to hear what she has to sing.
11:30am-1:00pm – SPC Steel Orchestra
The St. Petersburg College steel band under the direction of Joe Braccio was started in 2002 as a continuation of the Steel drum programs implemented at Perkins Elementary, John Hopkins Middle and Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School. The band has performed at Sarasota farmers market; First Night St Petersburg; Fall Festival at Tropliflora and many other locations providing musical experiences for all. SPC steel band performs many varieties of styles such as Classical-Jazz-Latin-Reggae and Soca-Calypso as well as all steel band standards.
1:30-3:00pm – Betty Fox and the Dirty Bastards
A distinct blend of funk, soul, and Chicago blues, 26 year old soul singer Betty Fox’s explosive voice drips with swagger. Her newest project, The Dirty Bastards, is a band to be reckoned with, housing the talents of local behemoths Josh Nelms (guitar), Mike Chavers (bass), and Sam Farmer (drums). With a live show just as pleasing to the ear as to the eye, this thrilling quartet is sure to set the local music scene ablaze in the coming months. They are a must see!
3:30 -5:00pm – Hot Sun Duo
Nikola Baltic began studying classical guitar at age 9 and began playing professionally at age 12. He was accepted to Eastern Michigan Univ. at age 17 for classical guitar performance and later accepted to the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit. He received a Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering at Lawerance Tech. University.
Nikola has studied with guitarist Manuel Barreco, Joe Fava and David Russell to name a few. Nikola will be playing with Roberto Maldonado who was born in the Bronx in 1952. He began his percussion journey at the early age of 9 while sitting in on jam sessions with the older congeros in Crotona Park. Quickly surpassing his park mentors Roberto began playing professionally with virtually every group from Jersey to the Catskills. Roberto has performed with such greats as Chick Corea, Chucho Valdez, Eddie Palmieri and Andy Gonzales.