Summer has hit its peak.
Incoming freshmen can now be seen traveling in herds throughout Midtown, exploring the harsh world of cheap wells and the importance of Advil in the morning. Rainstorms are scheduled occurrences, and the sun has kissed your skin, or attacked it like a menacing fire.
It don’t get better than this — unless you add a little orange and blue to the mix.
This Saturday, the Department of Student Activities and Involvement in partnership with the Involvement Team will host GatorMania 2015, a campus celebration that gives incoming and returning students a look at all of the social, cultural, academic and professional organizations that the University of Florida has to offer.
The event will begin at 2 p.m., and to accommodate new additions, it will take place at Flavet Field for the first time ever.
Food, carnival games, giveways and student organizations are all fine and dandy, but even better, GatorMania will showcase four of Gainesville’s funkiest bands: Grit, The Savants of Soul, Bells and Robes and Flat Land.
Here’s what you need to know about these bands before they light up the stage this Saturday.
The Savants of Soul
Via: savantsofsoul
This local Gainesville band has soul-driven music with a strong hint of funk that lightens the humid air surrounding the Swamp.
The Savants of Soul is composed of 10 members and has filled many local venues with Motown-like soul and young-American R&B.
Since we last talked to The Savants of Soul, a few things have changed.
In May, a new lead vocalist, Chelsea Oxendine, joined the band. They recently released a music video with Oxendine in tow. The song featured on the music video, “For Another,” will be a part of their new album, which is in the works, with four new songs already in the bank.
If The Savants of Soul are your cup of tea, the band will also be performing August 21 at the Free Friday Concert Series and on September 11 at The Wooly.
Via: grittunes
Grit
Grit is known for its southern-style rock n’ roll that sparks energy into a crowd. The five-member ensemble combines the hypnotizing, upbeat rock of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the soft blues of Johnny Cash and the garage rock sounds of The Black Keys.
After last talking with Grit, the band has been on an exciting upswing.
In August, they will record a five-track EP at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama (the same studio that The Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin once rocked out in) and are planning on releasing the EP sometime in winter. A tour in the spring may also be on the horizon.
Grit will perform at the High Dive on July 17 for the venue’s 4th Anniversary Week.
Via: Facebook
Flat Land
Fusing different styles of music is what Flat Land does best. Four members make up this tigh-knit group that has referred to its music style as cosmic soul/groove. Although Flat Land’s spans a wide spectrum, drawing in the loyal following has never been an issue.
After winning the “Music Creator” category for crowdfunding festival One Spark, Flat Land has teamed up with Bells and Robes to launch a program called Future Music Makers, which seeks to inspire youth in Alachua County and Duval County and expose them to music.
In addition to their involvement in the community, Flat Land has added bass player Nate Garland to the group and begun preparing their first two-weeklong tour, which will kick off July 22 at High Dive.
They are also recording their first full-length recording, set to come out in 2016.
Via: alligator
Bells and Robes
Bells and Robes has been seen and heard all around Gainesville and is known for their atmospheric, electronic sound. This two-man duo spread through The Swamp like wildfire, giving the music scene a burst of life and creativity.
When they aren’t working with Flat Land on the Future Music Makers program, they are focusing on their Northeast tour, which will take place in the fall. Bells and Robes will also been involved with several festivals this fall, like Imagine Festival in Atlanta, Reunion Campout Concert Series at Suwannee Music Park and Campground and the Pass the Good Festival in Pensacola.
Bells and Robes have also teamed up with Will Brennan, Dynohunter and The Heavy Pets to create remixes that will come out in the next few months.
So, if you’re looking for a way to get involved with the Gator Nation that doesn’t require slamming down Fireball shots at Gator Shitty, here’s your chance. Experience the sights and sounds of GatorMania this Saturday.
And remember folks, right over left. GO GATA!
Featured photo courtesy of: Landgrant.ufl.edu
