Gainesville has been all over the Florida music festival scene this month.
After Hogtown-based Flat Land and Locochino got people moving at Okeechobee Music Festival last weekend, rock ’n’ roll band Gritt is set to take the stage this weekend at Gasparilla Music Festival in downtown Tampa.
The festival, in its fifth year of operation, has become a staple of the bay area, bringing in prominent acts such as Modest Mouse, Flaming Lips, Jason Isbell and Erykah Badu (this year’s headliner).
Unlike other well known music festivals, the festival is organized by the Gasparilla Music Foundation, a Florida 501(c)-3 non-profit corporation. The organization is involved throughout the year in several feel-good initiatives including providing scholarships and instruments to music students.
Held in Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa, the festival is gearing up to be packed with delicious food, cold craft beer and, most of all, phenomenal music.
Gritt, who released their debut self-titled EP in January, landed a prime lineup spot at 5:45 on Saturday evening. The band members, who live in Gainesville but all hail from the Tampa area are excited to showcase the gritty new tunes to their hometown fanbase.
“Seeing how the festival has grown and impacted our hometown has been really special” Gytis Garsys, the band’s lead singer, said,”We’re proud to be a part of it.”
Gritt’s music, which has been likened to The Black Keys, White Denim and Led Zeppelin, has a sound unlike anything else in the Gainesville music scene right now. Their shows are high energy, rockin’ dance parties reminiscent of Gainesville’s rock ‘n’ roll days in the ’70s.
“We take sounds from garage and southern rock, psychedelic stuff and blues, among other things, but at the end of the day we’re just a rock ‘n’ roll band.”
Breaking into the festival circuit is big move for local artists, as it provides exposure on a playing field much larger than Gainesville. It’s an opportunity to build a strong regional fanbase and gain some statewide name recognition.
With tickets ranging from $30 – $60, Gasparilla Music Festival is an affordable way to experience a killer weekend in the 813 and support the some local talent. So, Gainesville, grab a ticket, grab some friends and take a road trip to Tampa for what could be the Grittiest weekend of your life.
