FRI JUL 30
Anders Osborne (AMERICANA) Anders story (his life, his career) is not unlike those of the other great songwriters and artists that he's been compared to by critics and roots purists Dylan, Guthrie, and Van Morrison, by the time he found New Orleans (or maybe it is the other way around) by taking the long way trekking through Africa and Egypt, working odd jobs to get to his next destination, he had the miles and music down to begin his career in his new home. Anders has spent most of career since honing his songwriting at the same time creating a solid fan-base by touring the East and West coast as a performer, while dividing time between New Orleans and Nashville as a staff writer for the Universal Music and Razor and Tie publishing companies. He's worked his magic for other performers, writing "Watchin the Wind Blow By," a number one hit for country superstar Tim McGraw and "I Was Wrong" and "A Better Man," both Grammy-winning songs from Keb' Mo's album Slow Down. Anders has written songs for Brad Paisely, Jonny Lang, Tab Benoit and Jimmy Thackery, to name a few. Anders hit the national scene with the 1995 release "Which Way To Here". He and his band began to tour the country and later that year he was signed to Okeh Records, which had just been revived by Sony's Michael Caplan. The record received rave reviews world wide and became Osborne's first commercial break with two top-five singles on the national charts, "Favorite Son" and "Pleasin' You." Both were featured on movie soundracks movies, the latter later recorded by Johnny Lang. Anders also recorded a second CD for the label, titled "New Madrid", which remains, unfortunately, unreleased. Three other independent-label releases -- "Live at Tipitina's" appeared on Shanachie in 1998 followed by "Living Room" and the next year the introspective "Ash Wednesday Blues" were issued. The following year Anders emerged as producer on the two historic recordings "Bury the Hatchet," on which he and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux are double billed. Later Anders produced Monks "Mr. Stranger Man", both distributed by Shanachie Music. In 2007, MC Records released Osborne's critically acclaimed "Coming Down." His performances have been described as equally spiritual as musical, creating the elusive connection between artist and audience. His emotive guitar complements the message and the music, enticing listeners into his heart and soul. His life is transformed via his song performances into a vehicle to take you to his destination, let you linger awhile, and bring you home a bit better than you left it to step into his world. www.andersosborne.com
w/Lee Boys (GOSPEL/FUNK) The Lee Boys are one of America's finest African-American sacred steel ensembles. This family group consists of three brothers, Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals) along with their three nephews, Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Alvin Cordy Jr. (7-string bass) and Earl Walker (drums). Each member began making music at the ages of 7 and 8 in the House of God church they attended in Perrine, FL. Here they underwent a rigorous course of training in a variety of musical instruments, including lap and pedal steel guitars. Born and raised in Miami, each of The Lee Boys grew up in the church where their father and grandfather, Rev. Robert E. Lee, was the pastor and a steel player himself. "Sacred steel" is a type of music described as an inspired, unique form of Gospel music with a hard-driving, blues-based beat. The musical genre is rooted in Gospel, but infused with rhythm and blues, jazz, rock, funk, hip-hop, country and ideas from other nations. Influenced by the Hawaiian steel guitar fad of the 1930's, brothers Willie and Troman Eason brought the electric lap steel guitar into the worship services of the House of God church in Jacksonville, FL. The Pentecostal congregation embraced the soulful sound, and over time this unique sound became the hallmark of the church. The pedal steel guitar was added to the mix and soon became the central instrument. The Lee Boys are part of the fourth generation of musicians in this faith. leeboys.com
8PM $12/15

SAT JUL 31
Cope (JAMBAND) Sometime around the early ’90s, when brothers Kenny and Dennis Stadelman were guitar-wielding teens in Northeastern Ohio, they planted the seeds of Cope. They've since seen members come and go, cycling through various changes of their hummable, danceable style. Unlike your typical sprawling, inaudible jam bands, Cope keeps melody and ear-friendly song structures at the core which makes sense when you find out the Stadelmans cite the Beatles as a major influence. Saxophonist-about-town Juan Montero, a friend through other bands on the jam/improvisational/experimental circuit, joined in 2004, which hastened the transformation of a standard issue guitar-based rock, pop and reggae-world beat band into an sonic entity unto itself. myspace.com/copelive
w/Koko Ray & The Soul Providers (ROCK/RHYTHM 'N' BLUES) As a front man, there are few to compare with Koko Ray. Reminiscent of Roland Kirk, Ray plays both the tenor and alto saxophones simultaneously during his sets. On the flute, Koko rocks through Jethro Tull songs so like Ian Anderson, you'd swear you were listening to the original. No performance would be complete without seeing Koko play his alto while smoking a Marlboro. (Don't try this at home, kids.) In addition, Koko played the Monterey Jazz Festival for three consecutive years, and also toured extensively with 'Bluesman' Willie. Koko Ray has also appeared with: John Lee Hooker, Clarence Clemmons, Cheap Trick, B.B. King, Albert King, Dizzie Gillespie,Tommy Conwell, Elvin Bishop, Sonny Rhodes,Otis Clay, Greg Allman, Johnny O & the Classic Dogs of Love, Sons of Ace, John Eddy, and Big Jack Johnson. kokoray.com
8PM $8

SUN AUG 1
A special all-ages show!
Male Order Brides (ROCK 'N' ROLL) Proof positive that the kid are indeed alright, this rockin' foursome plays irony-free rock 'n' roll with copious amounts of Jagger swagger and Keef stagger. myspace.com/themaleorderbrides
The Mantics (INDIE ROCK) Get'cha some genre-mixing indie energy from these up-and-comers. Keyboards provide additional textures for the band's sonic forays, sounding at times like a reimagined Talking Heads. myspace.com/themantics
From This Fire (ROCK/METAL) This newish four-piece has a crunchy fuzzed-out sound that's polished and catchy enough to draw comparisons to anything on mainstream modern rock radio. The band's sound has been compared to "Breaking Benjamin mixed with Metallica" however Switchfoot is also a good point of comparison, both musically and with respect to the occasionally faith-based vein of their lyrics. fromthisfire.com
5PM $5
A special all-ages show!

TUE AUG 3
Jake Mackey Band (BLUES/ROCK) All the ingredients for great music are here: huge beats, slick bass, oozing organ, tasty guitar rhythms, and most importantly, soul. Jake Mackey carries on in the tradition of the masters before him, taking cues from guys like Otis Redding, Freddie King, and Johnny Cash. He brings some serious guitar vocabulary to the table; you're just as likely to hear him emulate Hendrix as you are likely to see him perform Red Hot Chili Peppers or Sublime tunes. Above all else, he is eternally in touch with the heartbeat of the song. This is reflected in his choice of personnel: Steve Froberg on bass, Spencer Burrows on keys, and John Lazarus on drums, easily one of the San Francisco Bay Area's most slamming rhythm sections. myspace.com/jakemackeyband
8PM $5

WED AUG 4
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU AUG 5
Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) Hippies please use side door... UJB has been faithfully bringing the music and spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday at Skipper's since 1998. All bottled beer on special in Skipperdome. unclejohnsband.com
8PM $7

FRI AUG 6
Roots 'n' Rhythm #6
Midnight Bowlers League (TRADITIONAL ROCKABILLY) Tampa Bay's finest rockabilly traditionalists, hands down. Wear your dancing shoes! myspace.com/mbltampa
Sarge and the Aeromen (HONKYTONKABILLY) A twangtastic rockabilly-flavored foursome with a largely tongue-in-cheek militaristic motif, right down to their olive-green jumpsuited stage gear, explained by three-fourths of the band serving or having served in the US armed forces. sargeandtheaeromen.com
6 Volt Rodeo (ROCKABILLY/WESTERN SWING) New band on the scene, playing jump blues, rockabilly and Western Swing, featuring deft arrangements and lots of tasty twin guitar harmonies. Facebook Group
Plus between-band tunes spun by DJ Richie!
8PM $7/10

SAT AUG 7
Blue Dice (RHYTHM 'N' BLUES) The long-running Tampa Bay horn-fortified rhythm ‘n’ blues/funk/jazz powerhouse is back! In addition to the group’s well-rendered originals, expect to hear lots of tasty covers along the lines of classic Stax/Volt recordings, Joe Cocker, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Chicago, Rolling Stones, James Brown, Tower Of Power and many more. bluedice.com
8PM $7/10

SUN AUG 8
Celebrating The Life Of Jerry Garcia w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) A special Sunday installment of jamaliciousness on the eve of Jerry's passing on to The Great Gig In The Sky. www.unclejohnsband.com
5PM $7

TUE AUG 10
Soul Taxi (REGGAE/FUNK) Soul Taxi was birthed in 2010 as an alternate creative outlet for singer-songwriter Jeff White, a prime mover behind well-regarded jamsters The Burnin Smyrnans since its inception in 2002. myspace.com/soultaxi
8PM $5

WED AUG 11
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU AUG 12
Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) Hippies please use side door... UJB has been faithfully bringing the music and spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday at Skipper's since 1998. All bottled beer on special in Skipperdome. unclejohnsband.com
8PM $7

FRI AUG 13
Charlie O. and the Houserockers (BLUES) Following a two-year stint back in his home state of Mississippi, Charlie O. returns to the Skipperdome stage to headline a special "Mississippi-meets-Chicago" blues blowout. While in Mississippi, Charlie played with The House Rockers Band (though a different lineup than will be appearing at Skipper's), the house band at the fame Subway Lounge in Jackson, Mississippi, the heart of Southern blues country. In addition to entertaining the local blues lovers, Charlie and the band had occasion to play the blues for some Hollywood types you may have heard of, including Sandra Bullock, Willem Dafoe as well as George Clooney and the crew of O Brother Where Art Thou. thehouserockers.net
w/Walker Smith Group (BLUES) The evening kicks off with Walker Smith and his Chicago-centric electric blues, following in the tradition of blues masters the likes of Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Dawkins and Jimmie Lee Robinson. walkersmithgroup.com
8PM $7/10

SAT AUG 14
Dukes Of Juke (RHYTHM 'N' BLUES) A very special show on the anniversary of the Duke's very first show at Skipper's, 25 years ago. The Dukes debuted at the Skipperdome in 1985 with a smokin’ set of high energy rhythm 'n' blues. The band remains mostly the same with guitarist Roger Casey injecting a sometimes-blistering sonic sophistication to the music. Frontman Bobby Rose adds some Philly soul with his vocals and moanin’ sax. Kyle Campana on driving drums was the original drummer, with a few years off for good behavior. The other half of the rhythm section is held down by Pat Peterson. Dan Hill on keyboards keeps things moving and grooving. Special guests for evening, playing with the Dukes, will be the acclaimed Late NIght Brass Horns! Also, listen to a preview as the Dukes play on the Friday, August 13th edition of WMNF's Live Music Showcase; locally, that's 88.5 on your FM dial or hear it streaming over the Interweb at http://www.wmnf.org. www.dukesofjuke.com
8PM $7/10

SUN AUG 15
Jennifer Nolletti Memorial Art Foundation (FUNDRAISER) The Jennifer Nolletti Memorial Art Foundation's mission is to provide scholarship funds to students in need so they may continue their education in art or music. Jennifer Nolletti was an artist and elementary school art teacher in Pinellas County, Florida. On October 5, 2007 she was tragically killed when a reckless driver ran a red light at a high rate of speed. Throughout her life, Jennifer had a passion for art, taking classes in photography, drawing and painting. In 2002, Jennifer graduated from the University of North Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Art Education. Jennifer was a Tampa Bay native, and after college, returned to Pinellas County to pursue a career as an art teacher. Jennifer was dedicated to her students and tried to inspire a love of art by focusing her lessons on real pieces of art and artists. She wanted her students to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of art. She didn’t treat her students like elementary students, she treated them like art students and they adored her. Along with her passion for art, Jennifer had a love of music. She played the flute in her high school marching band, and guitar in her spare time. She was an advocate and fan of the local music scene in the Tampa Bay area supporting many bands. Art and music, along with her fiancé, family and friends were the things that brought joy to Jennifer. It is in her honor that they have proudly established this foundation, a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation established in 2008. It is funded through donations from individuals who agree that art and music are essential to the development of well-rounded individuals who can think outside the box. jensartfoundation.org
This event will feature raffles, auctions an art show and live music from Joel Sanders Band, The Semis, Four Star Riot, The Loving Thorns and a rare reunion of Barely Pink.
4PM $10 SUGGESTED MINIMUM DONATION

TUE AUG 17
Elvis Forevermore (TRIBUTE) A hard-rockin', heavy-hittin', karate-choppin', roundhouse-kickin' tribute to the King of rock 'n' roll, Elvis Aron Presley. Look forward to a career-spanning selection of tunes - everything from "That's All Right Mam" to " I Can't Help Fallin' In Love With You" with a stipped-down Sun Records-era backing trio. myspace.com/elviz123 
8PM $5

WED AUG 18
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU AUG 19
Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) Hippies please use side door... UJB has been faithfully bringing the music and spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday at Skipper's since 1998. All bottled beer on special in Skipperdome. unclejohnsband.com
8PM $7

FRI AUG 20
Sons of Bill (AMERICANA) Too edgy for Nashville, but too earnest for New York, just right for Skipper's. With a sound like a more upbeat Son Volt and songcraft on a par with Damn The Torpedoes-era Tom Petty, these young'uns have been called “equal parts raucous and reflective.” sonsofbill.com
w/Benjy Davis Project Acoustic (ALT-SOUTHERN ROCK) Benjy Davis Project has thrilled college audiences all across the country, with party anthems like “Louisiana Saturday Night,” “Do It With The Lights On,” and “Cajun Crawfish Boil,” which Davis penned when he was 15 years old. Benjy Davis Project has toured extensively in the South, including seven performances at New Orleans’ annual Jazz Fest, Voodoo Fest, and countless college performances, as well as jaunts with Sister Hazel, Robert Randolph, Buckwheat Zydeco, and many others. 2008 and 2009 saw them heading further afield on a touring circuit that now incorporates the entire country. benjydavisproject.com
plus Jacob Jeffries Band (ROCK/POP) Piano-driven power pop/rock. “[One] of Miami’s best and most buzzed-about independent artists, singer-songwriters,” says the Miami Herald. jacobjeffriesband.com
8PM $7/10

SAT AUG 21
Tab Benoit (BLUES) Tab Benoit is a Cajun man who’s definitely got the blues. Born November 17, 1967, he grew up in Houma, Louisiana. A guitar player since his teenage years, he hung out at the Blues Box, a ramshackle music club and cultural center in nearby Baton Rouge run by guitarist Tabby Thomas. Playing guitar alongside Thomas, Raful Neal, Henry Gray and other high-profile regulars at the club, Benoit learned the blues first-hand from a faculty of living blues legends. The nightly impromptu gigs were enough to inspire Benoit to assemble his own band – a stripped down bass-and-drums unit propelled by his solid guitar skills and leathery, Cajun-spiced vocal attack. He took his show on the road in the early ‘90s and hasn’t stopped since.

An environmental activist as well as a stellar blues musician, Benoit has made the preservation of the endangered delta wetlands his personal crusade. He serves as president of Voice of the Wetlands, an environmental organization he co-founded in 2003, and he appeared prominently in Hurricane on the Bayou, a 2006 documentary by filmmaker McGillivray Freeman that chronicles life in Louisiana after Katrina. Hurricane on the Bayou played in IMAX theaters in the U.S., Canada and Europe throughout 2007.

Benoit’s latest Telarc CD is Night Train To Nashville, recorded at The Place On Second Street in Nashville in May 2007. The 11-track set captures the magic and intensity of Benoit in a live setting, joined by his faithful backup unit and New Orleans mainstay, Louisiana’s LeRoux, and a series of guests representing some of the most talented voices on the current blues, Cajun and country scenes: harpist/vocalist Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie), guitarist/vocalist Jim Lauderdale, harpist/accordionist Johnny Sansone, fiddler/washboard player Waylon Thibodeaux and harpist/vocalist and Fabulous Thunderbirds frontman Kim Wilson. tabbenoit.com

w/Daryl Hance (ROOTS ROCK/BLUES) Guitarist with MOFRO steps out, fronting a trio. A man never accused of saying too much -- or playing too much -- Daryl Hance says what counts when it counts. His approach to guitar is much like his approach to life, and his sound has everything to do with texture and color. His minimalist attitude shines through in his playing, reflecting a host of influences including Curtis Mayfield, Tony Joe White, Fred McDowell and Muddy Waters. Daryl was born in Topeka, Kansas, but spent the better part of his childhood in Georgia before his family returned to their native home of Jacksonville, Florida in 1983. While living in Riverdale, Georgia, his father traded a rifle for a drum kit as a birthday gift, launching Daryl's musical interest and beginning a couple of years worth of deafening drum sessions. These thunderous performances came to an abrupt halt one afternoon when Daryl, returning home from school, discovered the drum set was missing and that his Dad's rifle was back on the gunrack. Middle ground was struck a few years later when Daryl bought a guitar, which quickly became his main instrument. myspace.com/darylhance
8PM $15/20

SUN AUG 22
Mac Arnold & Plate Full O' Blues (BLUES) Mac Arnold has old school cred in abundance; his first band, J Floyd & the Shamrocks, included James Brown on piano. Mac moved to Chicago from his native South Carolina and in late 1966, at age 24, came the opportunity of a lifetime to join the Muddy Waters Band and help shape the electric blues sound that inspired the rock and roll movement of the late 60’s and early '70s. Regular guests of the band included Eric Clapton, Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield, and Elvin Bishop. The Muddy Waters Band (as a unit) shared the stage with the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Junior Wells, Big Joe Williams, and Big Mama Thornton just to name a few. During this time, Mac played on John Lee Hooker’s album, Live at the Café Au Go-Go, as well as Otis Spann’s classic recording “The Blues is Where It’s At.”

After more than a year with Muddy Waters, Mac formed the Soul Invaders which backed up many artists, including The Temptations and B. B. King. In the early '70s, he moved Los Angeles to work at ABC Television and Laff Records, a small independent record label specializing in comedy and party records originating on the West Coast of the United States who's artists included Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, LaWanda Page and George Carlin. This led to working on the set of Soul Train from 1971 to 1975 and then working with Bill Withers (“Lean On Me”) before moving back to South Carolina in the '80s.

Mac now resides in Pelzer, SC, where at the age of ten he got his first taste of the blues when he learned to play his brother Leroy’s homemade guitar. Going back to his roots, Mac is serving up a mess of blues with his own band, Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues. The band consists of Danny Keylon on bass and vocals, Austin Brashier on guitar and vocals, Max Hightower on keyboards, harmonica, guitar, and vocals, Mike Whitt on drums, and Mac Arnold on vocals, bass and gas can guitar. macarnold.com
NO OPENING ACT
5PM $7/10

TUE AUG 24
Shane Meade & The Sound (FOLK/ROCK) Meade's music, a hearty concoction of soul, blues rock, adult contemporary pop, bluegrass and even some jazz, has traces of Sting's solo career, Bob Seger and singer-songwriter Ben Harper. His latest release, Candle Lights & Conspiracies offers a double-disc dose of social-political consciousness and intimate themes. If you need a condensed description, try "soul-infused folk rock, with a splash of jazz and mountain funk." shanemeade.com
w/Fil Pate (JAMBAND) Multi-instrumentalist and loop station virtuoso.
8PM $5

WED AUG 25
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU AUG 26
Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) Hippies please use side door... UJB has been faithfully bringing the music and spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday at Skipper's since 1998. All bottled beer on special in Skipperdome. unclejohnsband.com
8PM $7

FRI AUG 27
Chris McCarty (POP-ROCK) Gainesville-based singer-songwriter with an audience-friendly uptempo acoustic-based pop sound - think John Mayer/Jason Mraz/Dave Matthews - seasoned with liberal doses of funk, reggae, jazz and hip-hop. myspace.com/chrismccartymusic
w/The Groves (ROCK 'N' ROLL) Groovy rockin' bnad, new on the Tampa Bay scene. Fans of The Black Crowes will find much to like. myspace.com/thegroves84
+ Chester See (POP/SINGER-SONGWRITER) North California-based singer-songwriter. The twenty-something is also an actor; he's the host of Disney 365 on The Disney Channel. chestersee.com
8PM $7/10

SAT AUG 28
Damon Fowler Group (BLUES) With his hybrid of roots rock, blues, and sacred steel, Florida native Damon Fowler started wowing audiences with his musical exploits as a teenager, building a reputation as one of the hottest young players on the scene. Adding songwriting and vocal skills to his repertoire over the years has brought him many accolades, with critics extolling his originality and maturity as well as his technical guitar expertise. Sugar Shack, Damon Fowler's Blind Pig Records debut showcases a fresh and exciting rising star at the height of his powers as a performer and writer. Damon's sparkling original compositions pair perfectly with well-chosen cover tunes from Billy Joe Shaver, Merle Haggard, and the Amazing Rhythm Aces. And Damon's soulful vocal delivery and instrumental prowess continually excite and delight. Fowler's guitar work has been compared to Johnny Winter and Jeff Beck, while his slide guitar has a hint of the late Duane Allman. He can play fiery guitar runs with the best of them, but it's his lyrical work on lap steel and Dobro that makes him stand out among the legions of guitar heroes. damonfowler.com
w/Koko Ray & The Soul Providers (ROCK/RHYTHM 'N' BLUES) As a front man, there are few to compare with Koko Ray. Reminiscent of Roland Kirk, Ray plays both the tenor and alto saxophones simultaneously during his sets. On the flute, Koko rocks through Jethro Tull songs so like Ian Anderson, you'd swear you were listening to the original. No performance would be complete without seeing Koko play his alto while smoking a Marlboro. (Don't try this at home, kids.) In addition, Koko played the Monterey Jazz Festival for three consecutive years, and also toured extensively with 'Bluesman' Willie. Koko Ray has also appeared with: John Lee Hooker, Clarence Clemmons, Cheap Trick, B.B. King, Albert King, Dizzie Gillespie,Tommy Conwell, Elvin Bishop, Sonny Rhodes,Otis Clay, Greg Allman, Johnny O & the Classic Dogs of Love, Sons of Ace, John Eddy, and Big Jack Johnson. kokoray.com
8PM $7/10

SUN AUG 29
Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure Fundraiser (BENEFIT) Text. www
w/TBA (GENRE) Text. www
5PM $10 SUGGESTED MINIMUM DONATION

TUE AUG 31
Groundation (REGGAE) For more than a decade, the Northern California-based, nine-piece collective has spread their message of positivity through the medium of roots reggae infused with elements of jazz, funk, dub and more. Here I Am, Groundation's sixth studio album, released on the band’s own Young Tree label, was recorded following a period of extensive touring that took Groundation not only to locales as far-flung as Israel, Morocco, Europe and South America but, for the first time, east of the Rockies within their own country. Now, finally, the band that has long been considered a sensation in so many other countries, an American torchbearer of this vital form of music—reggae—whose popularity only increases internationally year after year, is poised to make a major splash in their homeland. As always, roots reggae’s primal rhythms and ideals of oneness form the basis of Groundation’s newest music. But this is a band whose songs often grow out of improvisations—which Stafford calls “the lifeblood of our music”—and that instinctively favors unpredictability over the rulebook. Accordingly, Here I Am is full of surprises and new directions. From the first few jazz-driven minutes of “Run the Plan,” the album’s opening track, it’s apparent that Here I Am will not conform neatly to any single genre. Incorporating cross rhythms and two simultaneously executed time signatures, all within an intricate three-part arrangement, Groundation—the other members are David “Diesel” Chachere (trumpet), Kelsey Howard (trombone), newest recruit Te Kanawa Haereiti (drums), Mingo Lewis Jr. (percussion), Kim Pommell (vocals) and Stephanie Wallace (vocals)— precedes their trademark one-drop reggae with a complexity not previously attempted in their music. groundation.com
w/Trinity 7 (REGGAE) Trinity 7 delivers authentic, roots reggae, led by singer Ras Meishak, hailing from the hills of Jamaica. Their original music carries on the message that reggae was founded on, a message of inspiration, consciousness, revolution, transformation, hope, unity and peace. With a steadfast belief that conscious music can produce positive change within society, the members of Trinity 7 come together from many different regions, cultures and backgrounds, united by a deep-rooted love for reggae music. trinitysevenreggae.com
8PM $12/15

WED SEP 1
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU SEP 2
Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) Hippies please use side door... UJB has been faithfully bringing the music and spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday at Skipper's since 1998. All bottled beer on special in Skipperdome. unclejohnsband.com
8PM $7

FRI SEP 3
Tinsley Ellis (BLUES/ROCK) Over the course of 11 albums and literally thousands of live performances, blues-rocker Tinsley Ellis is one of today’s most electrifying guitarists and vocalists. Rolling Stone says he plays “feral blues guitar...non-stop gigging has sharpened his six-string to a razor’s edge...his eloquence dazzles...he achieves pyrotechnics that rival early Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton.” Speak No Evil is Ellis' latest offering on the Alligator label and it's the most guitar-driven album of Ellis’ storied career, featuring his fiercest, most brutally honest and hardest-hitting original songs to date. The soulfulness and expressiveness of his guitar playing are ferocious, but when the mood calls for it, can be gentle and melodic. Ellis pours his soul into each and every performance with unguarded, raw emotion. With rip-roaring songs that are both poignant and humorous, Speak No Evil is as wide-ranging and inspired a recording as Ellis has ever made, and one of the most satisfying Southern blues-rock albums in ages. www.tinsleyellis.com
w/Jake Mackey Band (BLUES/ROCK) All the ingredients for great music are here: huge beats, slick bass, oozing organ, tasty guitar rhythms, and most importantly, soul. Jake Mackey carries on in the tradition of the masters before him, taking cues from guys like Otis Redding, Freddie King, and Johnny Cash. He brings some serious guitar vocabulary to the table; you're just as likely to hear him emulate Hendrix as you are likely to see him perform Red Hot Chili Peppers or Sublime tunes. Above all else, he is eternally in touch with the heartbeat of the song. This is reflected in his choice of personnel: Steve Froberg on bass, Spencer Burrows on keys, and John Lazarus on drums, easily one of the San Francisco Bay Area's most slamming rhythm sections. myspace.com/jakemackeyband
8PM $10/13

SAT SEP 4
Thomas Wynn & The Believers (AMERICANA/ROCK) Sounding like an even more soulful and sincere Black Crowes, this outfit easily ranks as one of Florida's finest, plying audiences with a heady brew of rock, country, gospel and Southern soul. They'll leave you wide-eyed and sanctified. myspace.com/thomaswynnandthebelievers
w/Honey Island Swamp Band (SOUL/ROCK) Honey Island Swamp Band has its genesis in the fall of 2005 after Hurricane Katrina left many New Orleans residents high and dry but far from home but further than most, in San Francisco. The band members - Chris Mulé (guitar, vocals), Aaron Wilkinson (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Sam Price: bass, vocals) and drummer Garland Paul - had worked together in New Orleans bands for years, but with no prospects of getting home any time soon, they quickly cooked up something new. A few days later, they’d put together a song list, landed a weekly gig, and settled in to share a little taste of southern culture with their new west coast neighbors. Thanks to those good folks in California, the Honey Island Swamp Band made it through the lean times, had themselves a good time, and made it back home to the Crescent City in what seems like hardly no time at all. ppppAaron Wilkinson and Chris Mulé had already established promising songwriting careers, both individually and as a team. Collaborating with fellow songwriter and Alligator Records recording artist Eric Lindell, the two were instrumental in the writing for Lindell’s acclaimed 2008 release Low on Cash, Rich in Love. With Wishing Well, the first full-length release from Honey Island Swamp Band, both musicians bring their songwriting to new levels with their most fully-developed material to date. From the opening bars of the title track to the album’s final note, Wishing Well covers the entire landscape of southern roots music that has made the band’s live shows and eponymous 2007 EP favorites among music lovers of all genres. honeyislandswampband.com
8PM $7/10

SUN SEP 5
Pete & Wayne Show (ADULT COMEDY) Subtle? No. Funny as hell? You betcha. You'll want to leave the young'uns at home for this one. peteandwayne.com
7PM $7/10

TUE SEP 7
TBA (GENRE) Text. www
w/TBA (GENRE) Text. www
TBA

WED SEP 8
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU SEP 9
Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) Hippies please use side door... UJB has been faithfully bringing the music and spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday at Skipper's since 1998. All bottled beer on special in Skipperdome. unclejohnsband.com
8PM $7

FRI SEP 10
Buffalo Strange (JAMBAND) Always a good time when the Strange hits the stage! Long-running Tampa Bay jam collective, once again bring their sonic positivity to the Skipperdome for what's sure to be a capacity crowd.  buffalostrange.com
w/Burnin Smyrnans (JAMBAND) Superior jams with lotsa reggae flavor from this combo that's based on Florida’s East Coast. theburninsmyrnans.net
8PM $7/10

SAT SEP 11
TBA (GENRE) Text. www
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TBA

SUN SEP 12
TBA (GENRE) Text. www
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TBA

TUE SEP 14
Mark Kroos (DOUBLE-NECK FINGERSTYLE GUITAR) Hailing from Williamsburg, VA, Mark Kroos is one of the only touring double neck guitarists in the world. His almost strictly instrumental style is characterized by open harmonies, polyphonic textures, incredible tapping technique, and is as entertaining to watch as it is to listen to. Drawing influence from folk, Celtic, Indie, and even punk rock artists as well as other great acoustic guitarist such as Michael Hedges, Andy Mckee and Justin King, Mark Kroos has developed his own edge to the acoustic guitar. markkroos.com
w/TBA (GENRE) Text. www
8PM $7

WED SEP 15
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU SEP 16
Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) Hippies please use side door... UJB has been faithfully bringing the music and spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday at Skipper's since 1998. All bottled beer on special in Skipperdome. unclejohnsband.com
8PM $7

FRI SEP 17

Paul Thorn (AMERICANA) A special solo acoustic performance! Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, raised among the same spirits (and some of the actual people) who nurtured the young Elvis generations before, Thorn has rambled down back roads and jumped out of airplanes, worked for years in a furniture factory, battled four-time world champion boxer Roberto Durán on national television, signed with and been dropped by a major label, opened for Bonnie Raitt, Mark Knopfler and John Prine among many other headliners, and made some of the most emotionally restless yet fully accessible music of our time. Thorn’s ninth album, Pimps & Preachers, takes on a central theme of Thorn’s youth: the pull of polar opposites, one representing the severe ecstasies of fundamental faith and the other the pleasures stigmatized and yet glamorized by the church. Similar ambiguities fuel the work of other artists to whom Thorn can be compared, from Tom Waits and Lucinda Williams all the way back to Robert Johnson and Hank Williams. Thorn’s knack for using snapshots from everyday routine as the elements of this exquisite writing owes entirely to his distinctive abilities and commitment to linking these elements into a profession of mercy and forgiveness is, ultimately, the real message of Pimps & Preachers. paulthorn.com
w/Ronny Elliott (AMERICANA) Ronny Elliott began his musical career in the fall of 1964, playing bass and singing in the Raveons, a Tampa-based garage band. By the early '70s Ronny had been through stints with the Outsiders (not those Outsiders), the Soul Trippers, Noah's Ark, Duckbutter and the Outlaws (yes, those Outlaws) among others. He's had flops on Knight, Laurie, Providence, Decca and Paramount and done shows with the Allman Brothers, Chuck Berry, the Coasters, the Chambers Brothers, Mike Bloomfield, Canned Heat, Dion, Bo Diddley, the Dave Clark Five, Van Morrison, Gene Vincent and Jerry Jeff Walker along the way. When he opened for Jimi Hendrix with his band, Your Local Bear, in 1967 the local newspaper referred to his music as "country rock 'n' roll," a year before The Byrds released Sweetheart Of The Rodeo. Fast forwards a few decades and you'll find Ronny's frequent solo albums at the top of WMNF's year-end playlists. ronnyelliott.com
plus Rebekah Pulley (AMERICANA) Alaskan born singer/songwriter and guitarist Rebekah Pulley, broke into the Tampa Bay music scene in 2000 and has since garnered numerous songwriting awards for her rootsy blend of soulful, southern, folk-rock. Rebekah's ethereal vocals and poetic lyrics made her a favorite among fans and critics alike. Her latest release Back to Boogaloo landed on numerous best of 2008 lists across the country. Rebekah has earned five Best of the Bay awards from the readers and editors of Creative Loafing, which describes her singing as "both technically spot-on and emotionally devastating. It can drop your jaw and break your heart." rebekahpulley.com
8PM $15/20

You can purchase advance ticketsfor WMNF shows here at Skipper's in person in the Oyster Bar during business hours, online at www.wmnf.org/events or by calling the station during business hours at 813-238-8001.

SAT SEP 18
TBA (GENRE) Text. www
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SUN SEP 19
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TUE SEP 21
Skipper’s 30th Anniversary Week
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WED SEP 22
Skipper’s 30th Anniversary Week
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THU SEP 23
Skipper’s 30th Anniversary Week
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TBA

FRI SEP 24
Skipper’s 30th Anniversary Week
TBA (GENRE) Text. www
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TBA

SAT SEP 25
Skipper’s 30th Anniversary Week
TBA (GENRE) Text. www
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TBA

SUN SEP 26
Skipper’s 30th Anniversary Week
TBA (GENRE) Text. www
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TBA

TUE SEP 28
TBA (GENRE) Text. www
w/TBA (GENRE) Text. www
TBA

WED SEP 29
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU SEP 30
Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) Hippies please use side door... UJB has been faithfully bringing the music and spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday at Skipper's since 1998. All bottled beer on special in Skipperdome. unclejohnsband.com
8PM $7

FRI OCT 1
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

SAT OCT 2
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

SUN OCT 3
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
5PM $TBA

closed Mondays

TUE OCT 5
Tribal Seeds (REGGAE) With heavy influence from Bob Marley, Steel Pulse, and Midnite, Tribal Seeds brings a refreshing rock vibe to the roots style, reggae music. Spiritually driven and musically talented, Tribal Seeds bring an authentic sound that gets crowds moving to infectious rhythms. Two brothers both raised playing instruments since early childhood in San Diego, head the group. Lead singer Steven writes the lyrics while brother Tony-Ray co-produces the music. The band haa toured throughout the US as well as Mexico, Guam, Aruba & Hawaii, sharing the stage with such artists the likes of Matisyahu, The Wailers, Stephen Marley, Gregory Issacs, SOJA and Rebelution. tribalseeds.net
w/Mystic Roots (REGGAE) mysticroots.com
8PM $7

WED OCT 6
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU OCT 7
Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) Hippies please use side door... UJB has been faithfully bringing the music and spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday at Skipper's since 1998. All bottled beer on special in Skipperdome. unclejohnsband.com
8PM $7

FRI OCT 8
Jimmy Thackery (BLUES/ROCK) text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $12/15
Tickets on sale soon...

SAT OCT 9

Gimme Some Truth: the John Lennon 70th Birthday Party/Tribute (TRIBUTE) text www
w/TBA text www
2PM $12/17

SUN OCT 10
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
5PM $TBA

closed Mondays

TUE OCT 12
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

WED OCT 13
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU OCT 14
Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) Hippies please use side door... UJB has been faithfully bringing the music and spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday at Skipper's since 1998. All bottled beer on special in Skipperdome. unclejohnsband.com
8PM $7

FRI OCT 15
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

SAT OCT 16
Zach Deputy (JAMBAND/LOOPS) There is nothing out there like Zach Deputy. Truly a one-man band, he is a powerhouse of performance, technical chops, and one hell of a charismatic presence. Put simply, Zach Deputy does what is called live looping: layering sounds through the magic of technology to create a full band effect. He isn’t the only performer out there doing this, but he has taken the technique to the next level. First and foremost, however, Zach Deputy is a songwriter, a shredding guitarist and a soulful singer with a 4+ octave vocal range. He can also drop freestyle rhymes with the best of them. The Zach Deputy sound is essentially roots rock, but in his case the roots are in soul, calypso and dancehall, underpinned by driving hip-hop, rock steady, Motown and Stax backbeats created with his layered vocal beatboxing. On top of the backbeat, Zach Deputy’s nylon strings pull multiple duties as bass, rhythm and lead guitar. Riding over that, a plethora of sounds– keyboard, steel drums and an entire horn section– come pumping and grinding out of the speakers when Zach takes the stage. He is a one man dance party, but he can also bring an audience to rapt attention with a heartfelt love ballad. zachdeputy.com
w/Josh Philips Folk Festival (FOLK/JAMBAND) With a message that is positive, sincere, and honest, Josh Phillips Folk Festival has been gaining a veritable army of fans that range from the youngest musical listeners, to seasoned long time traditional music fans. With the release of their first studio album, Wicker, Phillips has truly provided a strong testament to his ability to effortlessly capture generations worth of musical evolution, and traverse years of cultural dilution, bringing the listener back to the very source of roots, folk, soul, r & b, rock and reggae. myspace.com/joshphillipsfolk
8PM $10/13

SUN OCT 17
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
5PM $TBA

closed Mondays

TUE OCT 19
Mike + Ruthy (ALT-COUNTRY) Mike + Ruthy met in NYC, just out of college. Daughter to Hudson Valley fiddling legend Jay Ungar and folk-singer Lyn Hardy, Ruthy’s was a past steeped in the folk tradition. Mike had his musical roots planted in the ska-punk and rock scene blasting from the college radio station in his hometown of Durham, NH. The two fell in love and went on to form the folk-rock behemoth The Mammals, which toured the world many times over. Now married and settled just outside Woodstock, NY, they tour with a full band as for this show or as a duo and sometimes share the stage with their fiddling two-year-old son, Will. mikeandruthy.com
8PM $7

WED OCT 20
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU OCT 21
Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) Hippies please use side door... UJB has been faithfully bringing the music and spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday at Skipper's since 1998. All bottled beer on special in Skipperdome. unclejohnsband.com
8PM $7

FRI OCT 22
Buckwheat Zydeco (ZYDECO) text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $15/18

SAT OCT 23

Tom Petty 60th Birthday Party/Tribute (TRIBUTE) text www
w/TBA text www
6PM $12/15

SUN OCT 24
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
5PM $TBA

closed Mondays

TUE OCT 26
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

WED OCT 27
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU OCT 28
Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) Hippies please use side door... UJB has been faithfully bringing the music and spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday at Skipper's since 1998. All bottled beer on special in Skipperdome. unclejohnsband.com
8PM $7

FRI OCT 29
Freakers Ball
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

SAT OCT 30
Red Elvises (SIBERIAN SURF MADNESS) text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA
Tickets on sale soon...

SUN OCT 31
Red Elvises (SIBERIAN SURF MADNESS) text www
w/TBA text www
5PM $TBA
Tickets on sale soon...

closed Mondays

TUE NOV 2
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

WED NOV 3
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU NOV 4
Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) Hippies please use side door... UJB has been faithfully bringing the music and spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday at Skipper's since 1998. All bottled beer on special in Skipperdome. unclejohnsband.com
8PM $7

FRI NOV 5
Chris McCarty (ROCK/POP) text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $7/10

SAT NOV 6
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

SUN NOV 7
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
5PM $TBA

closed Mondays

TUE NOV 9
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

WED NOV 10
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU NOV 11
Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) Hippies please use side door... UJB has been faithfully bringing the music and spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday at Skipper's since 1998. All bottled beer on special in Skipperdome. unclejohnsband.com
8PM $7

FRI NOV 12
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

SAT NOV 13
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

SUN NOV 14
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
5PM $TBA

closed Mondays

TUE NOV 16
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

WED NOV 17
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU NOV 18
Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John's Band (JAMBAND/TRIBUTE) Hippies please use side door... UJB has been faithfully bringing the music and spirit of the Grateful Dead to Skipper's every Thursday at Skipper's since 1998. All bottled beer on special in Skipperdome. unclejohnsband.com
8PM $7

FRI NOV 19
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

SAT NOV 20
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

SUN NOV 21
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
5PM $TBA

closed Mondays

TUE NOV 23
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

WED NOV 24
Island Night w/Impulse (ISLAND/AFRO-BEAT/REGGAE) A 23-year-old tradition continues witht he ever-amazing Impulse band playing reggae, soukous and Afrobeat under the stars with Red Stripe beer on special. Hooray Beer!
8PM $5

THU NOV 25
closed

FRI NOV 26
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

SAT NOV 27
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA

SUN NOV 28
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
5PM $TBA

closed Mondays

TUE NOV 30
TBA text www
w/TBA text www
8PM $TBA