Flo Rida, Keith Sweat, Kansas just a few coming to Pensacola in early 2024
Well, 2023 is officially Spotify wrapped. I didn't post my Spotify wrapped details this year. It was kind of boring. My top six songs were all by Lei Qianq, a Chinese-born Erhu player who moved to Canada in 1993. He was my top artist for the year and his 1998 album "Chinese Traditional Erhu, Vol. I" was my most-played album for the year. (I'm sick of music with lyrics. No one has anything worthwhile to say. And more and more I'm enjoying music that is, well, just music.)
Going into 2024, I'm equally obsessed with Saz'iso's 2017 album, which I only recently discovered, titled "At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At Me". It's my first introduction to the iso-polyphonic tradition of Albanian music, and Saz'iso, a group which hails from Albania's mountainous southern region, has me mesmerized. Yes, there are lyrics and vocals ? the vocals are often what make these dark, mysterious songs so compelling, though I haven't a clue what they're singing. But it's the sound, you know. The sound.
Now, I doubt that Qiang or Saz'iso will grace Pensacola in 2024, but there are still plenty of compelling and interesting musical acts heading our way during the first three months of 2024. A few even my picky old self might have to venture out to experience. There's rap coming ? Flo Rida ? classic rock acts such as Kansas, Little River Band and Dave Mason, and wildcards such as reggae/hip-hop artist Matisyahu, Lit and Bowling For Soup.
Speaking of old, who knew new jack pioneer Keith Sweat was still out there doing his thing? I remember when he broke big in 1987-1988 with the release of his debut solo album "Make It Last Forever." I was working at a record store in Cordova Mall at the time, and we couldn't keep the album is in stock. Ask your grandmother if she'll break out the Keith Sweat cassette so you can take a listen.
Sweat will perform at the Pensacola Bay Center on Feb. 29 ? Leap Day. Tickets start at $79 and are available at ticketmaster.com/event/1B005F7CA6A62E32.
There are concerts before then, but I just got excited because Sweat is from my long-gone era.
No, the concert season starts off with on Jan. 6 with the Black Jacket Symphony, not to be confused with Pensacola's own White Tie Rock Ensemble, which recently played its annual Christmas show at the Pensacola Bay Center. The Black Jacket Symphony will perform music from Journey's 1981 "Escape" album, which features many of your favorite arena rock favorites. Tickets begin at $27 and are available at ticketmaster.com/event/1B005F3BE3AB6FB6.
You can see our own White Tie Rock Ensemble at the Pensacola Bay Center on April 6. Tickets begin at $20 and are available at ticketmaster.com/event/1B005F88B5AD6761.
Here are just some of the musical acts coming to Pensacola through March:
Wacky power-punk outfit Bowling for Soup and alternative rock veterans Lit ("My Worst Own Enemy") perform at Vinyl Music Hall on January 23. Tickets begin at $35. Ticket information is available at https://vinylmusichall.com.
Rapper Flo Rida headlines the Mardi Gras Mambo on January 26 at the Pensacola Bay Center. The South Florida artist has been nominated for numerous Billboard Music Awards and won a People's Choice Award for his 2007 debut single "Low," which featured T-Pain. Other performers at the event include the DeLuna Brass Band, the New Orleans Ramblers and Mr. Big & the Rhythm Sisters. Tickets begin at $31 and are available at ticketmaster.com and searching for Flo Rida.
Classic rock band Kansas, which makes Keith Sweat seem as fresh as, well, Wet Leg ? they're the only current, young act I know of and really dig ? performs Feb. 2 at the Saenger Theatre. The Pensacola stop is part of Kansas' 50th anniversary tour. Tickets begin at $55 and are available at ticketmaster.com/event/1B005F22D5F48037
Matisyahu, equally adept at reggae and rapping, performs at Vinyl Music Hall on January 31. Tickets are $33.50 and available at vinylmusichall.com.
Veteran blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa performs March 7 at the Saenger Theatre. He is a three-time Grammy nominee known for his guitar prowess. Tickets begin at $83 and are available at ticketmaster.com/event/1B005EEBDA554A37.
The Little River Band will perform at the Saenger Theatre on March 9. The Australian soft-rock act is known for a number of hits, including "Reminiscing,'' "Lonesome Loser" and "The Night Owls". Tickets begin at $55 and are available at ticketmaster.com/event/1B005F15C2464368.
Dave Mason, who first came to fame with the English band Traffic, performs March 27 at the Saenger Theatre. Mason also had a brief stint with Fleetwood Mac in the mid-1990s. Tickets begin at $63 and are available at ticketmaster.com/event/1B005F7EC57E57FD.
So have fun and rock out! And if you're adventurous, check out Saz'iso. (Start with the trippy song "Tana").
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: 2024 Pensacola concerts include classic rock, rap, alternative
