Looking for fun events? Top 5 things to do around Tallahassee
Stay in dancing shape this week as a slew of music, culture and fun rounds out the month.
Raul Malo's rich voice keeps the The Mavericks kicking for a show at The Moon on Saturday. FAMU's Harambee Festival wraps Black History Month with a display of Unity in the Community at the Adderley Amphitheater.
Field Day Music Festival, a benefit concert to raise funds for cancer research, features performers at beautiful Maclay Gardens State Park on Sunday.
Here's a roundup of entertaining events around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts online listings and elsewhere.
Concert: Dave Mason is heading up a Tallahassee Traffic Jam this leap year
1. Dance with Mavericks on The Moon
Miami band The Mavericks brings its big sound to The Moon, 1105 E. Lafayette St., for a show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Raul Malo is the lead singer, songwriter and producer of the band which blends rockabilly, honky tonk, Tejano, Cuban and country.
Founded in 1989, the rollicking band features Paul Deakin, Eddie Perez, and Jerry Dale McFadden. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $35 plus taxes and service fees. Reserved tickets are $60. Visit moonevents.com.
2. Get good vibes at Harambee Festival
FAMU Harambee Festival brightens the Adderley Amphitheater and Cascades Park, 1001 S. Gadsden St., with music, food and art from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. Entertainment includes Brownsville Preparatory Institute, RAA Steel Band, A Few Good Fellas, Darryl Tookes and Friends and Tallahassee Nights Live.
The festival's theme, “Inspiring Unity in the Community,” captures the essence of Florida A&M University’s efforts to enhance the student experience through community engagement. The helps to inspire, educate, and this year the festival will offer a plethora of exciting entertainment including live musical performances for alumnus, cultural art, spoken work, fashion design.
3. Catch Bruce Katz at BBC at the Legion
The Bruce Katz Band, which released a new album in 2023, checks into BBC at the Legion, 229 Lake Ella Drive, for a show at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23. Tickets are $20 in advance and day of show. Katz is a seven time BMA nominee for the “Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year” award, which is the equivalent of the “Blues Grammys.”
"Connections" was recorded at the legendary Capricorn Studios in Macon, Georgia. "We are so proud of the music we wrote and recorded and excited to be able to share it! There are ten new original songs, written by both Aaron and me," Katz says on his website.
4. 'Comet' lights up FSU Theatre
The School of Theatre at Florida State University presents "Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812," with book, music & lyrics by Dave Malloy, at the Fallon Theatre, opening at 8 p.m. Feb. 23 and running through March 3.
"Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812" is an electro pop opera based on a scandalous slice of Leo Tolstoy’s "War and Peace." Young and impulsive, Natasha Rostova arrives in Moscow to await the return of her fiancé from the front lines. When she falls under the spell of the roguish Anatole, it is up to Pierre, a family friend in the middle of an existential crisis, to pick up the pieces of her shattered reputation.
Tickets ranges from $10-$30. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday with additional performances next week. Tickets available at tickets.theatre.fsu.edu.
5. 'Jump for Joy' with Hiss Golden Messenger
The Grammy Award-nominated Hiss Golden Messenger returns to town this weekend in support of their latest album, "Jump For Joy." The folk soul show with Color Green will be at 926 Bar & Grill, 926 W. Tharpe St., on Saturday, Feb. 24. Doors open at 8 p.m. and show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $26 advance and $30 day of the show. Visit 926barandgrill.com.
Science Fest: Celebrate the joy of toys and tech at MagLab Open House
Bonus event: FSU brings Ukrainian Dance Ensemble
The Syzokryli Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of New York City is bringing a fusion of Ukrainian folk dance and classical ballet to Tallahassee this weekend. The ensemble will perform six different pieces at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at Florida A&M University's Lee Hall Auditorium, 1601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
The ensemble will perform dances such as the pryvit, a welcome to the audience showcasing spectacular acrobatic stunts. The performance is co-sponsored by the FSU Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics and the FSU College of Arts and Sciences and will also feature music by Ukrainian violinists Inessa Tymochko-Dekajlo and Ihor Dekajlo. It's free, but tickets are required. Reserve tickets in advance at tickets.fsu.edu. Limited tickets will be available at the door.
Bonus event: Rockin' it at The Sound Bar
Kansas City's Kurt Allen Band continues its Rockin' The Blues U.S. Tour with a local performance at The Sound Bar, 1105 W. Tharpe St., at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26. It's free. Visit thesoundbartallahassee.com. For over a decade, Allen has been fusing gritty old school blues, vintage soul, swampy Bayou funk.
Bonus event: Opening Nights with Ruthie Foster
Blues artist Ruthie Foster takes the stage for Opening Nights at Opperman Music Hall at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29. Tickets are $45. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu. Foster’s ninth studio album represents a new high water mark for the veteran blues artist — a collection of songs possessing pure power, like a tidal wave of musical generosity. "Healing Time" is the latest jewel in Foster’s accomplished career, which includes multiple Grammy nominations and collaborations with fellow luminaries like Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks.
Concert: Field Day Music Festival funds research for pancreatic cancer
OTHER EVENTS
Blue Tavern: Two Clever steps out for happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St. Everett Young kicks things off at 5, with Lori G. joining him, followed at 8 p.m. by Sawmill Jam. Frank Graham's signature swamp boogie sound returns to the tavern, with Kit Goodner on guitar and vocals, and Mark Patton on upright bass and vocals. $5 cover. 4th Saturday Old Time Jam runs from 4-6 p.m., followed at 8 p.m. by the Galentines Shebang. The evening will feature a group of friends who love to make music: Therese Whichello, Kelly Goddard, Jen Clark, Gillian Canning and Elizabeth Fravel. Tuesday happy hour from 5-7 p.m. features shape note singing, followed at 8 p.m. by Bluesday Tuesday with Belmont & Jones. Cover $5. Ash Devine plays from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, followed at 8 p.m. by Open Mic Night. Douce Ambiance plays 5-7 p.m. Thursday, followed at 8 p.m. by A night of original songs with Charlie Robertson and Dick Kraft. $10 cover.
Field Day Music Festival: The 7th annual Field Day Music Festival, named in Judy Field’s honor, runs from 2-7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, at Maclay Gardens State Park. This family-friendly music festival will feature live bands including The Lil Smokies, Sugarcane Jane with special guest, Lolly Lee, and local favorite, Revival. Tickets start at $15 for adults and kids 12 and under get in free.
FSU's Festival of the Creative Arts: “Sing with the Symphony” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. Includes two premieres, including a new musical piece with text taken from the poem “Happy Chemicals,” written by David Kirby, Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor of English. The final part of the poem will be set to music by Assistant Professor of Composition Liliya Ugay. The performance will feature the University Symphony Orchestra and the combined choirs of FSU, along with audience participation.
Great Oaks Pub at Southwood: Firewall is back from 6-9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 23. The group is a high-powered wall of sound, featuring two guitars, bass, drummer and Saxophone. Their repertoire covers a wide range of artists from contemporary '80s to current hits. The band features Mike Lynch, Rob Shaffer, Adam Gaffney, John Kepler and Chris Keller. No Cover, no minimum, full restaurant and bar. Call 850-942-4653.
House of Music: Internationally acclaimed guitarist Richard Smith performs at House of Music, 2011 S. Monroe St., at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25. Tickets are $20. Visit houseofmusictally.com.
Mardi Gras Parade in Apalachicola: Celebrate Mardi Gras Apalach style at the Apalachicola Mardi Gras Barkus Parade & Street Festival. This festival and parade of costumed folks and their dogs will be held from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 at Apalachicola's Riverfront Park. The parade of walkers, decorated golf carts and boats, which begins at Riverfront Park at 1 p.m. winds through town before ending back at the park where the party will continue . Sponsored by the Mystic Krewe of Salty Barkers.
Monticello Opera House: "Proscenophobia" runs through March 3, with performances on Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 5 p.m. Tickets are $52 and include a full-course meal. Visit monticellooperahouse.org.
926 Bar & Grill: Thelma and The Sleaze w/ No Parts, Counterfeit Stereo plays 926 Bar on Monday, Feb. 26. Doors @ 8 p.m., show @ 8:30 p.m. $12 advance, $15 day of show. Vision Video w/ Tears For The Dying, Candle Wishes plays 926 Bar on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Doors @ 8 p.m., show @ 9 p.m., $17 advance, $20 day of show.
Science Festival: FSU National High Magnetic Field Laboratory’s 2024 Open House, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, on the MagLab campus at 1800 E. Paul Dirac Drive in Tallahassee’s Innovation Park.
Theatre Tallahassee: Production of "Silent Sky," a story of early astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, Feb. 23- March 10; Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. Theatre Tallahassee, 1861 Thomasville Road. Tickets are $15-$25. Visit theatretallahassee.org.
The Sound Bar: Deja Blu takes the stage at The Sound Bar, 1105 West Tharpe St., at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. Deja Blu formed in 2010 and has evolved from an acoustic trio to a four-piece rocking band, featuring Michael Brawer on bass, Kent Rodriguez on guitar, Mark Blair on drums, and Barry Kaye on keyboard.
TCC Fine Art Gallery: The Tallahassee Community College Fine Art Gallery presents “Global Neighbors” from Roopali Kambo. The Gallery will host an opening reception from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22. The show will run through April 4. Kambo is a professor of graphic design at TCC and an interdisciplinary artist with a research-based practice. The exhibit will include multimedia works in her modernist, abstract style that draws inspiration from diverse world cultures. The gallery, located in the Fine and Performing Arts Center on the main campus of TCC, is open from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.
Have an event coming up? Email details to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Top 5 fun things to do around Tallahassee this weekend