I Heart History

Reggae Night at SPMOH

2010-08-02T12:01:00.004-04:00

On August 14, 2010, join us as we welcome reggae storyteller Mike Pinto, tropical world rockers The Hip Abduction, and reggae/rock purveyors Unmotivated.

Come celebrate the history of our great city with positive music and good vibrations.

ALL proceeds benefit SPMOH!

$10 in advance

$12 at the door

Buy your tickets here!

Doors open at 6:00 PM. Music starts at 7:00 PM.

Legendary Landscapes: Florida Highwaymen Exhibition and Reception

2010-06-02T14:21:00.008-04:00

Join the St. Petersburg Museum of History in celebrating the artistic works of Florida’s own Highwaymen from June 11 through June 30th. The Highwaymen are a group of 26 artists, all of African-American descent and living in the Indian River area of Florida. These “backyard” artists created colorful landscapes and often sold them along Florida roadsides. Most are still living, some are still painting. Their artwork is recognized as the beginning of Florida’s contemporary art tradition.

The exhibition opens with a June 11th, 2010 reception from 6-8pm and will feature "Legendary Landscapes" from artists R.L Lewis, Willie Reagan, Carnell Smith, and Curtis Arnett.

On the next two consecutive Saturdays, these four Original Highwaymen will be on hand for some interactive fine art fun. Activities will include: Live Demonstrations and a Questions & Answer Session. Original Artwork merchandise will be available for sale.

Come watch History in the Making!

When:

Friday, June 11, 6– 8pm: Legendary Landscapes Reception

Saturday, June 19, 10am – 3pm: Featured artists R.L Lewis and Curtis Arnett

Saturday, June 26, 10am – 3pm: Featured artists Carnell Smith and Willie Reagan

Where:

St. Petersburg Museum of History 335 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL

$5.00 Suggested Donation, No RSVP Required

In Conclusion....

2010-05-04T14:43:00.004-04:00

Tarpon Springs' Mike Jurgensen is a longtime standard fixture on all the prestigious Florida folk music venues; his talents as an award-winning songwriter have been well known and embraced by his fans for more than 25 years. 2PM, however, combines Mike with accomplished musicians/singers Pete Price and Pete Hennings into a trio of incredibly blended 3-part harmony vocalists. Employing a diverse mix of material, from original songs to well-known standards by the Beatles and Everly Brothers, from country and western to contemporary Florida folk, these guys do the songs and arrangements that few, anywhere, will dare to even touch. With Jurgensen on guitar and harmonica, Price on guitar and bass, and Hennings on guitar, bass, mandolin, and violin, these three performers combine tight instrumentation with pristine vocal harmonies to delight audiences of all musical tastes. All three are talented songwriters and have performed solo as well as with other bands: Hennings and Price with Jon Semmes and the Florida Friends, and Jurgensen and Hennings with Myriad. The newest rising stars in the Florida folk music world, this combination of Pete, Pete, and Mike as "2PM" is a trio quite unlike any band most have ever heard.

The last concert in the Florida Folk Music Series will take place this Sunday, May 9, 2010 at 1:00 PM. Please join us as we celebrate the conclusion of our series!

Guitar, Fiddle, and more!

2010-04-30T14:20:00.006-04:00

The Green Grass Boys combine folk, bluegrass and alternative country musics with guitar, fiddle and harmonica to drive the group's large cache of original songs and unique old standard arragements. The Green Grass Boys have been performing for more than 25 years in the Tampa Bay area under many different names and combinations. The group consists of rhythm guitarist/songwriter Pete Gallagher, Florida state fiddle champ Fiddlin' Elan Chalford, lead guitarist Raiford Starke and national harmonica wizard, T.C. Carr. A special feature of the group is their expert exploration into the music of the greatest Florida fiddlers - Vassar Clements, Ervin T. Rouse, Arthur Smith, Chubby Anthony and Chubby Wise - breathing new fire into old classics like "Lonesome Fiddle Blues," "Bill Cheetham," "Faded Love," "Florida Blues," and the "Orange Blossom Special." Their original songs cover the Florida landscape, from their "Suwannee River 2023" call to attention to "Chokoloskee," about the last beautiful days of a SW Florida fishing village. From the "Devil West Down to Georgia" and "Mama Tried" to "Minor Swing," you won't ever run across another band quite like the eclectic, always entertaining, Green Grass Boys.

Fans Flock to Florida Folk Show

2010-04-27T10:35:00.005-04:00

Hundreds of fans enjoyed good weather and wonderful music last Sunday, when Rebekah Pulley & The Reluctant Prophets, Have Gun Will Travel, Dog Peter Pat and Tom Scudiero performed on the grassy outside Museum grounds at 335 2^nd Ave. NE. Seventh in an eight-week series of free concerts, Sunday’s show featured food, beverages, local vendors, a beautiful view of the St. Petersburg waterfront, and some of the best acoustic music in Florida. "Last Sunday was a big day for the Museum," said Education Director Nevin Sitler, who is producing the event. "We were packed inside with a fantastic antiques show and the grounds outside were filled with music fans."

Make it a point to join us before the series is over!

Sarasota Slim & Nitro

2010-04-18T10:31:00.003-04:00

Few Bay area musicians are as deserving of the title "bluesman" as Gene Hardage, commonly known as Sarasota Slim. A true Florida cracker - born in the panhandle and raised in Sarasota - Slim has been a mainstay on the Florida musical scene for over 25 years. An accomplished songwriter, guitarist and vocalist, Slim's electric repertoire includes heaps of funk, R&B, swing and calypso, tapping resources as diverse as War, Wilson Pickett, Charlie Daniels and Jimi Hendrix. But Sarasota Slim also has a solid Florida folk music side with songs about developers tearing down the beach bars, drinking Tampa sulphur water and snook fishin' and a collection of rare old guitars and dobros. When he joins talents with the legendary Tampa bluesman, Nitro, for occasional forays into the traditional world of the folk blues, the audience is in for one of the most entertaining Florida folk musical acts anywhere in the state. Nitro, a former professional boxer from Chicago, and long-distance cross-country truck-driver, has a unique "one hand" harmonica-playing style that bellies his years of practicing while hauling swinging meat. Together, these two stars can lay down a solid beat and, interacting closely with the crowd, bring their music directly to the audience.

Keith Hope

2010-04-07T13:43:00.004-04:00

Keith Hope, whose ancestors first settled Hernando County in 1835, is a 6th generation Floridian raised in Hardee County. A folksinger since the age of 5, Keith learned the art and craft of songwriting during a sojourn to Nashville in the early 1980s. By the '90s, he became a regular at the Florida Folk Festival, inspired and encouraged by Frank and Ann Thomas to further hone his craft of Florida songwriting. In 2002, Keith released his first CD of original songs titled "Key Biscayne Cowboy." Later, he released a concert DVD: "Keith Hope, Live at Luna Star Cafe." His song about manatees, "Miss Her Now (or Miss Her Forever)," was featured in two film documentaries and a music video. Another song, "How Strong Your Love Can Be," won first place in the pop catergory of the Songwriters Guild of America's songwriting contest. He is currently working on a second CD (to be titled "Florida Hurricane") slated for release in Spring 2010. Keith lives in Gulfport, is an appellate attorney and is a past Board Member and President of Friends of Florida Folk.

Hop on over!

2010-03-31T13:14:00.004-04:00

This Sunday, April 4, 2010, the museum will continue its Florida Folk Music Series. We hope the rain stays away, and the sun welcomes all of you out for a day of fun in the sun! This Sunday's show presents Grant Peeples, Maggie Council, and Parson Brown.

Grant Peeples' version of Florida folk music has been described as: "Literary Left neck, vegetarianism with a Nascar bent. It can be both hilarious and disturbing... and all in the same four measures." Peeples, who lives in Wakulla County in the Florida Panhandle, is a 7th generation Floridian signs in graphic detail about what he sees taking place in his homeland. Grant's songs invoke Faulkner and Flannery O'Conner as he describes "Real Country" life in the harshly revised landscape of the American South. After 30 years of writing songs, (capped off with an 11-year gig on a remote island off the Coast of Nicaragua) Grant began his fulltime career as a touring artist. A tree hugger with a gun permit, Grant has opened shows for Robert Earl Keen, Fred Eaglesmith and Gurf Morlix, has released two recent records on the Gatorbone label and is now one of the Florida's most popular folk artists.

T.C. Carr, Lenny Austin & Friends, Gypsy Wind, and Sam Stone

2010-03-25T12:13:00.006-04:00

Come rain or shine, we will present the second concert as part of our Florida Folk Music Series. This Sunday join us as we welcome T.C. Carr, Lenny Austin & Friends, Gypsy Wind, and Sam Stone.

Florida native T. C. Carr is a passionate singer/songwriter who has established himself as one of the premier, established, harmonica players in the world. Lenny Austin is one of Americana's top lead/slide guitartists. Each is truly a living Florida treasure. T.C.'s strong lead vocals and unique harp work blend with Lenny's guitar mastery to demand an audience's attention. Masters of the classic blues, both T.C. and Lenny have the ability to play rock, soul, and backstreet blues, country, bluesgrass and soul genres.

Both are well known for their performances with legendary Tampa Bay beach bands the Mad Beach Band, T.C. & the Catch and the Saltwater Cowboys.

Scotty Lee

2010-03-18T02:24:00.002-04:00

Scotty Lee will be performing this Sunday, March 21, at 1:00 PM as part of our Florida Folk Museum Series. This is the first year of the series, and we are really excited and looking forward to the event.

To get a taste of what's to come, check out Scotty Lee.

A Unique Piece of Art

2010-03-13T22:41:00.005-05:00

Are your walls bare? Is something lacking? Enter a chance to win our opportunity drawing!

Our buddy Stu the Painter (the artist of the above painting) has made us a very thoughtful offer, that we simply can't turn down! Not only is he working hard and diligently on the printed program for the concert series, but also offered to donate his services for a custom portrait. Tickets will be sold during each concert for $1, and will be available throughout the duration of the series. After its conclusion, we will draw the golden ticket! The winning number will be posted on our Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger pages.

Should you have questions about this drawing, please feel free to contact us at StPeteHistory@gmail.com.

Ronny Elliott

2010-03-04T15:51:00.002-05:00

Our first concert in the series will take place on Sunday, March 21, 2010. Headlining that performance is Tampa's own Ronny Elliott.

Among his many eclectic accolades, earned in over 45 years of providing music and musical literature to the Tampa Bay area, Ronny Elliott is also the area's top Florida folk artist. A singer/songwriter who has performed on the bills that have included 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, has defied standard classification; Billboard and No Depression consider him "Americana." Ronnie, himself, might tell you he is a rhythm'n'blues; when he opened for Jimi Hendrix in 1967 the local newspaper referred to his music as country rock'n'roll; none other than the late Bobby Hicks christened Ronny a "Florida folk music legend." Each year, Ronny is one of the coveted featured artists at the prestigious Woody Guthrie Festival in Oklahoma. His songs about Florida, only one component of Ronny's huge musical catalogue, include tunes about Jack Kerouac's St. Pete Blues, The Last Days of Tampa Red, and Mr. Edison's Electric Chair. However one describes the music of Ronny Elliott, one fact is for certain, this is songwriting at its finest craft, with lyrics - from angry to beautiful - that chill the soul.

Pete Gallagher and Pat Barmore

2010-03-03T14:49:00.003-05:00

The hosts of the St. Petersburg Museum of History's first annual Florida Folk Concert Series, Pete Gallagher and Pat Barmore have performed as a duo for the past six years, while producing and hosting weekly singer/songwriter events at the Sloppy Pelican in St. Pete Beach and Kojak's Ribhouse in Palmetto. They have performed their original Florida folk music in festivals and taverns across the state, from Everglades City to Sopchoppy, for Chokoloskee fishermen hanging out at Leebo's Rock Bottom Bar, and bikers and tourists at Joanie's Blue Crab Cafe in Ochopee.

Gallagher, a native Floridian and co-host of the weekly WMNF-FM radio "Florida Folk Show," lives in St. Petersburg where he is a free lance writer, while Barmore, who has released four albums in the past five years, lives in Clearwater and runs a medical billing company.

For more information on these guys, check out this site and their radio show.

Florida Folk Concert Series

2010-02-28T15:26:00.003-05:00

The St. Petersburg Museum of History is pleased to announce Florida Folk Concert Series.

Hosted by Pete Gallagher and Pat Barmore, this weekly eight-part event will feature:

March 21 – Ronny Elliott, Scotty Lee, Dylan Cowles & Bleu Gravy, Mare Wakefield

March 28 – TC Carr, Lenny Austin & Friends, Gypsy Wind, Sam Stone

April 4 – Grant Peeples, Maggie Council, Parson Brown

April 11 – Keith Hope & Charlie Creek, Sons of the Beaches, Dean Johanesen

April 18 – Sarasota Slim & Nitro, Carl Wade & Something Special, Bob Anthony

April 25 – Rebekah Pulley & the Reluctant Prophets, Have Gun Will Travel, Tom Scudiero

May 2 – Green Grass Boys, California Baseball Band, Experimental Pilot with Ella Jet

May 9 – Mike Jurgensen & 2PM, Judy Tampa & The Bunko Squad, Sandy Atkinson, Evergreen

Doors open at Noon.
Music starts at 1:00 PM.

Come one or come all, but just come out and support the St. Petersburg Museum of History.

Interested in being a vendor or sponsor?

Call 727-894-1052 for more information.