As you know by now, I go into hibernation for the winter. This time it’s a little different, for the next three or four months, I will be temporarily residing in Jacksonville, Florida.

I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about the city. I did do a little research and shocked to discover the city has about 1 million people living there… that’s twice as large as Minneapolis! In fact, it’s the most populous city in Florida, and the largest in the South outside the state of Texas.

I don’t know what the music scene is like, but here are some famous bands from Jacksonville:

• Lynyrd Skynyrd: Outlaw country, Blues-rock
• Limp Bizkit: Nu metal, Rap rock
• Molly Hatchet: Blues-rock, Boogie rock
• Yellowcard: Pop punk, Emo
• Shinedown: Hard rock, Alternative metal

We’ve seen a few of those bands, including Molly Hatchet in July 2022: “Jacksonville, FL band Molly Hatchet brought their signature mixture of English invasion rock, blues, country and gospel to the Sac and Fox Casino, in Powhattan, KS for a complimentary show filled with classic hits and newer favorites. The band formed in the early 1970s and, along with their contemporaries Lynyrd Skynyrd and other Florida and Georgia bands, brought together what we have come to know as Southern Classic Rock.”

Here are some bands coming to the Florida Theatre, in Jacksonville, Florida:

Dave Koz & Friends
at Florida Theatre
03 Dec 2024
floridatheatre.com

Dave Koz & Friends is on their 27th anniversary edition of the longest-running jazz-based Christmas tour. The tour will stop in at the Florida Theatre, in Jacksonville, Florida, on December 3, 2024.

This year, Koz reunites with long-time musical partner, guitarist/singer Jonathan Butler, and features saxophonist Vincent Ingala, guitarist Adam Hawley and vocalist Rebecca Jade as special guests.

Why see this show? Just ‘koz…

Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2024

11/29 – Atlanta, GA – Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
11/30 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
12/2 – Naples, FL – Hayes Hall Artis-Naples
12/3 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
12/5 – North Bethesda, MD – The Music Center
12/6 – Newport News, VA – Ferguson Center
12/7 – New Haven, CT – John Lyman Center
12/8 – Cleveland, OH – Connor Palace at Playhouse Square
12/11 – Warren, OH – Robins Theatre
12/12 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theatre
12/13 – Carmel, IN – The Palladium
12/14 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre
12/15 – Detroit, MI – Music Hall Center
12/18 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center – Ikeda Theater
12/19 – San Diego, CA – Balboa Theatre
12/20 – Cerritos, CA – Cerritos Center
12/21 – Cerritos, CA – Cerritos Center
12/22 – Palm Desert, CA – McCallum Theatre
12/23 – Modesto, CA – Gallo Center For The Arts

Ben Folds
with Lindsey Kraft
at Florida Theatre
21 Dec 2024
floridatheatre.com

The great Ben Folds will be ending his tour at the Florida Theatre, in Jacksonville, on December 21, 2024. Folds released his first-ever Christmas album on New West Records… so expect some Christmas-ey songs on this tour in December.

We saw Ben Folds in Sep 2012, and got this incredible story about Folds’ first tour in Minneapolis. He will never, ever come to Minneapolis in the Winter since then. Here is the story: “Ben Folds told this great story about their first gig in Minneapolis at the 7th Street Entry. If you live around here, you know that place is tiny, so I had this vision of their grand piano taking up 90% of the stage. It was the first time the band came to Minneapolis and they had no idea how cold it was. It was snowing, negative 60 degree (at least that’s what they said!), and they were moving the piano outside. They had “jackets” on but it was so cold, they ran back inside – leaving the piano in the middle of the street! Lessons learned.”

Lindsey Kraft to open.

Ben Folds On Tour:

December 2, 2024 – Nashville, TN – Schermerhorn Symphony Center
December 4, 2024 – Naples, FL – Hayes Hall
December 10, 2024 – Houston, TX – Jones Hall
December 11, 2024 – Austin, TX – ACL Live
December 12, 2024 – Dallas, TX – Majestic Theatre
December 14, 2024 – Fayetteville, AR – Walton Arts Center
December 15, 2024 – Shreveport, LA – The Strand Theatre
December 17, 2024 – New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore
December 18, 2024 – Memphis, TN – Minglewood Hall
December 19, 2024 – Huntsville, AL – Mars Music Hall
December 21, 2024 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre

Drew & Ellie Holcomb
at Florida Theatre
13 Feb 2025
floridatheatre.com

Drew & Ellie Holcomb are on tour in support of their new studio album Memory Bank.

Their tour will stop by the Fitzgerald Theater, in St Paul, in March, but before they do, they are stopping by the Florida Theatre, in Florida, on February 13, 2025.

We saw Drew Holcomb in Sep 2023, and wrote, “Drew Holcomb (billed as Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors) came out excited and stating how amazing it was to be at First Avenue’s main room. The singer said that it was their goal to play this room and so it was such an honor that so many diehard fans have come out to support the group. The group prides themselves as knowing everybody in the audience (and I believe them!). First Avenue was, by far, the largest venue as headliner, having played the tiny 7th Street Entry in March 2012 and at the now-defunct Triple Rock Social Club in September 2013. Every time they come back, they got a larger crowd and larger stage.”

Tour Dates: