Tampa's Gasparilla Music Festival Adds More Bands, Finalizes Lineup

As if The Meter Men with special guest Page McConnell, Best Coast, and Dr. Dog were not enough, the already-stellar Gasparilla Music Festival lineup is finally complete and now includes rollicking folk revivalists The Felice Brothers, along with a host of newly-added local favorites.

Fresh off of opening slots for Mumford and Sons, and scheduled to open for The Killers in May, The Felice Brothers will bring their rough-around-the-edges brand of Americana to GMF's Kiley Gardens stage, joining Ozomatli, Dawes, Lord Huron, The Iguanas, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, and more at the second-annual Gasparilla Music Festival on Saturday, March 9.

Tampa veterans Will Quinlan (duo) and Best-of-the-Bay winners Sleepy Vikings (acoustic), along with Acme Jazz Garage, Betty Fox Band, Florida Mountain Boys, 6 Volt Rodeo and central Florida favorites The Wholetones and Lauris Vidal, are all new editions to year's GMF lineup.

The GMF festivities will begin with children's programing on the FL Legal Group Stage at Kiley Gardens, including a special family-friendly set by Ozokidz. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn will kick things off on the Curtis Hixon Stage, followed by St. Petersburg's Mt. Zion Sanctuary Choir.

The Meter Men with Page McConnell will close the GMF main stage in Curtis Hixon Park. The collaboration with three members of the Meters and Phish keyboardist McConnell has resulted in sold-out shows from New Orleans to New York City. In Tampa, they'll take the stage at 10 p.m., right after Philly-based indie rockers Dr. Dog.

Keeping true to its commitment to all things local, GMF has also firmed up its lineup of local restaurants and food vendors. The impressive list of culinary offerings includes Seminole Heights favorites The Refinery, The Independent, and Ella's, along with Pipo's Cafe, Louis Pappas, and more.

General admission tickets for GMF are $25 through March 8. Tickets are available now through the GMF website (gasparillamusicfestival.com) and at select local ticket outlets, including Daddy Cool Records, The Hub, Microgroove, and Mojo Books & Music. Tickets are $30 the day of the festival. Admission is free for children ages 12 and under.

GMF is an all-day music festival taking place on four stages in and around Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and Kiley Gardens in downtown Tampa. For a complete band lineup and schedule, visit http://www.gasparillamusicfestival.com.

Other GMF Activities