Seaside concerts continue in July

A popular Emerald Coast summer event continues in Seaside during the month of July as this favorite outdoor venue hosts the Seaside Summer Concert Series. The free, family-friendly concerts will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at the Seaside Amphitheater. Music lovers will converge on Seaside to enjoy live musical performances along 30A. The Seaside Summer Concert Series is always free and open to all and a great way to hear today’s emerging artists amongst the beautiful backdrop of the Beaches of South Walton.

All events are made possible by the arts and entertainment fee collected by The Merchants of Seaside. For more information on the community and its events, visit www.seasidefl.com.

Seaside was voted the “Hottest Spot for Outdoor Concerts” by 30A.com and fans from across the region make their weekly plans around these Wednesday night performances for a chance to see artists before they embark on bright musical careers. Seaside offers free parking to guests around Central Square, Quincy Circle and Smolian Circle.

Scheduled performers in July are:

• July 6: The Black Lillies — Born in the rumbling cab of a stone truck, raised in Old North Knoxville, and aged in the oak of Knoxville’s smoky night haunts, The Black Lillies have come to the forefront of the East Tennessee Americana scene in little more than a year. 

Founded by multi instrumentalist and vocalist Cruz Contreras, co-founder of Robinella and the CCstringband, and singer-guitarist Leah Gardner, the group has created its own unique brand of country, roots, rock and blues via Appalachia. The group, formed in 2008, includes bassist Jeff Woods, electric guitar and pedal steel whiz Tom Pryor, and drummer Jamie Cook. 

In April, The Black Lillies released Whiskey Angel, their debut recording. The album was recorded live in Cruz’s living room by Sparklehorse drummer Scott Minor, and features Billy Contreras on fiddle. The Black Lillies have developed their own style of Americana music in true East Tennessee fashion. They may not fit any industry norm, but where they’re from, that’s a good thing.

• July 13: Lauren St. Jane & The Dead Westerns — From the southern roots of Georgia come Lauren St. Jane & The Dead Westerns with their own combination of country swagger and Americana rock. This fiery, female fronted band offers a raw sound complimented by polished vocals, tight guitar licks, and lyrics you'd expect from a true redhead.

For example, "Southern Girl," St. Jane said, "is about a redneck woman who intends to take you down." The recent release of the band’s EP "American Dreams" runs the gamut of emotions from the waltzing ballad "Wreckage" that brings a tear to your eye to the take off and make your own way up-tempo title song, "American Dreams." With such strong vocals and impassioned guitars, Lauren St. Jane & The Dead Westerns are paving the way for their own modern take on the best of classic country and Americana.

• July 20: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit — One of America’s best songwriters is bringing his country blues wisdom to Seaside and we get to be there. Isbell, with the road-forged band The 400 Unit, brings his profound sense of empathy for the people and places of his home state, Alabama.

After Isbell parted musical ways with the Drive-By Truckers and struck off on his own for 200 gigs a year for more years than he can say, he returned home last year to start from his roots up. The new record he wrote at home is called Here We Rest, and it is a body of work both contented and restless. Hearing these plaintive, driving songs comes with it the realization that you are listening to country music way before the sequins.

Way more bluesy, grittier and just as whiskey-soaked, Isbell’s soulful voice would be at home coming from the car’s dashboard radio. The music has the rhythm of the road as its engine and a finely-tuned band as its fuel. The 400 Unit is Derry deBorja on keys, bassist Jimbo Hart, guitarist Browan Lollar and Chad Gamble on drums. They cook from simmer to boil to back again.

• July 27: Honey Island Swamp Band — Great music begins with great songs, and great songs are what the Honey Island Swamp Band is all about. The band came together after Aaron Wilkinson and Chris Mulé were marooned in San Francisco after the levee breaches following Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, and had a chance encounter with fellow New Orleans evacuees Sam Price and Garland Paul. They'd all worked together in New Orleans bands for years, but with no prospects of getting home any time soon, they figured they’d better cook up something new, and quick!

Honey Island Swamp Band's sound has been described as "Bayou Americana," with timeless songs and music that draws from a variety of influences in the world of roots music, including artists such as Little Feat, The Band, Taj Mahal, Jimmy Reed, and New Orleans’ own Dr. John.

In January 2010, the band’s debut album, Wishing Well, was named “Best Blues Album” at OffBeat Magazine's BEST OF THE BEAT Awards, where the band was also honored as “Best Emerging Artist.” The newest offering from HISB, Good To You, was released in April 2010, and has quickly become a staple on the Crescent City's legendary radio station WWOZ, as well as on Sirius/XM satellite radio’s Bluesville.