Seventh Annual Sing Out Loud Festival is Just Days Away as St. Augustine Becomes the Crossroads of Music and Community

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Contact: Barbara Golden
Phone: 904-669-8142
Email: BGolden@FloridasHistoricCoast.com

St. Augustine, Fla. (August 27, 2023) – It all begins Friday, September 8, when Florida’s Historic Coast becomes the epicenter of powerhouse music performances. The Sing Out Loud Festival welcomes The Black Keys, Mumford & Sons, Lord Huron, Maggie Rogers, Yola, War Hippies, Elle King, Amos Lee, S.G. Goodman, Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, Keller & Keel and more. September is St. Augustine’s official ‘Month of Music,’ as the nation’s oldest city hosts over 100 artists with a mix of free and ticketed shows.

Securely rooted in the community, the Sing Out Loud Festival is committed to serving a larger purpose. In addition to amplifying local artists and venues, festival organizers donate a portion of ticket sales to local charities. Since 2016, Sing Out Loud has raised over $300,000 for local organizations and nonprofits. This year’s beneficiaries are the St. Johns County School District and the First Responder Project. In partnership with country-duo War Hippies, with support from leading instrument and pro audio retailer Sweetwater, the donation to the St. Johns County School District will help provide instruments to enhance music education. The First Responder Project, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 2020 to provide wellness resources for public safety personnel and their families. Past recipients include the Betty Griffin Center, United Way of St. Johns County, St. Francis House, Port in the Storm, Lincolnville Museum, and St. Johns County Legal Aid.

As a nod to the dynamic and long-standing local music scene in St. Augustine, The Sing Out Loud Local Showcase is where it all starts! Since 2016, the Local Showcase has placed hundreds of the Historic Coast’s singers, songwriters, and musicians into the spotlight. With genres ranging from indie rock to bluegrass, hip hop to country, and comedy to spoken word, the Local Showcase is also a chance to feature the iconic venues local musicians call home. Sing Out Loud performance host locations include: Dog Rose Brewing Company, Colonial Oak Music Park, The Beacon Listening Room, Trade Winds Lounge, Spinster Abbott’s, Sarbez!, Shanghai Nobby’s, Jimmy Hula’s, The Lightner Museum, Prohibition Kitchen, and The Waterworks. These free concerts are a staple of the Sing Out Loud Festival and allow visitors to explore the vibrant musical landscape of Florida’s Historic Coast.

There’s no shortage of amazing artists to experience. Pecha Kucha Night with Amy Hendrickson, Colton McKenna, and Zan & Jonathan, Ramona & The Riot and Billy Buchanan & His Rock 'N Soul Revue, and comedians Jake Ricca, Daisy Tackett, Trevor Johnson, Chris Buck. The Local Showcase begins Friday, September 8 and features shows every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through Sunday, October 1. A full listing of concerts and locations is available online.

Sundays are for music with the Gamble Rogers Showcase at the Colonial Oak Music Park. The musical minds behind the annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival curated a selection of local acts to perform underneath the ancient and majestic oaks, featuring artists like Aslyn & the Naysayer, Wild Shiners, and Charlie Robertson. These free concerts take place Sunday, September 10, 17, and 24.

The Lincolnville Porch Fest is a full day of musical performances from the front porches of historic homes in the Lincolnville neighborhood. Twenty-five bands, poets, and comedians perform on five porches on Saturday, September 16 from 12-5pm. Each porch will feature five musical acts, one each hour. The performance porches are JBirney Financial Porch at 158 Oneida Street, Houndstooth Radio Porch at 40 Sanford Street, St. Johns Cultural Council Porch at 145 Washington Street, ToneVendor Porch at 81 King Street, Dog Rose Porch at 77 Bridge Street, and Corner Market Porch at 97 ML King Avenue. The event is free and open to the public. A St. Augustine staple since 2017, this is the first year the festival is joining the Sing Out Loud line-up of events. Settled by newly freed slaves after the Civil War and named for President Lincoln, the Lincolnville Historic District neighborhood played a pivotal role in the nation’s Civil Rights movement. Porch venues can be found online.

Artisan shopping and live music take center stage at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre Night Market on Tuesday, September 19. This event is free and open to all ages. The Night Market is from 5-9pm and features live music, handmade arts and crafts, goods, and local food trucks. The market welcomes Skin & Bonz, a fast-paced program that blends music with traditional dance. Their music is a cross between old-time string band and bluegrass, with a splash of American folk and original songs. Sing along and join in an easily-taught square dance or reel. Featuring Tommy Bledsoe, Joy D’Elia, and Kathe O’Donnelly, Skin & Bonz is a joyous blend of banjo, guitar, and bass. Find out more about this free event.

On Friday, September 22, the Francis Field Showcase will welcome headliners The Black Keys, a Grammy Award-winning American rock duo formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001, consisting of bandmembers Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney. The Black Keys are known for songs like “Tighten Up,” “Lonely Boy,” “Howlin’ for You,” and “Fever.” Other performers for that night include indie rock band Lord Huron, English singer-songwriter Yola, and country music duo War Hippies. Early-entry gates open at 3:30pm on Friday, with general entry beginning at 4pm. The show starts at 5:20pm.

On Saturday, September 23, the Francis Field Showcase will welcome headliners Mumford & Sons, a British folk-rock band founded in London in 2007, consisting of members Marcus Mumford, Ted Dwayne, and Ben Lovett. Mumford & Sons are known for tunes like “I Will Wait,” “Little Lion Man,” “The Cave,” and “Hopeless Wanderer.” Other musicians that will take the stage on Saturday night include American singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers, blues rock musician Elle King, folk soul-rocker Amos Lee, and Southern songwriter S.G. Goodman. Early-entry gates open at 1:30pm on Saturday, with general entry beginning at 2pm. The show starts at 3:40pm.

Select tickets are still available for the main event, The Francis Field Showcase, which will be held Friday, September 22, and Saturday, September 23, at Francis Field in downtown St. Augustine. One-day General Admission, two-day General Admission (GA) and General Admission+ (GA+) tickets are still available. One-day GA tickets are $125 each for Friday or $155 each for Saturday, two-day GA is $235 each and two-day GA+ for $395 each. Platinum tickets are sold out.

GA tickets include free water refill stations throughout festival grounds, a wide variety of local food options for purchase, full-service bars with beer, wine, and cocktails for purchase, and official band merch, festival merch, and specialty items for purchase. GA+ tickets include the above benefits, as well as the following: early entry into festival grounds, unlimited access to the air-conditioned GA+ Lounge with full bar service featuring beer, wine, and cocktails for purchase; air-conditioned restrooms; festival water bottle and tote; Fast Lane access at all GA bars; and complimentary charging stations. Tickets are available online only.

Free shuttle service from three parking locations will be provided to the Visitor Information Center in downtown St. Augustine. Walking, biking, and shared ride services are also highly encouraged. Satellite parking with a free shuttle is available at the following locations: St. Johns County Health Department at 200 San Sebastian View, the lot at the intersection of US1 and King Street: 198 & 212 W. King St., and the San Marco Lot: 301 San Marco Ave. Times and further details about the satellite lots and shuttle can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions.

Also on Saturday, September 23, an exuberant musical experience with Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, and Keller & the Keels takes place at The Backyard Stage at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Presented in partnership with Relix, this performance benefits the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, Inc. Part bluegrass, part jam band, Yonder Mountain String Band is an American progressive bluegrass group from Nederland, Colorado. Composed of Dave Johnston, Ben Kaufmann, Adam Aijala, and Nick Piccininni, the band has released five studio albums and several live recordings to date. Railroad Earth has captivated audiences for two decades with its blend of progressive bluegrass, folk, rock, country, jazz, Celtic, and other American influences. Keller & the Keels keep live crowds going with its aptly termed “acoustic dance music.” Tickets are $15 and may be purchased online or in person at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre or Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.

Music lovers can expand their collections at the St. Augustine Record Fair. Presented by ToneVendor Records, this free event at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre is one of the area’s largest fairs featuring limited-edition vinyl, 90’s tour posters, vintage rock t-shirts, and even cassette tapes and record players. Additional vendors include screen printing and food trucks. Bears & Lions and Papa Disco provide live entertainment. This family-friendly event is on Sunday, September 24, from 11am-5pm at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.

The St. Augustine Songwriters Festival takes a deep dive into the craft of music and songwriting. Get a peek behind the music as performers allow a look into their creative process and reveal the stories that inspired them. Songwriters include Matt Dragstrem, Rob Williford, and Halfway to Hazard. Presented in partnership with Bozard Ford, these free concerts occur in St. Augustine’s local-favorite live-performance locales: Colonial Oak Music Park, Trade Winds Lounge, and Prohibition Kitchen. Learn the stories behind the music from Friday, September 29 through Sunday, October 1. Check out the full list of performers and venues online.

Central to the festival is the historic City of St. Augustine. Dating to its European discovery in 1565, it is the oldest continuously settled city in the United States. St. Augustine is known for its classic Spanish architecture and pristine beaches. Festival-goers are encouraged to explore the city. The city offers history, pristine beaches, gorgeous state parks, fun nightlife, unique museums, a robust arts scene, a vibrant culinary scene, eco-tourism, and more. The beaches and waterways are perfect for swimming, surfing, paddleboarding, and kayaking. Head north a bit, and world-class golf is right at your fingertips. Find out more at www.floridashistoriccoast.com.

The Sing Out Loud Festival is an annual celebration of live music throughout Florida’s Historic Coast. Over multiple weekends in September, dozens of musical genres and over one hundred local, regional, and national artists play a mix of free and ticketed shows at venues around the area. The festival is produced by St. Johns County Cultural Events, which curates and operates The St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall in partnership with the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council.

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Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida’s Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra Beach, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. For more information, call 1.800.653.2489 or go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com. Check us out on social media Instagram @FloridasHistoricCoast, @ViajaStAugustine, Facebook.com/OfficialStAugustine, Facebook.com/ViajaStAugustine and Twitter @FlHistoricCoast.