Music on the Mainstage

Live musicians hit the right notes on the Main Stage with sounds ranging from bluegrass to Cajun and blues to jazz and classical.

THE LUBBEN BROTHERS

Triplets and high-energy acoustic musicians from the farmlands of Iowa, The Lubben Brothers specialize in tight vocal harmonies and an eclectic blend of folk instruments involving banjo, mandolin, tin whistle, accordion, hammered dulcimer, and fiddle. Diving into classical music at a young age, their modern songwriting style merges their folk roots with complex pop ideas. The Brothers have soloed at venues ranging from South Florida’s Meyer Amphitheater and Broward Center for the Performing Arts to The Gardens Hockey Arena of Northern Minnesota. Their music has aired on radio stations across the United States, while they have developed a committed, grassroots following in their current state of Florida; as one reviewer put it: "The Lubben Brothers are to Florida as the Lumineers are to Denver, Colorado'' (Maritza Cosano, West Palm Beach Magazine). Music by the Lubben Brothers was chosen as an encore for NPR’s “Live from Here” with Chris Thile and featured in Netflix’s premiere film of the 2021 Christmas season, “Love Hard.” Composers, as well as musicians, the Lubben Brothers, have written multiple musicals and actively record, write, and release new music when not performing on the road.

Website: thelubbenbrothers.com

THE WAVY WINSTONS

Led by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Fred Domulet, The Wavey Winstons are A Florida band that loves feel-good tunes from throughout the decades and original music!

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THE NEW CAHOOTS

The New Cahoots is an acoustic/electric group from Pensacola, Florida. The band, formed in 2020, has written a wide variety of original music from a blend of Folk, Bluegrass and Americana. They have had the pleasure of supporting acts such as Railroad Earth, Town Mountain, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country & Eric Lindell. They have also played multiple sets at Suwannee Roots Revival at Spirit of Suwannee Music Park. Performances include a diverse catalog of originals and covers ranging from traditional bluegrass, folk, jam bands & rock and roll.

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THE KRICKETS

The Krickets are an Americana trio from the Gulf Coast whose music is what Paste Magazine calls "a truly stunning, one-of-a-kind sound." Two-time IMA Song of the Year winner in both Folk and Alt-Country categories, the band's music is genre-bending Americana steeped in their signature folk harmony. The new single Pay No Mind, produced by Rick Hirsh (Wet Willie, Greg Allman Band) features a fresh soul-rock-inspired sound for the band and is due to release 8/31/23.

This latest single follows a 2020 self-produced release, These Games, that premiered in American Songwriter Magazine's Best New Music feature. Prior to that, the band recorded two full-length studio albums, Redbird (2018) in Nashville with Sam Ashworth and Spanish Moss Sirens (2016) with Single Lock Records’ Ben Tanner in Muscle Shoals, AL.

Originally coming together to play a breast cancer benefit, the band is passionate about supporting their namesake, TheCricketFund.org, which provides cancer aid to the uninsured.

Band members are Emily Stuckey (vocals, guitar, percussion), Lauren Spring (vocals, guitar, fiddle), Rachel Grubb (vocals, bass, guitar)

Website: thekrickets.com

BOGUE CHITTO

To paraphrase Ernie K. Doe, all music comes from either Louisiana or Mississippi. We are Bogue Chitto. This name (which means ‘big river’ in the Choctaw language) celebrates the fact that nearly all American music comes from the original Choctaw homeland east of the biggest river around. We play original music in and around all those musical traditions. Raised in Mississippi, living in Bulbancha, John DePriest (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) sings, writes songs, and plays banjo and guitar. Originally hailing from STL, aficionado de dialectos Hispanicos Bobby Matsch plays bass and sings. All the way from Luling, LA, Grammy-nominated studio engineer Mike Harvey plays fiddle, guitar, tapecho, and sings. From down south in New Iberia, urban farmer Carolyn Broussard writes songs, plays washboard, and sings beautifully.

Website: boguechittoband.com

THE ARCADIAN WILD

Led by songwriters Isaac Horn (guitar) and Lincoln Mick (mandolin) alongside Bailey Warren (fiddle), The Arcadian Wild confidently inhabits and explores an intersection of genres, blending the traditional with the contemporary in order to create a unique acoustic sound that is simultaneously unified and diverse. With one foot planted firmly in choral and formal vocal music and the other in progressive folk and bluegrass, the band offers up songs of invitation: calls to come and see, to find refuge and rest, or to journey and wonder.

 Website: thearcadianwild.com

CHUBBY CARRIER & THE BAYOU SWAMP BAND

Roy "Chubby" Carrier is an American zydeco musician. He is the leader of Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band. Carrier's father and grandfather both played zydeco music, and his cousins recorded under the name The Carrier Brothers. He was taught to play accordion by his father, Roy Carrier Sr., and played with his father's band at age 12, first on accordion and then on drums. By age 17, he played drums with Terrance Simien from 1986 until 1989, then formed a group of his own with his brothers Troy and Kevin. Carrier's third album, 1993's Dance All Night, was his biggest success. Carrier has made guest appearances on albums by Tab Benoit – Live: Swampland Jam, Doug Kershaw – Cajun Sweet Home Louisiana, Calvin Owens – Stop Lying in My Face, and Jimmy Thackery – Switching Gears. Carrier's 2010 release Zydeco Junkie won the Grammy in the category Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album.

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ROMAN STREET

Brothers Noah and Josh Thompson put their guitars together to form Roman Street. Since the college years, this brotherly jam session has developed into a Billboard/iTunes charting band that many have dubbed 'the next generation' of Jazz Fusion. Roman Street, named for an old Roman street in the Alps where they studied guitar, is an internationally trained instrumental band specializing in improvisational fusion of Classical, Gypsy, and Contemporary Jazz, Latin, and Nuevo Flamenco. A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today, they keep it simple—the beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing. Whether performing as a guitar duo or with a backing band, Roman Street astounds with music that appeals to fans of many genres.

Website: romanstreet.com

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Instrumental music performances and music study clubs began to appear in Pensacola during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Pensacola Philharmonic Orchestra was first formed in 1926 by German immigrant John W. Borjes, who recognized the need for Pensacola to have an institution of its own that could develop local talent and also provide access to symphonic music for the entire community. Members of this early ensemble included many members of the 20-piece Saenger Theatre Concert Orchestra, among others.

From those early years, the Pensacola Philharmonic Orchestra transitioned through a few name changes. Under the baton of Dr. John Venetozzi in the 1950s, the organization emerged as the Greater Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, its legal name to this day. After a major renovation effort in 1982, the Saenger Theatre became the concert home of the Orchestra while under the direction of Dr. Grier Williams; he led the PSO until 1996. In 1997, the Pensacola Symphony welcomed Peter Rubardt as its new music director. Since that time, Dr. Rubardt has played a central role in increasing the organization’s impact through a wide range of classical, pops, and community engagement programs. In 2003, Rubardt assisted the Orchestra in launching a capital campaign that grew PSO’s endowment, provided percussion equipment, added chamber orchestra concerts, boosted musician compensation, and expanded community engagement opportunities.

Today, the PSO continues to seek ways to fulfill its mission of promoting the well-being of the Greater Pensacola community through excellence in live symphonic music and lifelong learning through engaging musical activities. From the stage, PSO’s goal is to provide the Pensacola community with transformative musical experiences through performances with world-renowned artists. In addition to enlivened performances, PSO’s “Beyond the Stage” program brings musical experiences to the Pensacola community in settings that include schools, retirement communities, healthcare facilities, and galleries.

Website: pensacolasymphony.com

TANYA GALLAGHER

Tanya Gallagher is a Pensacola, Florida native who has been writing songs for nearly two decades, has self-released four albums, and has played shows across the US and Canada. She has recently been making music with local musicians William Howell and Adam Cooper. In January 2024, she will be taking on a new role as the Host and Creative Director of WUWF's monthly flagship show, RadioLive.

Website: tanyagallagher.com | Facebook