October brings blues and classic rock with cooler weather

Battle of the blues bands Oct. 7

Beale Street, Memphis Tenn. The Blues Society of Northwest Florida presents the Battle of the Blues Bands Oct. 7 at The Gutter Lounge in Pensacola. The musical showdown will feature the area's best blues performers from 3 to 11 p.m. That's eight hours worth of premiere entertainment for a $2 cover charge. The winners will go on to represent the society at the 2007 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 1 through 3. For more information contact Reese Howard by phone at 850-484- 2692 or by email: reese.blues@cox.net.

Baytowne Pops!

Join The Village of Baytowne Wharf for the first Pops concert of the new fall season on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. Sit out under the stars and enjoy the festive sounds of Sinfonia, led by Maestro Demetrius Fuller. This unique program is a part of Autumn Tides, a series of events held within the South Walton communities. Wednesday Night Concert Series at the Village of Baytowne Wharf

Enjoy the continuation of the Wednesday Night Concert Series every Wednesday night throughout the month of October at its new time from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Village Events Plaza. The music will get you up and dancing with genres ranging from pop/rock to blues to swing.

Bracewell Blues on the Beach

The Blues on the Beach concert series continues in October with an exciting line up of bands playing every Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. Concerts are provided by the Santa Rosa Island Authority.

Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to the pavilion area. No pets are allowed and glass is prohibited.

The October line up includes: Wildwood, Oct. 10 After Hours, Oct. 17 Mass Konfuzion, Oct. 24

Krosstown Oct. 31

"We don't want the crowd watching. We want them to bring their dancing shoes," said W. A. "Buck" Lee, Santa Rosa Island Authority general manager, when asked about the concert series.

For more information about the free entertainment and the latest updates, call the Pensacola Beach Visitor Information Center at (850) 932-1500.

Wildwood Returns

Wildwood first churned up Pensacola Beach in the mid '70s and early '80s. Now they are back together, bringing vivid recollections of a fun time featuring rock and roll and other favorite hits. They invite the whole family to join them at Blues on the Beach from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at the Gulfside Pavilion.

Seals Brothers It's been 30 years since Wildwood hit the Pensacola music scene. After a lengthy break, they have managed to find a way back together, almost person by person, over the last year. Original drummer, Greg Shepard, passed away several years ago. He is very much missed. Good friend and drummer/ percussionist Freddy Esposito has filled those shoes admirably and with true Wildwood spunk. Now they are doing it again, bringing you a fabulous good time.

Outdoor music and art festival Oct. 14 & 15

Come celebrate the human spirit at the Greater Good Music, Art, and Children's Festival, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 14 and 15 in Davisville, Florida, just south of Atmore, Alabama. Enjoy children's activities, art vendor booths, and live music by Reed Waddle, Dubconscious, Carey Colvin, Dread Clampitt, David A. Alberding, and more. For more information, go to greatergoodmusicandart.com or call 850-438-3435. This festival benefits the Leaning Post Ranch. Help us help them and buy your tickets now. Special VIP tickets are available. Buy tickets at greatergoodmusicandart.com or call 850-438-3435.

Loncar Radio Live at Baytowne Wharf Oct. 18

Join us for out newest event experience, Radio Live at Baytowne Wharf. The concert series, in partnership with WUWF, will take place every third Wednesday of each month with the first performances to be broadcast Oct. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. Each month, three separate artists will perform their original works and then perform collectively to close-out the program. The concert series will be broadcast live on WUWF 88.1FM from the Village Events Plaza.

Lorna Bracewell at PJC Oct. 19

Pensacola Junior College presents singer Lorna Bracewell 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio as part of the Coffeehouse Series.

Tickets cost $2.

Heat Beat magazine calls Bracewell's performance "an aggressive, defiant, acoustic romp." The spirited artist has impressed audiences across the United States and Europe and with her aggressive guitar playing and edgy vocal sound for years.

Her resume reads like that of someone twice her age. She has performed more than 700 concerts, from the smallest coffeehouses to the most prestigious concert halls; recorded and released four critically acclaimed albums of original music on her own label, Braced Well Records; shared stages with artists such as Amy Grant, Colin Hay and Dar Williams; and she has rocked right alongside Anne a n d Nancy Wilson of the classic rock band Heart.

Purchase tickets at the Lyceum box office in the Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium, 1000 College Blvd. The Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio is located next to WSRE, Building 23.

For more information, call 850-484-1847.

Local show with a cause Oct. 21

One Sun Productions presents the Cultural Evolution Concert Series Oct. 21 at the Gutter Lounge in Pensacola. The event Features live entertainment and guest speakers of social justice, environmental, and political organizations. Entertainers include SkyHi - a seven-piece funk band from Nashville, Acoustifunk of Pensacola, Panama City's Jamal Steele, and Navarre's DJ Shaggy. Guest speakers include Escambia County Green Party, EarthGuard Media and more.

Classic rock legends at OWC Oct. 27

Relive the legendary songs that became a soundtrack for a whole generation and enjoy an unforgettable evening under the stars at the OWC Amphitheater with a concert by Jim Seals of "Seals & Crofts" and Dan Seals of "England Dan & John Ford Coley" on October 27 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are now on sale for $20 reserved seating and $15 open seating.

The brothers reunite to perform some of their timeless hits in a show that has wowed audiences since the brothers joined forces in 2002 at the famed Grand Ole Opry.

Tickets are now on sale for $20 reserved seating and $15 open seating.

Jim Seals, as part of the 1970's rock duo "Seals & Crofts", enjoyed a string of five gold albums for Warner Bros. from 1972 to 1976 in addition to a greatest hits compilation that reached double platinum status. His brother, Dan Seals, of " England Dan & John Ford Coley", also recorded eleven #1 country hits as solo artist in the 1980s.

Tickets for the Seals and Seals concert are now on sale through the box office at The Arts Center at Okaloosa- Walton College in Niceville , Florida at (850) 729-6000, toll free at 1-888-838-ARTS (2787) or may be purchased on-line at www.owc.edu/arts.

'Viva Motzart' Oct. 28

Both the Choral Society of Pensacola and the Gulf Coast Chorale will open their 2006- 2007 seasons with concerts celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The Choral Society of Pensacola presents "Viva Mozart!" on Saturday, October 28th, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. in East Brent Baptist Church, 4801 N. Davis Hwy.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, please call the Choral Society of Pensacola at 850-484-1806.

Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra performs Oct. 28

For the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra's 20th season opening concert on Oct. 28, guitar virtuoso Miroslav Loncar will perform the famous "Concierto de Aranjuez" by Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo.

As solo guitarist, Loncar has performed with numerous

symphonies, chamber orchestras and jazz ensembles worldwide and across the United States. As a chamber musician, his rapturous classical guitar has thrilled audiences throughout Europe and the United States in the Klasinc and Loncar Guitar Duo and the Trio Bolero. He has released four recordings, including a solo album, and has authored two books of original works for guitar.

The concert will also feature Rossini's "Overture to L'Italiana in Algeri", an energetic and sparkling

overture

that highlights the principal oboe. For tickets, contact the Arts Center Box Office, at (850) 729-6000 or online at www.owc.edu/arts.