ELLENTON – Several Anna Maria Island bands and musicians will participate in the Rock N’ The Sand music festival and hurricane relief fundraiser at Whiskey Joe’s in Ellenton on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The funds raised will be donated to The Center of Anna Maria Island’s Rock N’ Support hurricane relief grant program.
“100% of the proceeds will go to Island employees who lost their income due to hurricanes Helene and/or Milton. Every penny raised will be donated to The Center of Anna Maria for disbursement to Island employees,” according to the Rock N’ The Sand website.
The musical roster includes Jah Movement, 301 Travelers, Concrete Edgar, Rob Hamm, Black Thorn Rose, Luke Andrews, Cabana Dogs, Dos Macs, Steve Paradis, Nauti Girl Band, Tommy B. and Nobody’s Fool.
Tickets can be purchased at the eventbrite website and also on the day of the event. General admission tickets are $25, VIP tickets are $100 and non-attendees can also make a $25 donation to support the cause. Whiskey Joe’s is located at 5313 19th St. E. in Ellenton and discounts will be given to their patrons who also wish to enter the festival.
The event was organized by Beach Dogs Island Essentials owner Patty Nazarre, Island Marketing owner Amy McCloskey-Tobin and Cabana Dogs lead guitarist and singer Jimmy Camastro, who organized the live music. Bowes Imaging Center, Time Saver Wine & Spirits, Beach Dogs Island Essentials, Island Marketing and the Cabana Dogs are sponsoring the event.
“We’re more than three months out from the hurricanes, but there’s still a lot of people hurting,” Nazarre said. “Hopefully, we’ll make some money for them. I have a lot of friends that are musicians. I love frequenting the venues. I know a lot of the bartenders and servers on the Island and some are still living in hotels. Whiskey Joe’s wanted to help. They’re donating the VIP food and drinks and donating a portion of the food sales to the cause.”
Tobin said, “A lot of the musicians playing the event were hurt by the hurricane themselves. This is islanders helping islanders. None of us are getting a penny and Bowes Imaging is helping a lot.”
Camastro wrote a song called “Anna Maria” and a musician friend suggested he release the song for sale to help raise money for local hurricane victims. That suggestion helped inspire the Rock N’ The Sand fundraiser and the wheels were set in motion.
“I love Anna Maria Island and I play out there all the time. We lost a lot of gigs and had to find gigs off the Island. So did a lot of other musicians and bands,” Camastro said.
Grant applications
Primarily funded by the proceeds from the recent Lynyrd Skynyrd concert in Palmetto, the Rock N’ Support program has already provided $250-$500 grants to more than 628 applicants, totaling more than $293,500.
The grants are available to Anna Maria Island and Cortez hospitality and tourism industry employees financially impacted by the hurricanes. Regarding the Rock N’ The Sand fundraiser, Center Executive Director Chris Culhane said the grant program might be expanded to include musicians and retail employees too, but that remains to be determined. To submit a grant application, visit The Center’s Rock ‘N’ Support web page.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The application period for hospitality and tourism industry employees seeking $250-$500 hurricane relief grants opened on Nov. 14.
On Nov. 13, The Center of Anna Maria Island released a three-page information sheet that details the application process and eligibility requirements for the grants available to hurricane-impacted hospitality and tourism industry employees in Cortez, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and the Manatee County portion of Longboat Key.
Rock ‘N’ Support hurricane relief grants applications can be submitted online at The Center website.
The hurricane relief funds were generated by the Rock ‘N’ Support concert at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto on Nov. 15 with southern rock legend Lynyrd Skynyrd headlining the show and Marcus King as the opening act. All of the Rock ‘N’ Support concert proceeds will benefit hurricane-impacted hospitality and tourism employees.
Rock ‘N’ Support T-shirt sales were part of the fundraising efforts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The grants are available to hospitality and tourism industry employees who were displaced by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton and/or experienced lost wages, evacuation expenses, damage to their home or damage to their belongings.
Eligible employees must be employed at a business located in one of the following zip codes: 34215 (Cortez), 34216 (Anna Maria), 34217 (Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach), 34218 (Bradenton Beach) or the Manatee County portion of 34228 (Longboat Key). To be eligible, an employee had to be employed at a business located in one of those zip codes for six months prior to Sept. 26 and hired on or before March 26.
Full-time employees who averaged more than 25 hours per week are eligible for a $500 grant. Part-time employees who averaged less than 25 hours per week are eligible for a $250 grant. The full-time/part-time determinations will be based on the average number of hours worked during the four weeks prior to Sept. 26.
The application form includes basic questions regarding the employee’s hire date, how their employment was impacted by the hurricanes and what hardships the hurricane-related employment interruptions caused. Applicants will also be asked to upload photos or copies of their driver’s license or valid ID and copies of their pay stubs for the four weeks prior to Sept. 26.
The list of eligible food service employees includes cooks, servers, bartenders, dishwashers, hostesses, hosts and bussers. The list of eligible hotel employees includes front desk, housekeeping, maintenance, concierge and valet parking personnel. The list of eligible event industry personnel includes caterers, salespeople and operations personnel. Tour operators, including charter boat captains, watersports guides and rental support staff, are also eligible for the grants.
Applications will be reviewed in the order received. Incomplete applications will be declined and can be resubmitted. Applicants will be notified by email when their application is approved or denied.
Checks will be mailed to the address listed on the application or they can be picked up in person at the Shuckin’ Good Cause office at 6688 Cortez Road W. in Bradenton.
The grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for as long as the Rock ‘N’ Support funds are available. The grant program will end when the funds are exhausted. Applying for a grant does not guarantee receiving a grant and applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.
PALMETTO – Lynyrd Skynyrd honored and celebrated their southern rock legacy and their deceased band members while barnstorming the Bradenton Area Convention Center on Friday night as part of the Rock ‘N’ Support hurricane relief benefit concert.
Proceeds from the concert that also featured opening act Marcus King will be used to give $250-$500 grants to hurricane-impacted hospitality and tourism industry employees in Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, Cortez and Longboat Key. The concert was organized by The Center of Anna Maria Island, the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and was sponsored by the Manatee County Tourist Development Council and the board of county commissioners.
Rickey Medlock and Johnny Van Zant led Lynyrd Skynyrd through a hit-filled set at the Bradenton Area Convention Center. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Led by lead singer Johnny Van Zant and the three-guitar onslaught of Rickey Medlock, Mark Matejka and Damon Johnson, the band joyously ripped through a hit-laden 13-song set after taking the stage to a recording of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”
Mark Matejka carries on the Lynyrd Skynyrd tradition of great guitar players. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Van Zant is the younger brother of original Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman Ronnie Van Zant, who died in a 1977 plane crash, along with guitarist Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines and three others. Keyboardist Peter Keys, bassist Keith Christopher, drummer Michael Cartellone and backing vocalists Carol Chase and Stacy Michelle round out the highly-talented, stellar-sounding lineup that admirably carries on the legacy of the original band formed in Jacksonville.
Michael Cartellone lays down the southern rock backbeats. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The band opened with “Working for MCA,” a song written about the original lineup’s working relationship with the MCA record label, followed by “Skynyrd Nation,” a Van Zant/Medlock composition from the band’s 2009 “God & Guns” album.
The band performed the song “Skynyrd Nation.” – Joe Hendricks | Sun
They then launched into “What’s Your Name,” from the Street Survivors album released three days before the fatal plane crash. When the song ended, Van Zant said, “Good evening, Good evening. How you doing Florida?”
He then explained the band’s presence that evening after ending their latest tour in late September.
“Our manager called me up and said ‘Hey Johnny, how about helping out south Florida? He said we can go play a show and help out some people. God bless you guys. I’m a Floridian. I love our state. Let’s all have a good time.”
The band then launched into “That Smell,” a 1977 song about some of the original band members’ struggles with alcohol and drugs.
After “Down South Jukin’” and the cautionary handgun tale, “Saturday Night Special,” the band paused before playing another crowd-favorite, “The Ballad of Curtis Loew.”
Johnny Van Zant proudly sings the songs his older brother Ronnie made famous. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Van Zant made a toast and thanked the audience for keeping Lynyrd Skynyrd’s music around for all these years. After asking how many diehard Lynyrd Skynyrd fans were in the house, and encouraging everyone to sing along, Van Zant dedicated “The Ballad of Curtis Loew” to Shorty Medlock (Rickey Medlock’s musical grandfather) and the fictional character Curtis Loew who represents some of the musicians Ronnie Van Zant grew up around in Jacksonville.
The band then dedicated “Tuesday’s Gone” to Gary Rossington, the lead guitarist who died in 2023 as the last member left over from the classic lineup. A collage of Rossington photos played on the video screen as the band played on.
Peter Keys excels as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s keyboard player.
Before “Simple Man,” Van Zant made an apparent reference to the recent presidential election and said, “Do you guys still believe in America now?” which prompted loud applause from many in the audience.
He then dedicated “Simple Man” to the first responders, doctors, nurses and military personnel and asked the audience to light up the room up with their cell phones as the song was played.
The current version of Lynyrd Skynyrd proudly carries on the legendary band’s musical legacy. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Gimme Three Steps” came next, followed by “Call Me The Breeze,” with Marcus King joining in on electric guitar. The main set ended with a rousing version of “Sweet Home Alabama” and after a short pause the band returned for a much-anticipated “Free Bird” encore.
The band performed the end of “Free Bird” with a vocal recording on original Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The song began with a short clip from an old Ronnie Van Zant interview. During the song, a candlelit list of former and deceased band members appeared on the screen. Midway through the song, Van Zant placed a black hat on his flag-draped mic stand and walked off stage as the band continued playing with a recording and video footage of Ronnie Van Zant singing the final portion of the song that ended with its classic, guitar-driven, up-tempo musical outro.
Performing as a solo acoustic act, Marcus King’s well-received opening set included several of his original songs and a number of crowd-pleasing cover songs that included Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee,” The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Heard It In a Love Song,” a gorgeous rendition of the soul classic, “When a Man Loves a Woman,” and a set closing, sing-along version of The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See.”
Marcus King mixed in some well known cover songs with his own poignant originals. – Joe Hendricks | SunMarcus King performed an excellent opening set for the Rock ‘N’ Support concert. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After King’s set, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione addressed the crowd.
BACVB Executive Director Elliott Falcione expressed his appreciation for those who helped organize the benefit concert. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“This concert was literally planned three weeks ago. The band scrambled to be here tonight,” he said before thanking Center Executive Director Chris Culhane, John and Amanda Horne from the Anna Maria Oyster Bar and the Shuckin’ Good Cause hospitality initiative, The Shriners and several others who assisted with the concert. He also noted the concert was being produced by Pittsburgh native, legendary Pittsburgh music promoter and producer Rich Engler.
To apply for a concert-supported hurricane relief grant, visit The Center website.
PALMETTO – Legendary southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd is coming to Palmetto to assist local hospitality workers impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton. And they’re bringing blues, rock and southern-soul influenced singer/lead guitarist Marcus King with them as the opening act.
The Rock ‘N’ Support Bradenton Gulf Islands Hurricane Relief Concert will take place on Friday, Nov. 15 at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto. Tickets go on sale on Monday, Oct. 28 at noon, with ticket prices ranging from $75 to $500. The $500 VIP tickets include exclusive access to a meet-and-greet party with the band, including a commemorative photo opportunity and prime seating in the first two rows.
Hosted by The Center of Anna Maria Island and supported by the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC), 100% of the proceeds from the Rock ‘N’ Support benefit concert will support Gulf Island hospitality workers who’ve been displaced due to the recent impacts of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.
All proceeds from the Rock ‘N’ Support concert will benefit two local non-profit organizations: Shuckin’ Good Cause and The Center of Anna Maria Island’s Hurricane Relief Fund. Displaced hospitality workers will then be able to apply for grant assistance through the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.
The doors will open at 7 p.m., with King taking the stage at 8 p.m. and Lynyrd Skynyrd hitting the stage at 9:30 p.m. The convention center is located at One Haben Blvd. in Palmetto.
Lynyrd Skynyrd is coming to the aid of local hospitality workers. – Submitted
In the concert press released posted at The Center of Anna Maria Island website, Lynyrd Skynyrd lead singer Johnny Van Zant said, “When we got the call, we were happy to jump on board. The band is a Florida band and our manager lives in Sarasota County as well. So, we have family, friends and many fans affected by these storms. If we can raise some money for those in need and also take people away for a night of great music, then hopefully that is a ‘win-win’ and brings a little comfort to the community, then, Let’s Go!”
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the band’s critically acclaimed debut album, the current Lynyrd Skynyrd line-up features Van Zant, Rickey Medlocke (Blackfoot), Damon Johnson, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone (Damn Yankees), Keith Christopher, Peter Keys, Carol Chase and Stacy Michelle.
“It’s about the legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd, what it stands for, what the fans are all about. There’s nothing like getting out there playing a great show with Skynyrd and seeing people love this music,” Van Zant said in the press release.
Marcus King is building his own musical legend. – Submitted
Regarding King, the press release says, “Marcus King faces heartache, addiction and mental health head-on in his music. Pain quakes below the vibrato of his voice and his delivery weighs heavy with booze-drenched regrets and mistakes in lonely hotels.”
