Cedric Wilson spent years on the wrong side of the law, but now owns a promotional business in North Lakeland and directs music videos, including a new version of local rapper Stephon’s “Ducking Grady” that features appearances by Polk County’s sheriff. Judd tells Bay News 9 he agreed to appear in the video because “it’s the right thing to do” and will strengthen ties between law enforcement and the community.
We’re not sure how much of the music will be live, but one of the more interesting events this weekend is a free, family-friendly “Down the Rabbit Hole” performing arts festival at Munn Park on Saturday from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Performers include singer-songwriter Courtney Plummer and several local dance troupes, as well as roaming actors dressed as characters from Tim Burton movies. Also: food trucks and other vendors.
Also, Creative Loafing says it’s worth driving from Tampa to Lakeland Friday night to hear Jeremy & the Clones, Clang! and The Welzeins at Hillcrest Coffee. So it’s probably really worth it to drive, bike or walk from wherever you are in Lakeland. Keep scrolling for our updated live music calendar. More
Showcase time: “Universal Language” at LkldLive 7 p.m. tonight presents hop-hop and spoken word artists Black Boi, AJA Lorraine, Pryderawk, Rook Rudered and Bub Bizzle. Indie bands are the focus Saturday night at Union Hall when Mister Handsome celebrates the release of their single, “Terrible Things,” supported by appearances from The Drain Outs, 48 States Away and Viewers Like You. Keep scrolling for our updated music calendar: More
DINING: Restaurant critic Eric Pera graces downtown’s Garden Bistro with three stars each for food and service and four stars for ambience, likely because of the commanding view of Lake Mirror from its covered patio. The airy lunch spot has added an evening light bites menu Tuesdays through Fridays for sunset al fresco noshing. Facebook: Garden Bistro | Garden Bistro at Night
ART: Evolve Arts & Music Festival from 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday at ART/ifact Studios aims to bring “awareness to art in all shapes, sizes and forms.” (The article isn’t online yet. We’ll add a link once it’s posted.) Facebook
Lakeland’s Florida Dance Theatre joins with Casselberry’s Emotions Dance to present “The Hope Movement” performances aimed at raising awareness of cancer and benefitting Orlando Health’s UF Health Cancer Center. Two shows take place this weekend in Orlando, and a spring performance is planned in Lakeland | Learn more, get tickets
It’s a fine time in Lakeland for diverse musical experiences. Coming up: intricate acoustic guitar interplay, Sunday afternoon punk rock, a four-handed approach to piano classics, and a new jazz series. Keep scrolling for more info and these and our updated live music calendar: More
Galaxy Bar Lakeland, opening soon in north Lakeland, aims to maintain a nostalgic dive-bar aesthetic as the former Johnny G’s on U.S. 98 North transforms into an arcade bar. With popular vintage games from the 1980s and ’90s, like Donkey Kong, Tetris and the original Ninja Turtles, “It’s going to feel like you’re in a friend’s basement playing video games,” owner Megan Lewman said. More
Carol Erkes didn’t imagine she would go from being a dancer to an impresario, managing an arts organization instead of creating art. “I never had any intention of getting to where we are today. It snowballed,” she said.
Erkes retired in June as the executive and artistic director of Florida Dance Theatre, the professional dance company she founded in 1993 as a ballet school. More
I asked millennial music maven Megan about which local shows we should highlight this weekend. I’m going to go with her text response and add some hyperlinks. The music calendar (newly updated by Megan) follows. More
It hasn’t been long since a run-down house was demolished along an alley in Dixieland. Developer Gregory Fancelli plans to place some two-story apartments there eventually. But for now, it’s home to a 30-foot long dragon, Dixieland’s newest resident. More
