JASPER SMITTY
& CORY HALL
One Generation,
One Acoustic Blues Tradition
JASPER SMITTY & COREY HALL
Sunday, February 15, 2026 | Doors 6:00 PM, Show 7:00 PM
Heartwood Soundstage
Gainesville, Florida
(Indoors, Seated Event)
619 S Main St, Gainesville, FL 32601 | (352) 448-4849
MAP
WEBSITE
The North Central Florida Blues Society is pleased to present two rising blues performers, each under the age of 40, who are making their voices heard while carrying the tradition forward for a new generation of audiences.
Jesse Smith, known professionally as Jasper Smitty, is a North Florida native returning home after spending the past thirteen years immersed in the music-rich environment of New Orleans, Louisiana. In January 2026, Jasper Smitty represented the North Central Florida Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, reaching the semi-finals of this highly regarded international competition.
Smith began performing professionally at the age of 14 and quickly developed a reputation as a versatile and skilled musician. He studied jazz saxophone at the College of Music at Florida State University, where his formal training opened doors to a wide range of professional opportunities. Those connections led to a steady career as a touring and recording artist, working as a session musician, sideman, and bandleader based primarily in New Orleans and New York City.
During his years on the road, Smith absorbed a broad spectrum of musical influences, from traditional blues and jazz to funk, soul, and rhythm and blues, shaping a sound that reflects both deep roots and a contemporary perspective. Now back in North Florida, Jasper Smitty is reconnecting with local audiences, blending the blues foundation that first inspired him with the musical experiences and influences gathered along the way.
Hailing from Florida’s Gulf Coast, singer-songwriter Corey Hall represents a younger generation of American roots musicians drawing from older blues and folk sources while building an original songbook. His music reflects the influence of traditional country-blues and Hill Country grooves—listeners often hear echoes of Mississippi John Hurt and R.L. Burnside—alongside a clear nod to the broader folk tradition that shaped American songwriting in the past century.
Hall’s writing and performance style puts melody, rhythm, and lyric storytelling first. His songs tend to live in that “front porch” space where acoustic guitar drives the arrangement, and the vocal delivery is direct and unforced. In interviews and radio appearances, he has spoken about how he got started, what drew him to folk-blues, and the stories behind original songs including “Orange Peel Hop,” “Away From This,” and “Boy You Gonna Die.”
The North Central Florida Blues Society
is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, cultivation, nurturing, and promotion of blues music. Members enjoy ticket price discounts that can easily offset the cost of membership over the course of a year.
Join at:
https://ncfblues.org
AREA VISITOR & LODGING INFO:
Upcoming NCFBS Show:
Mud Morganfield (Muddy Waters’ eldest son) and
Little Mike & the Tornadoes — Sunday, March 1, 2026.
TICKETS
This program/event is funded in part by a grant from the
The BLUES has HISTORY in
GAINESVILLE!
21 YEARS OF BRINGING THE BEST BLUES
IN THE WORLD TO GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA!
2025
John Németh
Toots Lorriane & The Traffic
The Nighthawks
Rev. Billy C. Wirtz
2024
Sauce Boss Bill Wharton
Doug MacLeod
EG Kight
Cash Box Kings
Kent Burnside
2023
Brandon Santini
Joey Gilmore†
Bridget Kelly Band
Barbara Armbrecht†
Lurrie Bell
The Blues Beatles
Mr. Sipp
John Primer
Little Mike & The Tornadoes
Chris Cain
2022
Biscuit Miller
JP Soars & The Red Hots
Early Times
Mick Kolassa
The Lucky Losers
Sheba the Mississippi Queen
The Nighthawks
&
Rev. Billy C. Wirtz
Terry Hanck & His California Band
2021
Little Jake & the Soul Searchers
Mike Zito
Albert Castiglia
Bridget Kelly Band
Snacks Blues Band
Josh Miller Blues Review
Eric Gales
Reverend Billy C. Wirtz
Pam Taylor & The Flyin' V's
21 Blue Featuring Longineu Parsons
2020
Pam Taylor & The Flyin' V's
Ruth Wyand & The Tribe of One
Doug MacLeod
Rev Shawn Amos
2019
Mac Arnold & Plate Full O' Blues
Vanessa Collier
Little Mike & The Tornadoes
Bridget Kelly Band
George Worthmore Jason Ricci
Shane Dwight
Damon Fowler
Tennessee Redemption
Patti Parks
Toronzo Cannon
Albert Castiglia
Roy Book Binder
2018
Birthday Blues Bash-O-Rama w/ Anthony Gomes, Danielle Nicole & Bridget Kelly Band
BLUEZAPALOOZA: Ghost Town Blues Band & Betty Fox Band & Bridget Kelly Band
Lauren Mitchell
Rev Shawn Amos
21 Blue featuring Longineu Parsons and Ted Shumate
Bill "Sauce Boss" Wharton
Doug MacLeod
2017
Zora Young
Norman Jackson Band
Selwyn Birchwood
Jason Ricci
Gracie Curran & The High Falutin’ Band
Albert Castiglia
Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials
2016
Annika Chambers
Cash Box Kings
Doug MacLeod
Matt Schofield
2015
Mac Arnold & Plate Full O' Blues
Long Tall Deb Feat. Colin John
Jeff Jensen
Samantha Fish
Terry Hanck
Zora Young
Tinsley Ellis
2014
Tas Cru
Selwyn Birchwood
Janiva Magness
Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’Blues
Joe Moss Band
2013
Brandon Santini
Matt Schofield
Nikki Hill
Albert Castiglia
2012
Jimmy Thackery
John Nemeth
Roomful of Blues
2011
Kenny Neal
JP Soars
Victor Wainwright
2010
Tommy Castro
Mike Zito
Watermelon Slim
Nick Moss
John Nemeth
Ana Popovic
2009
Janiva Magness
Duke Robillard
Michael Burks†
2008
Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials
Magic Slim†
Jimmy Thackery
Lurrie Bell
Mighty Lester
Tab Benoit
Nighthawks
2007
Chris Cain
Sean Costello†
Sauce Boss
Bryan Lee
Mark Hummel and the Blues Survivors
2006
Eddie Kirkland†
Gary Primich†
Smokin’ Joe Kubek† & B’Nois King
Debbie Davies
2005
Delta Moon
Little Charlie & the Nightcats
Pat Ramsey† & the Blues Disciples
Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets
~ ~ ~
Distributed by:
JazzBluesFlorida.com
(561) 313-7432
WhatsApp Text Only Please
#JazzBluesFlorida #Jazz #Blues #Clubs #Concerts #Festivals
Making the scene since 2006!
No comments :
Post a Comment