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Central Florida Jazz Society Scholarships -
Supporting the Future of Live Jazz
The Central Florida Jazz Society will present its 2026 Scholarship Winner Showcase on Sunday, July 26, 2026, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts in Winter Park.
The annual showcase celebrates recipients of the organization's scholarship program by providing an opportunity for these outstanding young musicians to perform before the public. Featured performers include Daniel Bonnet, Matthew Chacon, Tanner Goulet, Kenneth Orr, Andrew Yuska, and Greg Zabel.
Programs such as the Central Florida Jazz Society Scholarship Competition play an important role in encouraging and supporting Florida's emerging jazz artists while helping develop the next generation of performers, educators, and advocates for the music.
Jazz & Blues Florida applauds the Central Florida Jazz Society for its continuing commitment to jazz education and to providing meaningful performance opportunities for talented student musicians.
Event Information
Scholarship Winner Showcase
Sunday, July 26, 2026
3:00–5:00 p.m.
Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts
460 E. New England Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32789 MAP
Tickets and additional information are available at:
https://centralfloridajazzsociety.com/schedule/scholarship-winner-showcase
Jazz & Blues Florida Education & Community PSA
Source: Central Florida Jazz Society
The inaugural North Central Florida Blues Festival will make its debut on Saturday, September 19, 2026, bringing an all-day celebration of Blues music to Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville.
Presented jointly by the North Central Florida Blues Society (NCFBS) and Heartwood Soundstage, the festival marks a significant milestone for North Central Florida's live music community. Organizers intend for the event to become an annual tradition that celebrates the region's long connection to Blues music while attracting visitors from throughout Florida and beyond.
Unlike many festivals that feature a single performance area, the North Central Florida Blues Festival will utilize two separate stages. Four performances will take place inside Heartwood Soundstage's acclaimed listening room while four additional acts perform on the outdoor stage, allowing audiences to enjoy nearly eight hours of live music.
Doors open at 2:00 p.m., music begins at 3:00 p.m., and performances continue through approximately 10:45 p.m.
The festival presents an impressive blend of nationally recognized performers alongside outstanding Florida Blues artists.
Eight-time Blues Music Award winner Doug MacLeod headlines the festival. A two-time 2026 Blues Music Award nominee for Acoustic Artist of the Year and Acoustic Album of the Year, MacLeod is internationally respected for his storytelling, soulful vocals, and masterful guitar work. His songs have been recorded by artists including Albert King, Albert Collins, Joe Louis Walker, and Eva Cassidy.
Georgia-based singer, songwriter and guitarist E.G. Kight brings more than two decades of acclaimed roots music performances to Gainesville. Known for her distinctive Southern Blues style, Kight has earned 21 industry award nominations and has had songs recorded by Koko Taylor, Dorothy Moore, Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women, and Ann Rabson & Bob Margolin.
Florida guitarist Doug Deming, now based in Bradenton after beginning his career in Detroit, is widely recognized for his tasteful traditional Blues guitar playing and original songwriting. Leading The Jewel Tones, Deming combines influences from T-Bone Walker, Charlie Christian, Luther Tucker, and Robert Jr. Lockwood while maintaining his own distinctive style.
Born Martha Booker in Sunflower, Mississippi, Sheba the Mississippi Queen spent part of her youth working agricultural fields in South Florida after moving with her family from Mississippi. Following years performing in New York and later Miami, she returned to her Blues roots, eventually forming Sheba the Mississippi Queen & the Bluesmen. The band reached the semifinals of the International Blues Challenge in 2019.
The Josh Miller Blues Revue is dedicated to authentic Chicago Blues traditions. Their performances pay tribute to the legendary artists who defined the genre while presenting the music with the spirit, energy, and respect that made Chicago Blues famous.
North Florida favorites JC & the Backscratchers perform classic Chicago-style Blues spanning the 1940s through today. Led by harmonica player JC "Chris" Balding, the band combines original music with selections associated with Junior Wells, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, James Harman, Gary Primich, and others.
Five-time Florida Harmonica Champion JW Gilmore has spent more than two decades entertaining audiences with traditional Blues, swing, and outstanding harmonica playing. Throughout his career he has shared stages with Tabby Thomas, Chris Thomas King, Louisiana Red, Todd Hart, and Joey Gilmore.
Drawing upon nearly three decades in academia, including twenty years at the University of Florida, Dr. Jules' Cool Blues combines historical appreciation of Blues music with traditional Blues performance. Their repertoire includes both classic Blues standards and original compositions performed with unmistakable Blues authenticity.
Both General Admission and VIP tickets are available.
VIP admission includes:
Because listening room seating is limited, VIP tickets are expected to sell first.
"For over 20 years, the North Central Florida Blues Society has presented more than a hundred concerts, showcases and special events," said NCFBS President Rob Richardson. "This is the first time we will present an all-day Blues festival. We expect this will be the beginning of an annual event for the community to enjoy while drawing music lovers to Gainesville and Alachua County."
The festival is funded in part through support from Visit Gainesville, Alachua County and a grant from the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department.
The Community Arts Program (CAP) 2026 Summer Concert Series continues at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 9 with Warren Wolf. Outstanding vibraphone artist Warren Wolf, with Kris Funn (bass) and McClenty Hunter (drums). Celebrate America250, in an explosion of Americana jazz standards and delightful surprises!
“Wolf's playing is precise and evocative!” – All About Jazz
Other concerts include: July 23 – Leonela Alejandro, 2024 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition grand-prize winner! / August 6 – Clayton Stephenson, Van Cliburn International Piano Competition finalist! / August 20 – Kate Kortum, 2025 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition first-prize winner!
Tickets $35-$50, Packages Available / 305.448.7421, ext. 120 / https://communityartsprogram.org/tickets/ ($5 more at the door on concert nights) Free and convenient parking included!
Check out the CAP 2026 Summer Concert Series article in Artburst Miami!
BLUES POWER w/ Gil Anthony (2013 Keeping the Blues Alive Award Winner)
WDIG 1450AM, Dothan, AL: Sundays 6–10pm CDT & Mondays 6–11pm CDT.
Listen live:
https://ice-1.streamhoster.com/lv_wdigradio--broadcast1
First two hours both nights streamed live on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/gil.anthony.3
More info:
gilanthonyblues.com
* Bold and/or linked indicates a Jazz & Blues Florida highlight (client, Florida artist, or close friend of the family).
Gil Anthony is a longtime blues radio host and promoter best known for his syndicated program Blues Power. With a broadcasting career spanning more than four decades, Anthony has played a consistent role in supporting and advancing blues music across the Southeast, particularly in southern Alabama and northern Florida. His Blues Power show, which began in the 1990s and expanded into a multi-hour weekly broadcast, features new releases, artist interviews, and festival promotion, and is streamed to listeners well beyond its regional base. In recognition of his contributions to the music, Anthony received a Keeping the Blues Alive Award from the Blues Foundation, one of the organization’s highest honors for individuals who support and promote the blues. In addition to his on-air work, he has been active as an event MC, festival supporter, and contributor to blues education initiatives, including programs connected to the Wiregrass Blues Festival. His ongoing Blues Power Top 30 charts continue to highlight current recordings receiving airplay and industry attention.
Mailing Address:
Gil Anthony
PO Box 6628
Dothan, AL 36302
Email: bluegil@hotmail.com
Website:
gilanthonyblues.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/gil.anthony.3
Phone: (334) 718-1736