Arts & Entertainment
Jannus Live's First Friday Fandango: Good Times, Local Tunes and Dancing
The downtown courtyard played host to a steady stream of music lovers for St. Pete's monthly First Friday event.
In case you've been living under a rock or perhaps you're just new in town, First Friday in downtown St. Petersburg is poppin' every month.
Each first Friday has its own twist, but one thing is consistent: music.
Whether it's the stage on the blocked off Central Avenue or the courtyard at Jannus, live music is part of the fabric and culture of First Fridays.
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First Friday Fandango at Jannus Live this week was a good example of that.
First up was a beachy-keen foursome, better known as Resinated. The group boasts a slew of loyal followers and a passion for the growth of music in the 727. Lead singer, Kenny Mullins, says his favorite spot to be on any First Friday is at Jannus Live.
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"It's not about me and it's not about Resinated" explained Mullins. "It's about everyone uniting and local bands coming together that are all just trying to make it."
After Resinated nursed the setting sun, Green Sunshine of Tampa was on deck. An unclassified blend of hip hop, soul and funk are what these guys (and gal) are all about. Green Sunshine is made up of seven musicians, all of whom play a crucial role in the overall scheme.
Positive vibes and infectiously groovy tunes were the aftermath of the evening as a whole.
Suenalo was the final act to take the Jannus stage. A decent size crowd had formed to cheer on the Miami-bred Latin-funk group. The band describes its sound as "the essence and sound of Miami."
After rocking the bodies of 99 percent of the Jannus courtyard, the set was retired and all ended well in the world of local music.
Matt Hillman of St. Petersburg was among the satisfied fans. Hillman moved to St. Pete about two years ago from Atlanta. He says the local music scene up there is thriving, but down here you have to "dig" a little bit more.
"Once you start learning where to go there's a lot of great artists and great music in this area" said Hillman. "You have to dig, but it's here."
The free admission is always a plus for the immense amount of foot traffic that tends to frequent the block, especially on the first Friday of every month.
