Green beer and Irish music abound this weekend in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.
The Bark welcomes a dose of teen angst with American rock band Wheatus on Friday. Quincy is having a porch party with 19 bands playing at historic homes on Saturday. Chris O’Leary, harmonica master and former lead singer of Levon Helm’s Barn Burners, lands at BCC at the Legion on Friday.
Blue Tavern goes green on Saturday with a Irish music all day.
Here’s a roundup of entertaining events around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts online listings and elsewhere.
1. Wheatus brings ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ to The Bark
Bond with the sound of teenage defiance when Wheatus comes to Tallahassee with an all acoustic set of their hits for the “Dirtbags Across America” tour, along with Gabrielle Sterbenz and Love Hut for a show at 8 p.m. Friday at The Bark, 507 All Saints St. Doors open at 8 p.m. and show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 advance, $23 day of show, all ages Visit facebook.com.
Band founder Brendan B. Brown, born in Northport, NY, formed Wheatus in New York City at 22 and went on to play the Mercury Lounge and sign to Columbia Records. After the success of Wheatus’ debut single “Teenage Dirtbag,” Wheatus released five more records before the band’s renaissance would take place after “Teenage Dirtbag” was covered by One Direction.
Now, 20 years since Wheatus released their debut album, Dirtbag is no longer a teenager. In honor of this anniversary, Wheatus released a new and expanded edition of their debut album in December 2023.
2. Chris O’Leary takes ‘Hard Line’ to The Legion
Soulful vocalist, harmonica master and songwriter Chris O’Leary will celebrate the release of his Alligator Records debut album, “The Hard Line,” with a live performance at the Sauls-Bridges American Legion Post 13, 229 Lake Ella Drive, at 8 p.m. Friday, March 15. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of show. Visit bbclegion.com.
The Marine veteran and ex-Federal police officer and former lead singer of Levon Helm’s Barn Burners has walked a hard line from his upstate New York home to stages all over the world. His keenly written songs come directly from his colorful and sometimes harrowing life experiences. Upon release, “The Hard Line” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart.
3. Blue Tavern gets lucky with Irish music
Guitarist Rick Redmond starts the weekend with happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St., followed at 8 p.m. with the Richie Summa Trio. Featuring Richie Summa on guitar, Burt Wolff on bass and Steve Fryson Jr., percussion, the band plays swinging music. $5 cover.
The 3rd Saturday Irish Session from 4-6 p.m. starts the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, which lasts all night. There will be have drink specials and Irish stew for sale. The music lineup includes Aisha Ivey & Paddy League at 7 p.m. and Mèabh’s Mavericks at 9 p.m. It’s free.
4. PorchFest tunes up the music in Quincy
Quincy Main Street presents the 12th Annual Quincy Porchfest Music Festival from noon-6 p.m. Saturday, March 16. Stroll the beautiful historic district and listen to the music of 19 of North Florida’s best groups playing on porches and other venues throughout the downtown district. Enjoy a lunch at one of Quincy’s restaurants, or sweets from several bakeries and ice cream shops.
This year’s artists are Latin Soul Orchestra, Tocamos Mas, Ben Flournoy Trio, Jerry Thigpen Trio, Brett Wellman & Stone Cold Blues, Pharaohs of Funk, Thursday Night Music Club, Hot Mess, Billy Rigsby Band, Reese Cloud Quartet, Deja Blu, Hot Tamale, Del Suggs, The Frank Craig Band, Ronnie Randolph, Rachel Hillman, Anna Wescoat, Chris James, and the Tallahassee Uke Jammers.
Bring pop-up chairs or blankets and check out the the Gadsden Arts Center & Museum and pick up a list of the musicians and a map. While there check out six art exhibits including Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000) who is among the best-known 20th-century African American painters.
Exhibit:Gadsden Arts unveils traveling exhibit by great American artist Jacob Lawrence
5. Hot Tamale heads to Off the Rails Irish Pub
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with melodic Irish ballads and rollicking Irish drinking songs performed by Hot Tamale at the Off the Rails Irish Pub in downtown Havana from 4-7 p.m. Sunday. Acoustic duo Hot Tamale has accumulated a rich repertoire of Irish music which they put on display every St. Patrick’s Day. Hot Tamale also will be entertaining at the Quincy Porchfest from 4 to 5:30 Saturday at the Jimmy Auman House, 219 N. Duval St. The acoustic duo is also teaming with Chris Seepersaud for the monthly event “Seep’s Gumbo Nation” at Blue Tavern from 7:30 to 8:15 Thursday at the Blue Tavern.
Bonus Event: Meet author Jesmyn Ward
Jesmyn Ward is the historic winner — first woman and first Black American — of two National Book Awards for Fiction for “Sing, Unburied, Sing” (2017) and “Salvage the Bones” (2011). The author will give a reading and talk at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Opperman Music Hall as part of Florida State University’s Opening Nights series. Tickets are $50. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu.
Jesmyn Ward received her MFA from the University of Michigan and has received the MacArthur Genius Grant, a Stegner Fellowship, a John and Renee Grisham Writers Residency, the Strauss Living Prize, and the 2022 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. Her newest book “Let Us Descend” was published in October and describes a journey from the rice fields of the Carolinas to the slave markets of New Orleans.
Bonus event: Explore the legend of Tate’s Hell
The Carrabelle History Museum is presenting a special exhibit, “Tate’s Hell, the Legend, Tate’s Hell, the Place” running from March 16 to April 27. The exhibit explores the legend of Tate’s Hell, Cebe Tate’s misadventures, and how Tate’s Hell State Forest go its name.
Featuring wildlife and landscape photos by John Spohrer and Jon Johnson, it also includes the ballad “The Ballad of Tate’s Hell” by Will McLean and a 1983 film, “A Tale of Tate’s Hell,” by the FSU Department of Communications. Operating hours are Wednesdays (noon to 5 p.m.), Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), and Sundays (noon to 5 p.m.). For more information, visit carrabellehistorymuseum.org or contact 850-697-2141.
Bonus event: Art sale at Oven Park
The Ten Artists, Ltd. will be hosting its Big Art Sale at Oven Park, 3205 Thomasville Road, on March 15-16. This popular event, held every other year, will have each artist showing numerous works for sale, with many framed and unframed originals, large and small, as well as prints and cards at all price points.
The “Big Art Sale at Oven Park” opens with a cocktail reception from 6-9 p.m. Friday and continues from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
This group of talented, local female artists are recognized, award winning artists. The current members include- Sherry Allen, Wendy Devarieux, Rosemary Ferguson, Nina Freeman, Rene Lynch, Judy Nable, Pam Talley, Cassie Tucker and Sherry Whitney.
Music venue:The Sound Bar: A family-owned music venue pursues a dream in Tallahassee
OTHER EVENTS
Bard’s Bicentennial Poetry Jam: Southern Shakespeare Company celebrates with The Bard’s Bicentennial Poetry Jam at The Moon, 1105 E. Lafayette St., at noon Saturday. Poets and writers from nearby regions will to share their poetry, network and expand the reach of their work. Poetry lovers and Shakespeare lovers alike will attend the event to hear new and exciting work. Local food trucks, breweries, and vendors such as Midtown Reader and the Tallahassee Writer’s Association will participate.
Blue Tavern: Lessons in Ignorance plays 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, featuring Bronwyn Chelette, Jack Straub, Reo Morris, and others join together for some after-work frivolity, followed at 8 p.m. with Land of the Giant Head for Tuesday is Bluesday. Wednesday marks the Equinox Frolic from 5-7 p.m. with Runaway Biscuits & Hot Pepper Steppers. Celebrate the arrival of spring with music, dance, song and random acts of silliness. Open Mic Night starts at 8 p.m. On Thursday, spend happy hour with songbird Kelly Goddard, followed at 7:30 p.m. with Seep’s Gumbo Nation. $5 cover.
Carrabelle Culture Crawl: A celebration of art, music, history, food, and fun in the heart of downtown Carrabelle from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Saturday, March 16. Live music will fill the streets including Florida folk music, Country and Rock and some favorite oldies. Guests can watch artists capture the beautiful and rustic Carrabelle harbor and even lend a hand at making their own art.
House of Music: Flatpick guitarist David Grier, who studied with Bluegrass legend Bill Monroe, plays at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at House of Music, 1102 S. Monroe St. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of show. Visit houseofmusictally.com.
LeMoyne Arts: 37th Mahaska Whitley Student Exhibition, High School Art & Senior Portfolio Competition continues through March 30, at 125 N. Gadsden St.
The Sound Bar: Lunar Urge, 7 p.m. Friday at the Sound Bar, 1105 W. Tharpe St. Saylor Dollar plays at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Have an event coming up? Email details to limelight@tallahassee.com.
