One of my favorite parts of the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World is the Garden Rocks Concert Series, and most of the headlining acts have been announced.
The festival will run March 2 – July 4, 2022, and this year, national and international headliners will take the stage Friday through Monday, and local acts will entertain Tuesday through Thursday.
We’re still a few months off from the start of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, but Walt Disney World has released the line-up for this year’s Eat to the Beat concert series.
This year is the 20th anniversary of the festival, and the line-up is a great mix of 80s and 90s superstars. There are a lot of returning favorites, as well as new ones like Tiffany, Everclear, Maxi Priest, and Chaka Khan.
Here’s some of our picks for shows not to miss at Plaza Live for April 2012:
April 6 – Pink Martini – $28.50 and up
From jazz to classical to pop and more, Pink Martini loves to explore the boundaries of music. They’ve collaborated with a roster that includes such diverse talent as Carol Channing and DJ DIMItri from Paris, and it’s not unusual to see more than a dozen musicians onstage at any point in time. They’ve been known to sell out Carnegie Hall, so here’s your chance to see them in a more intimate venue.
April 11 – Tower of Power – $26.50 and up
They formed in Oakland, California, in 1968, and spent the early 70s releasing a string of hits. They’ve also performed on hits from the likes of Huey Lewis, Rod Stewart, Smokey Robinson and David Sanborn. If you like classic soul and R&B, this is the show to catch.
April 13 – Jimmie Vaughan – $20 advance/$22 day of
Vaughan is a well respected and well loved bluesman, who, on his own and as a member of bands like the Fabulous Thunderbirds, has recorded a legacy of great music. On his newest release, Blues, Ballads and Favorites, Vaughan has covered tunes he loves that were written by others. It’s his first CD in nearly nine years and he says, ““I just wanted to do these songs and that was it, really. And like all of my albums this one is 100% totally selfish. I want people to like what I do but at the same time I have this strong feeling that if I don’t like it, I can’t expect them to.”
April 20 – Rick Springfield – $45 and up
Rick Springfield is a multi-hyphen entertainer whose resume includes actor and author. But music has always been his first love and he has a string of hits to prove it. Songs such as “Jessie’s Girl” and “I’ve Done Everything for You” are still radio staples, even more than 30 years after their release. Don’t miss this chance to see Rick perform live – he always puts on a great show.
April 27 – Chris Burns – $15 gen admission/$20 admission + CD
This show is a CD release party for Orlando’s own Chris Burns. This singer-songwriter has spent the last two years writing and recording his newest release, Out of the Well, so come on out and celebrate its release. $20 preferred tickets even get you a copy of the CD – that’s a deal!
For more information on these and other upcoming shows, visit plazaliveorlando.com. Plaza Live is located at 425 N. Bumby Ave. in Orlando.
Every month, the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando hosts a live concert called Velvet Sessions. It’s a 21 and over event that features classic rock and pop artists performing in an intimate club-like atmosphere.
For September 2011, the performer is Rick Springfield, who had a string of hit singles in the 1980s including “Jessie’s Girl” and “Don’t Talk to Strangers.”
This month’s Velvet Sessions takes place on September 29, 2011.
Tickets are $45 in advance online or $50 at the door. This not only gets you in the door, but free specialty drinks, finger foods and warm-up tunes from 6:30 pm until show time. Complimentary valet parking is also included.
For $70, you can upgrade to VIP, which in addition to the above perks, gives you access to a special viewing area with a private bar serving those free specialty drinks all night.
Here’s a video of one of his hit tunes to prepare you for the show:
httpv://youtu.be/h0zwYNPPD2g
Downtown Orlando will be buzzing with the sounds of not one, but two outdoor concerts this weekend…and both of them are completely free.
First up on Saturday, June 11, 2011, radio station Star 94.5 will present the “Old School Block Party” featuring a concert by 80s hitmakers Bell Biv DeVoe.
The trio branched off from the hit vocal group New Edition, and went on to have several hits, including “Poison” and “Do Me.”
The event starts at 4pm, and will be hosted by Tom Joyner. Food and drink will be available for purchase. This event takes place in front of City Hall at 400 S. Orange Ave.
Then on Sunday, June 12, 2011, Rick Springfield will be rocking downtown as part of the Downtown Concert Series sponsored by radio station WMMO.
Springfield has had many hits in his lengthy career, including “Jessie’s Girl” and “I’ve Done Everything for You.” He’s also branched out into acting, with recent roles on “Californication” and “Hawaii 5-0,” and his best-selling memoir, “Late, Late at Night” just went into paperback.
The concert starts at 4pm in front of the brand new Amway Center.