How American-Roots Singer, Songwriter and Guitarist Sunny War Writes Her Songs

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Welcome to Songwriting School, where we talk to musicians about how they write their songs. Emerging from a broad spectrum of musical influences and styles, Nashville-born singer, songwriter and guitarist Sunny War blends folk music traditions with punk rock. Her latest album, 2023’s Anarchist Gospel, earned wide critical praise — Rolling Stone, Spin and Mojo named it one of the …

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Aja Monet’s Debut Album Fuses Art and Advocacy, Poet and Performer

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In Black American folklore, music and poetry share the same soul. The poets of the Black Arts movement, particularly Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni, Audre Lorde and Amiri Baraka, were in touch with jazz as if it were of the same coterie, and they opened the door for the more music-driven spoken-word artists of the 1970s — Gil Scott-Heron, The Last …

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Just Announced | Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series 2023

Gladys Knight, Mavis Staples, Christian McBride, and more headline second-annual festival at St. Augustine’s historic site

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From February 10-19, the second-annual Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series presents six concerts to celebrate the historic and cultural importance of Fort Mose, the site of the first free African settlement in what is now the United States. This year’s series features performances by Mavis Staples (February 10); Christian McBride’s New Jawn (Feb. 11); Valerie June (Feb. 16); Gladys …

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Buffalo Nichols Pushes the Blues into its 21st-Century Phase

The buzzed-about musician believes the blues is, generally, not cool

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When it comes to performing his music to an unfamiliar, new audience, Carl “Buffalo” Nichols has no expectations. While his music might be framed within the blues expression, Nichols is being rightfully lauded for his inventive personal approach to taking the music out of any rigid confines. After 12 years of performing as solo artist or with his early Americana-style …

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Go | The best concerts in Jax this week

Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series kicks off in St. Johns County

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The much-anticipated Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series kicks off this Friday. From the 18-piece swing of the Count Basie Orchestra on Friday, the powerful roots music of Amythyst Kiah on Saturday, to Downtown Jax’s celebration of hip-hop on Sunday, here’s a list of what JME contributors want to see and hear in and around Jacksonville this week. NOTE: The …

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Go | What to see and hear in Jax this week

Jam band Circles Around the Sun, bluesman Robert Cray and hip-hop beat-maker Blockhead top a week that has a little something for everyone.

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Each and every week the Jacksonville Music Experience team identifies the best concerts in Northeast Florida.  Here’s what’s on the JME team’s concert calendar this week.  Funk Monday Night Funk Jam – Monday, November 8 Headroom Coffee Bar | Downtown Jax Headroom Coffee Bar plays host to some of the area’s top talent, each and every Monday. Adam Kenneway, Shaun …

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