The halls of seven businesses and historic buildings in downtown Brooksville will ring forth with the cadence of melodic, beautiful music as a part of “Musicade.” This is an inaugural musical happening that’s set to take place on Thursday, July 14, from 4 pm – 7 pm EDT.
At the “Musicade,” Main Street businesses will host performances by 13 live musicians as guests stroll from place to place, enjoying appetizers and adult beverages as they also sample a melodic kaleidoscope of musical styles. Executive Director of Brooksville Main Street, Natalie Kahler stated, “Much like our art strolls, these events give people the opportunity to visit area businesses and hear the area’s best music, in one location. These are local acts, some of whom performed at our Friday Night Live and other events.”
These artists range from Conner Dirksen, a 16-year-old Hernando High School student and classically trained guitarist, drummer, and vocalist who plays everything from classical to blues to jazz, pop to country; to saxophonist Dell O’Barnes Sr., who has played for church choirs, groups, bands and solo musicians throughout the state of Florida, the Caribbean and throughout the Northeast. Locally, he has played for Stir Up the Gift, Hernando County Schools and The Bistro restaurant in Brooksville.
“It’s always a joy to be able to play in the City of Brooksville. There’s nothing like seeing everyone enjoying themselves as I play my Sax. I am thankful that the committee thought of asking me to be a part of this great event,” said Dell O’Barnes. “I’m excited and can’t wait for July 14th. It will be a harmonious journey as the attendees stroll historic downtown Brooksville.”
Also performing will be the Broad Street Barons, consisting of Chris Korbus and Joe Solomon. Both long-term Hernando residents and Hernando High graduates, the Barons play music from the 1960s to the modern day. Korbus has sung and played guitar for more than two decades, and Solomon has played drums in various bands for more than 12 years. They also perform at The Bistro in Brooksville. “Chris Korbus and I are both graduates of Hernando High (he is 2004 and I’m 1973),” said Joe Solomon. “We’re looking forward to our ‘Musicade’ performance in 2 weeks. We play a wide variety of music from classic rock from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Our influences run from Dave Mathews to Oasis.”
Kaiden Rossiter, also appearing at “Musicade,” is a 21-year-old vocalist who specializes in stage musicals, gospel quartets, and classical crooning. He performs frequently at Cornerstone Baptist Church and The Live Oak Theatre Company. “Many of these acts have one to two members and will play in two-hour blocks,” said Kahler. “We’ll have country, rock, gospel, alternative, jazz, etc. And the musicians will have the opportunity to sell their CDs and merchandise.”
Some of the stops on this musical tour will include the Brooksville Woman’s Club, federated in 1920 and housed in a building constructed in 1935; Teal Magnolia Workshop, constructed more than a century ago and the first home to Lingles 5C & 10C 100 years ago, and Panbanged Knits, home to the oldest brick building in Hernando County, an elegant structure built in 1885 by Wesley Grimsley and operated in the form of a county store called “The Pantry.” Also featured will be Mulligan Law Office, built in 1894 in a classic revival style architecture and thought to be constructed by the same builder as 312 S Brooksville Ave., the setting of the 1972 Bob Clark horror movie “Death Dream”; and Lowman Law Firm, first home to Biggart Music. The office also housed WWJB Radio, now located on W Jefferson, and Temp TV & Music Center.
Although an inaugural occasion, “Musicade” is an event that is simply steeped in Hernando history. Named in honor of a similar event hosted by the Chamber back in the 1960s. “Musicade” also shares a moniker with a Brooksville Music Club event that ran about half a century in this area; an event that featured home tours set to a musical backdrop. Playing in each home would be a violinist, vocalist, perhaps a musical trio that filled the halls of each residence with tunes and tones. And guests would traverse the tours via motorcades departing from Hernando Plaza. And the format of “Musicade” is similar to that of the Hernando County Fine Arts Council and Brooksville Main Street’s Art Stroll, in which guests visit Brooksville businesses to see fine art and meet the artists. “This is an arts space. This event is for the community to enjoy and to support the artists, “ said Kahler.
Tickets for “Musicade” are $30 per person; visit https://tinyurl.com/yvx7zvbe
