AGP Executive Report

Local Pageantry: Miss Louisiana 2026 Shelby Bordelon kicks off the Miss America preliminary competition Wednesday at West Palm Beach’s Dreyfoos Concert Hall, with live streaming on the Miss America YouTube channel. Bluegrass Spotlight: Béla Fleck announces Live Heart: My Bluegrass Heart at the Ryman (Oct. 16), capturing a sold-out 2022 Ryman show with Billy Strings, Sierra Hull, Sam Bush and more. Indie Music Buzz: Students at Florida State are weighing in on Phoebe Bridgers’ new album Lost Weekend, praising its sharp lyrics and cohesive, adventurous production. College Band News: Florida State’s Marching Chiefs expand road pep-band travel in 2026 with away games at Alabama, Louisville and Miami. Community + Live Music: Disney Springs’ Raglan Road Irish Hooley returns for four days (Sept. 4–7) with Irish musicians, step dancers and Halloween-themed menu specials. Florida Concert Watch: Jack Harlow is slated for a stop at Orlando’s House of Blues, and Ella Langley is making chart history ahead of a Florida show. Events Calendar: West Palm Beach’s free BBQ, Brews and Blues (Sept. 5) brings live music plus BBQ and sauce throwdowns to Heart & Soul Park.

AI Music Lawsuit: Jason Isbell and other musicians, including Florida saxophonist Eduardo Calle, filed a class-action against Suno, accusing the AI generator of imitating artists’ voices and styles without consent. Live Music & Culture: Renaissance Theatre Co. brings back “Nosferatu: The Citadel,” a 360-degree, adults-only Halloween run through Nov. 7, with the VBar aftershow featuring live music and rotating drag talent. Big-Stage Country: Thomas Rhett headlines the 15th annual Tampa Pig Jig on Oct. 17 at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, with Midland, Kameron Marlowe, Sister Hazel and more, raising money for rare-kidney disease research. Local Scene Spotlight: Miami’s Andrew Music Club is hosting a three-day skate rave at the RC Cola Plant, blending techno/jungle/drum & bass with local DJs. Campus Music/Arts Moment: UF lowered flags to half-staff after Dolly Parton’s death, while UF and FDOT held a road-safety pop-up for students and bicyclists. R&B Tourism Watch: Jacksonville is among finalists to land the permanent National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.

Stadium Shake-Up (Tampa Bay Rays): Tampa and Hillsborough County have approved a $2.36B deal for a new Rays ballpark, but the real work now shifts to construction, financing, and the surrounding development district. Charity Scrutiny (Hope Florida): A leaked grand jury report is putting fresh pressure on Hope Florida and its use of $10M from a Medicaid settlement tied to fighting a recreational marijuana amendment. Music Biz (Dame Dash): Dame Dash’s life rights are headed to auction in Florida to pay creditors, with the winning bidder getting extensive video and rights tied to an unreleased film project. Live Music (Miami Marine Stadium): Miami voters cleared the way for restoration of the historic Miami Marine Stadium, setting up a comeback for concerts and community events. Touring & Safety (Ed Sheeran): Six Ed Sheeran crew members were hospitalized after stage equipment fell at Ford Field in Detroit. AI Music (Suno lawsuit): Jason Isbell and other musicians filed suit against Suno, alleging the AI generator can create tracks using artists’ identities without consent. Hard Rock F1 (Miami): Hard Rock expands its naming-rights role for the Formula 1 Hard Rock Miami Grand Prix starting in 2027. Local Spotlight (Orlando): Mills 50’s Inside The Moderne highlights a new Southeast Asian–Mediterranean tapas concept with a cocktail-forward vibe. Florida Music Recognition (GREYE): Southern rock band GREYE earned four Josie Music Awards nominations for its album “VII.” Community Paddle Day (Keys): America 250 Florida Keys Pennekamp Paddle Day returns Sept. 12 with live local music and free park admission.

Tour Announce: Sombr just mapped out 2027 dates for his “You Are The Reason” run, hitting Australia/NZ, then a big Europe stretch (Oslo to Amsterdam) and the UK/Ireland, with tickets on sale Sept. 4 and support from Ravyn Lenae and Jessie Maizin on select dates. Album Spotlight: The Afghan Whigs return with “Soft Control,” a reunion-era record that blends their alt-rock bite with slower, soul-soaked tension—an update on their late-career formula. Local Music & Community: Panama City’s “Play Music on the Porch Day” kept the street-stage energy going with multiple performers and neighborhood buzz. Songwriting Recognition: James Malcolm Band’s “Is It Never Too Late” was named a finalist in American Songwriter’s Road Ready Talent Contest, putting the group on a Nashville live-performance path. Arts Calendar: Florida Studio Theatre landed grants totaling $35,000 from The Exchange, backing its Cabaret Series and “Write a Play,” plus Brandenburg Concertos and a new-composers concert. Music + Culture in SWFL: “Yacht Rockin’” is set for Sept. 4–5 at Broadway Palm in Fort Myers, spotlighting smooth ’70s/’80s favorites.

Local Arts Funding: The Exchange awarded Florida Studio Theatre $35,000 total for its Cabaret Series and “Write a Play,” while La Musica, ensembleNEWSRQ, and other Florida arts groups also received grants. Broadway in Florida: WICKED returns to Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center in January 2027, with tickets now on sale. Live Music Spotlight: Tallahassee rapper Saucy Santana brought “Quiet on the Creek” home with “Quiet on the Hill,” though fans complained about slow lines and late entry. Tour News: Greensky Bluegrass added more dates, including Jacksonville (Nov. 12), Ft. Lauderdale (Nov. 5), St. Petersburg (Nov. 6), Orlando (Nov. 7), and Tallahassee (Nov. 8). Community & Culture: Key West’s Womenfest spotlights “Lost Women in the Arts,” featuring a femme-focused cabaret and an all-women prom. Florida Music Legacy: Gainesville reflects on Dolly Parton’s impact through her Imagination Library affiliate, Gainesville Thrives.

Florida Live Music: Nicko McBrain’s Titanium Tart kicked off a Florida mini-tour in Sanford (Aug. 29) with a set spanning Iron Maiden classics like “The Number of the Beast,” “The Trooper,” and “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” with more dates lined up for Fort Lauderdale (Sept. 5), Jacksonville (Sept. 11), Atlanta (Sept. 13), and Clearwater (Sept. 19). Classical Spotlight: Fort Myers Philharmonic is set for a major comeback moment—its Sept. 11 remembrance-and-praise concert at Barbara B. Mann Hall (7:30 p.m.) will feature 90 Mastersingers helping lift the orchestra after the old Southwest Florida Symphony’s collapse. Local Arts & Culture: Elevate Artworks gallery on Fort Myers Beach has expanded its lineup, including a Jim Morrison door portrait tied to the Doors frontman’s family history. Community Events: National Lighthouse Day brought music, tours, and family activities to the Cape Florida Lighthouse area on Key Biscayne.

Space & Science: NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched from Kennedy Space Center on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy, starting a ~3-month trip to its million-mile home at L2 to study dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets. Florida Live Music: Yacht Rockin’ lands at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers Sept. 4-5 (plus a Sept. 5 matinee), bringing a Southwest Florida all-star band lineup covering Ambrosia, Toto, America, Michael McDonald, Steely Dan and more. Local Arts Calendar: University of Florida Performing Arts shared its 2026-27 season lineup (Sept. 18, 2026–April 2027) with classical, jazz, orchestral, Broadway, dance and spoken word across UF venues. Reggae Chart Buzz: Capleton’s “Babylon So Evil” with Stephen Marley and Damian Marley hit No. 1 on the Florida Reggae & Dancehall Top 20 Radio Singles Chart. Community Music Loss: Scott Elliott, a Tampa-area WMNF DJ and singer/activist known for “All Souls,” died at 66.

Local Spotlight: Boyce Avenue, the Florida-based acoustic pop/pop-rock trio, is bringing its stripped-down sound to Ireland and Cork this September (Opium Dublin Sept. 1; Cyprus Avenue Cork Sept. 2). Community & Culture: Miami’s Wynwood hosted Medellín’s Flower Festival, with live music, art, Colombian food, and Sunday’s “Silleteros” parade featuring 70 artists carrying massive floral arrangements. Florida Music & Live Events: Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 35 adds a nighttime “Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins” lagoon show, plus a Prince “Purple Rain” post-show moment. Health & Sports Music Crossover: A Tampa Bay family is pushing for heart screenings for middle school athletes after a 13-year-old’s racing heart led to a Wolff-Parkinson-White diagnosis. Music Industry Notes: Gregory Isaacs’ “Night Nurse” earns posthumous silver certification recognition in Jamaica, with plaques set for September 15. Tour Update: Tim McGraw brushed off an onstage fall in Cincinnati and kept the show going.

Local Spotlight: Tampa Bay family is pushing for broader heart screenings after 13-year-old Jensen Pearce’s racing-heart emergency revealed Wolff-Parkinson-White, with dozens of student athletes diagnosed since Florida’s high school requirement began. Community Music & Events: Englewood Beach Waterfest’s Pirate Poker Run returns Sept. 12 with pirate-themed stops, live music from Marker 5 Band, and an afterparty at Lighthouse Grill and Tiki Bar. Local Music Spotlight: The Chandler Brothers talk bluegrass, country, and jazz/classical influences after moving from Kentucky to Tampa. Charity Through Culture: Slick’s Kicks in South Dade keeps honoring “Slick Vick” Hoppe by distributing sneakers to local nonprofits and students. Tour Buzz: Tim McGraw laughs off an onstage tumble during “I Like It, I Love It” and keeps the Pawn Shop Guitar Tour rolling toward West Palm Beach. Arts Calendar: Tallahassee’s fall concert season is heating up, with 26 shows highlighted for Sept. and beyond. Miami Music Scene: Latin Grammy winner Degnis Nelson Bofill Miranda was detained by ICE at Miami International Airport after a New York concert.

Marion County Country Weekend: Rock the Country is pulling thousands to the Florida Horse Park for two days of country music and camping, with big-name acts including Jon Pardi and Blake Shelton on the Saturday lineup. Tallahassee College Kickoff: The season’s first Nutrl CollegeTown Block Party filled West Madison Street with live music and game-day energy for FSU and FAMU fans. South Florida Classical Spotlight: Fort Myers Philharmonic launches its 2026-27 season with an inaugural Sept. 11 concert honoring 9/11 first responders, featuring Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” and Mozart’s “Requiem.” Halloween Music-Adjacent Fun: House of Horror Haunted Carnival returns for its 25th year at Tropical Park starting Sept. 24, adding five brand-new haunted attractions and a new dark roller coaster. Romance Theater Concert: Marvin Goldstein and Vanessa Joy bring “Peace Through Music” to the Romance Theater Oct. 6, with local vocalists opening. Cape Coral Family Event: Cape Coral Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram hosts a free Touch-a-Truck Sept. 26 with hands-on vehicles, food trucks, and a quiet sensory hour. Dolly Parton in Florida: Flags fly at half-staff in Cape Coral to honor Parton, whose Central Florida legacy includes Imagination Library book programs in Polk County.

Fort Myers Classical Spotlight: The Fort Myers Philharmonic launches its 2026-27 season with “Honoring Our Heroes” on Sept. 11 at Barbara B. Mann, featuring Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” and Mozart’s “Requiem,” plus the Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers and soloists Sarah Tucker, Gina Perregrino, Joshua Blue and more. Orlando Arena Buzz: Garth Brooks adds Orlando dates to his “Blame It All On My Roots Arena Tour,” hitting Kia Center on Sept. 25 and 26. Pop Culture + Florida: Jelly Roll’s Jimmy Kimmel jokes about Trump’s weight keep sparking backlash in Florida, with Rep. Jimmy Patronis calling him “100% not welcomed” in the panhandle. Local Music Scene: Art Center Sarasota opens “Icons,” curated by Sarasota illustrator John Pirman, exploring what makes people and symbols iconic. Tour Notes: Tim McGraw took a tumble mid-set during “I Like It, I Love It” but laughed it off and kept singing; he’s headed toward Florida later on the “Pawn Shop Guitar Tour.” New Music Releases: Bebe Rexha performs on NBC’s Today and talks about her independent-era album “Dirty Blonde.”

Local Arts & Community: Creative Pinellas is pushing back after county de-funding with a monthlong “Art Everywhere” celebration starting Nov. 1, mixing music, dance, theater, film and more across Pinellas. New Music Release: Soleil drops “Heart Strings,” an R&B/soul breakup-and-reclamation track with a cinematic video. Florida Music & Culture Events: B.I.G. Fest returns Aug. 29-30 in Tampa to spotlight Black-owned businesses with a free expo, art and live entertainment. Music in Real Life: A Tampa Bay couple, “Latin Breeze,” turns assisted-living workouts into dance sessions using music to get seniors moving. Florida Spotlight (Non-music but local): A Latin Grammy-winning Cuban percussionist, Degnis Bofill Miranda, was detained by ICE at Miami International Airport after a New York performance, with his wife pleading for release. Arts & Entertainment (Florida tie-in): Universal’s Stranger Things Halloween Horror Nights house opens Aug. 28 in Orlando.

Jelly Roll vs. Florida Panhandle: After Trump jokes on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” Pensacola-area Rep. Jimmy Patronis says the rapper is “100% not welcome” in Florida’s Panhandle, while his Democratic opponent invites him to visit. Local Noise Fight: Pace residents say 7 Brew staff blast loud music day and night; county leaders are pushing for a fix after another public hearing. Afro-Cuban Music Spotlight: Miami Beach hosts Okan, an Afro-Cuban duo building sound across Cuba, Canada, and South Florida. Halloween in Orlando: Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 35 returns Aug. 28–Nov. 1 with 10 haunted houses, including an Ozzy Osbourne-themed tribute. Music + Nature: Jon Batiste will narrate and exec-produce “American Amazon,” a wetlands documentary spanning Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and the Carolinas. Community Arts: Virginia Key Beach marks its 81st anniversary with a historic birthday bash featuring live performances and learning spaces.

Dolly Parton tributes across Florida: Fans packed Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville for a community-led Dolly Parton tribute and sing-along, celebrating her music and her literacy work through the Imagination Library. Local concert spotlight: 311’s Nick Hexum brings his return to hard-rock mode to the Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre Saturday, with Dirty Heads on the bill. Latin rhythms in South Florida: Tito Puente Jr. and his orchestra bring “The Music of Tito Puente” to the Performing Arts Center in Davie on Sept. 12. Community + music: Sanibel Jazz Society donated $1,000 to FGCU’s Bower School of Music after its Sanibel Summer Jazz Concert Series. Music + travel plans: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park hosts America 250 Pennekamp Paddle Day Sept. 12 with live music, snorkeling, and a red-white-blue paddle parade.

Dolly Parton in Florida: Flags across Florida were ordered lowered to half-staff after the country icon died at 80, and Tampa Bay venues and fans are remembering her “magic” onstage, including Ruth Eckerd Hall. In Panama City Beach, a memorial went up outside Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show, where Parton opened a new chapter in 2025. Local music & youth: MOSAIC is taking auditions for its 2026–2027 Youth Philharmonic in Fort Myers (Aug. 31) and is also opening registration for an advanced string ensemble. Jazz community support: The Sanibel Jazz Society donated $1,000 to FGCU’s Bower School of Music, funded by its summer concert series. Venue news: A Florida credit union-backed deal is renaming Atlanta’s Tabernacle to “Tabernacle Presented by iTHINK Financial.” Events & culture: Jacksonville Beach’s Springing the Blues Festival is retiring after 30+ years. Music in the streets: Miami Beach’s oldest dive bar, Mac’s Club Deuce, turns 100 with a Sept. 5 block party featuring bands and DJs. Quick hits: A ticket giveaway is running for a Van Halen tribute at the Reilly Arts Center (Sept. 19).

Dolly Parton’s Florida ripple: The country icon died at 80, and Florida headlines quickly filled with tributes—flags ordered half-staff statewide, plus memorials at the Seminole Hard Rock’s Guitar Hotel and local remembrances across Central Florida and Tampa Bay. Local literacy legacy: Charlotte County’s Imagination Library affiliate highlighted how Parton’s book program has mailed more than 267,000 books to kids there. Stage spotlight in Orlando: Orlando Shakes is premiering “Come From Away” locally, leaning on dialect coaching and music direction to sell the story’s sense of place. New music out of Florida: DeBary teen Brianna Reyes won a Young Artist Academy Award for her original “Too Much For Quiet.” Tour news: Bachman-Turner Overdrive announced its 2027 “No Speed Limit” tour, with an Orlando stop. South Florida arts: Brévo Theatre will stage “Schoolgirls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play” starting Sept. 3, ahead of Broadway. Elsewhere in the music world: Ukraine’s embassy urged the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra to cancel a Russian violinist’s fall concerts.