 "Photo: Kim Shelpman")
When most people picture Orlando, they usually think tourists and Mickey Mouse — not our budding local music scene. The first annual Orange You Glad Music Festival is trying to change that.
The four-day festival featured more than 50 bands, most of which are based out of Florida. The handful of non-Florida acts included alt-country singer Tim Easton from Joshua Tree, Calif., and the indie-pop band Modern Skirts from Athens, Ga.
The festival spanned five different venues across the Winter Park area, and the concert’s promoters offered a 16-passenger bus that took thirsty, music-loving patrons from venue to venue.
“I love the fact that they provided a shuttle,” psychology major Meritta De Padova said.
“They support local music and driving sober. It makes me want to pat the promoters on the back.”
The opening kick-off party at Will’s Pub on Thursday night boasted performances by the Modern Skirts and Orlando-based band The Pauses.
Some of Friday’s performances included the wildly entertaining experimental band Happy Valley, who played at the Peacock Room. The band was equipped with balloon suits, light-up helmets, a keytar and a toilet paper shooter.
Rachel Goodrich — a quirky, kazoo-playing chanteuse from Miami —also played on Friday at Will’s Pub. She drew in one of the biggest crowds for the entire festival. While wielding her mandolin she called for a “happy dance party” and had nearly the entire crowd jubilantly shaking their moneymakers.
On the other side of town at Redlight Redlight, Lakeland-based group The Dark Romantics sealed the night off with their dark and steamy melody-driven indie-pop.
“My only disappointment was that there were too many bands I wanted to see with overlapping sets,” digital media major Emma Durand said. “I left the Mills area to see The Dark Romantics at Redlight Redlight, but I also really wanted to see Spirit Bomb. They were playing at Lou’s Lounge at the same time.”
Will’s Pub featured a predominantly alt-country lineup on Saturday with Matt Butcher, Thomas and Olivia Wynn and Tim Easton.
Orlando’s Matt Butcher started off the night by serenading his fans with an acoustic performance. His soft, soothing voice guided the crowd along through his heartbreakingly beautiful lyrics.
“I think the Orlando music scene is often overlooked,” Butcher said. “We are living in the shadow of Lou Pearlman and Mickey Mouse. They cast very large shadows.”
“As an artist [from Orlando] it’s hard for people to take you seriously,” he added. “There have been times where I’m on the road and people ask where I’m from. When I say where, sometimes people snicker because they don’t associate good music with Orlando.”
After Butcher, Thomas Wynn, another Orlando-based artist, took the stage with his sister Olivia.
The brother/sister duo also performed an acoustic set. Thomas played guitar and belted out his lyrics with a soulful intensity, while Olivia added a subtle, sweet harmony.
“I’ve been blown away by the amount of talent I have in my own back yard,” said De Padova. “I usually complain because most artists don’t even visit Florida when they’re on tour. Maybe I should have been paying more attention to what I have around me.”
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