Sara Mac Band at the Hideaway Cafe

The Sarah Mac Band rolled into St. Pete this past Saturday for the CD release of their new album, Static and Signals which is a great blend of blues, emotion, life, soul,  hope, jazz and reality to name a few things....Sarah, Claire and Charlie again stole the hearts of all attending the show as they always do and gave a outstanding performance of all the new CD songs and even did 2 encores ! Congratulations also to them who will be in Nashville this week for the Americana Music Fest which they won several months ago.......best to you and the band, Sarah.....see you back for the Christmas show at the Hideaway....

Hideaway Cafe Lives.......

The Hideaway Cafe is very much alive and well.......last weekend we had an awesome show by Gale Trippsmith and the Kirk Adams Band followed on Tuesday by the ever well-known Living Room Live and on Thursday had the Songwriter's in the Round hosted by Dean Johanesen ( with Michael J. Weiss and Dylan Cowles).......the weekend looks awesome as well with the TC Carr Band on Friday, Sept. 7 and on Saturday, the Sarah Mac Band is doing a CD Release Party for their brand new album.....you really don't want to miss this one......see 'ya there....and if you can't make it, check out my photos on my FB page.....Jim Tizzano Photography.....Cheers !

Ka'Tiki Palooza 2012

Well it was a great weekend, weather, sun, friends, fun and partay ! The new owners (Jamie, you rocked it ! ) did it right.......free food, beer/drink specials all weekend and great music ! You can't beat that......Mike 'n'Ter, Cornfused, Drama Duo, Josephine's Machine, Sunza Beaches (yea Scott)  and Dennis Wallace and Officer Chuck ! Food, Friends, Fun ! If you missed it, see you next year ! Check out all the  photos on my FB page.... Jim Tizzano Photography.....

Farewell to Living Room Live....

Last night, Thursday May 31, 2012 marked the conclusion of a magical, eclectic, happy, sad, invigorating, reminiscent 3-year journey at the Hideaway Cafe & Recording Studio in St. Petersburg, Florida on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Owners John & Nicole Kelly took an empty storefront on Central Avenue in the Grand Central District and transformed it into a place where local musicians, regardless of age, experience or affiliation or genre came every week to practice, try out new material, play with fellow musicians/singer/songwriter's or just to hangout in "the living room" which it truly felt like both in decor and feel.

It has been embraced by so many, and the "regulars" ( you know who you are)  appreciate it even more than the countless numbers that have walked through the doors from all walks of life and locations in this wide world because it is "home" to all of us.

So thank you John & Nicole and the many people who also worked and volunteered there and served us so many delicious meals and snacks, a few cold beers and tasteful glasses of wine, not to mention friendship and love. You all have gained our love and respect.

We look forward to the next chapter of the Hideaway Cafe.....where music is always the main entree....see 'ya soon.

Breakfast with the Bucs

Attended a breakfast with the Tampa Bay Bucaneers on Wednesday, May 30 at One Buc Place which is the corporate offices of the Bucs and was introduced and listened to a short presentation by new Head Coach, Greg Schiano. Was very enlightening and uplifting as the Bucs want to get re-involved with the communities throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Many Chambers of Commerce were in attendance and enjoyed the event. If you have never been to this location, they have great memorablilia on display which encompasses the Bucs history.....check it out !

Lifting Up Andy.......

Human compassion, open hearts and general goodness does still exist in the world today amid all the bad we always hear about. On Friday and Saturday, several hundred people, many friends, many strangers, joined together for a young, 16 year old named Andy Brettner who suffers from Cerebral Palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. Andy's biggest wish was to be able to attend high school and stand up, a simple task for most of us to have accomplished in our lives. A daunting one, to say the least, for Andy who is a bright, young, vibrant person in spite of his challenges. Issue - stand-up wheelchair cost = $ 40,000. You have heard it before, insurance won't cover it, family can't afford it. Step in several, unselfish business people in Treasure Island, namely Bill Edwards, Jo Massaro of Benjamin Studios, Don Mega, Duke from Duke's Island Bar & Grill, Treasure Island Chamber of Commerce, Windjammer Motel (to name a few) and countless others who donated time, monies, cars, silent auction items and too much more to list here. It was an outpouring of love and hope starting at Saturday night's silent auction at Benjamin's Studios and culminating at Duke's on Sunday with 5 bands donating their talents. Drink and food specials were abound the entire day, not to be missed. The outcome at the end of the event... Andy is being fitted for his stand-up chair this week. 

Sanding Ovation.......

This past weekend was an awesome time in Treasure Island on the beach with the 3rd annual Sanding Ovations Master Sand Sculpture Competition with 10 sculptors from around the globe vying for the 1st prize and Master's Cup. Sunny skies, 80 degree temperatures, balmy breezes and music, food and merchandise all contributed to the fun-filled, exciting weekend that brought a huge crowd throughout the 4-day event. The winner of the competition was Jan Selen from Amsterdam, Holland with his winning sculpture "We are all Individuals" (see photo below). Super congrats to the City of Treasure Island, Treasure Island Chamber of Commerce, Meredith Corson from Sanding Ovations and all the sponsors who helped make this a great event. Music throughout the weekend was orchestrated by our own local Jeff Jensen who definately rounded out the talent and gave us all a taste of everything starting with two locals bands on Friday night - SunzaBeaches and Kent Pearson and the Roadhouse Rockers followed by American Idol Finalist Danny Gokey who had a Meet & Greet before his performance. On Saturday a full lineup was brought out starting with the Mojo Gurus, Have Gun Will Travel, and Experimental Pilot. The awards presentation was at 6 PM followed by Russ Anderson and his famous Elton John Show. The night was capped off by the ever popular and best fireworks shows on the beach. Sunday's entertainment started out with a young, rootsy-folky-bluegrass band called Jubil's Kin followed by the native cracker Sarasota Slim with his band and ending with a beautiful sunset and the well-known Charlie Morris and his band. Special local guests T.C. Carr on harmonica and vocalist Lori Cherry helped Charlie round out the finale....can't wait until next year ! For more coverage of the weekend and photos, please see my Facebook page. Congrats and thanks to all.......