Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival, Saturday, December 6th, 8:00AM – 8:00PM
The second annual Lakewood Ranch Blues festival features a nice mix of local and national bands at the picturesque Waterside Place Pavilion, an eight acre island on Kingfisher Lake. Presented by festival promoter Paul Benjamin who’s produced countless festivals and is hands on, running a tight show. This early show kicks off at 9:30am with a showcase of students from the Music Compound with the first band hitting the stage at 10:15am and each of the seven bands receiving at full hour of stage time.
The Shaelyn Band, a seven piece rockin’ soul group based out of mid Florida powered by Ms. Shaelyn’s vocals with backup vocals and a drivin’ horn section. This tight band has been busy touring and if you’ve seen them you know they set a high standard for this festival. Eden Brent, a powerhouse piano-pounding Mississippi blues belter who can play it soft or take it straight to the juke joint. She won the International Blues Challenge in 2006 and the Pinetop Perkins award at the 2025 Blues Music awards.
Albert Castiglia, a Florida native when not on tour with Mike Zito and Bill Murray as the Blood Brothers he dazzles audiences with his self depreciating prowess on guitar and we can hope he does his rampaging rendition of Paul Butterfield’s Lovin’ Cup, it blew us away when we saw him.
Jonny Rawls, an old school soul blues legend, if you’ve experienced Rawls you know why he’s been around for more than 50 years and still going strong.
Toronzo Cannon brings a more modern ethic to Chicago blues. The Alligator Records vocalist and guitarist Cannon grew up on the south side of Chicago and until just a few years ago was a full time bus driver in Chicago who played the clubs and festival after work.
The Chambers DesLauriers band, is true blue love story. Texas based Annika Chambers was a Blues Music Awards winner when she met Paul Deslauriers, an award winning Canadian guitarist/bandleader at the International Blues Challenge where Paul was a runner-up. Instantly connecting they managed a whirlwind romance and marriage while out on the road and quickly merge their lives and music and for the past several years they’ve been on a road trip honeymoon.
Desoto Tiger Testimony a blend of Louisiana and Florida artists has been called a Blues Roots Super Group. Featuring Tampa bay native Damon Fowler with Louisiana’s Jonathan “Boogie” Long on dueling hot rod guitars, lap steel and vocals, New Orleans harmonica wiz Jason Ricci who first joined the Sun Coast Blues Society 20 years ago, with a rhythm section of Tampa’s Chuck Riley on bass and Louisiana session drummer Ray Hangen. These turbo charged Tigers are all incredible players and letting them loose on a stage anything could happen so you’ll want to catch this tiger’s tail and hang on for the ride.
The festival will be at the Waterside Place Pavilion, 7301 Island Cove Terrace, Lakewood Ranch, with parking available on site, there is also off-site parking at the Out-Of-Door Academy in Sarasota with complimentary shuttle service that drops you off right at the festival gates between 7:30am and 9:30pm. The park opens at 8:30, and tickets will be available the day of but reserved seating is limited and purchasing tickets at the website before December 3rd will save you money. Things to keep in mind, you can bring chairs, blankets and hand held umbrellas, this open-air park has minimal shade coverage so be sure to include a hat and sunscreen. Items not allowed are coolers, outside food and alcohol, tents, canopies, large backpacks, banners, and pets. Times and the line up are subject to change but being a Paul Benjamin production you know it’s gonna be good.
Roger & Margaret White
