Robert D. Thompson 
Scottish Cultural Center announces upcoming events
DUNEDIN – Say goodbye to 2021 with Hogmanay Ceilidh and a concert featuring Celtic Conundrum on Friday, December 31 at 8 p.m. at the Scottish Cultural Center, 917 Louden Ave., Dunedin.
Participants can ring in the New Year with a traditional ceilidh. Tickets cost $ 65 per person. For tickets visit www.eventbrite.com. The ticket price includes a catered dinner, freebies, as well as music and a midnight champagne toast. Scottish New Year traditions will be in the spotlight.
The Scottish American Society of Dunedin will also present the Screaming Orphans in concert on Wednesday January 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the center.
The group mixes Celtic pop and rock. Hailing from Bundoran, County Donegal, Ireland, the band members include the four Diver sisters – Joan, Angela, Gràinne and Marie Thérèse. The group combines their own old-fashioned melodic pop songs with a modern take on traditional Irish music and song, inherited from their family roots.
Tickets cost $ 25 per person. Visit www.eventbrite.com.
Dunedin Live: Haggis Winter MusicFest 2022 will run Thursday through Saturday January 20-22 and feature the return of Scottish band Skerryvore to the Scottish Cultural Center in Dunedin.
This weekend of Celtic music, dance and Scotch whiskey will be hosted by the Scottish American Society of Dunedin and produced by Mad Gael Productions. It will include two Celtic Haggis concerts and a whiskey-tasting tour of Scotland to music. Using mostly indoor spaces, event planners have developed a festival plan that takes advantage of but does not depend on Florida’s good weather.
The Haggis Winter MusicFest kicks off on Thursday January 20 with a Haggis Celtic concert starting at 7:30 p.m. This concert will focus on Skerryvore’s beginnings as a ceilidh band and how the band has changed over time.
The event will continue with the Scotch Whiskey Tour on Friday January 21 at 7:30 pm This very unique scotch tasting and musical tour in Scotland will be hosted by Skerryvore and his guests.
Then on Saturday January 22 at 7:30 p.m. Skerryvore will perform again – this time focusing on the group’s latest hits in an intimate version of their stage show.
For more information on the Scottish American Society of Dunedin and Dunedin Live: Haggis Winter MusicFest 2022, visit www.sas-dunedin.org Where haggiscelticconcerts.com.
The Largo Community Center will present a series of concerts
LARGO – The Center Stage concert series returns to the Largo Community Center from January, featuring favorite songs with artists and tribute bands.
Tickets cost $ 15 per person for a single show or $ 42 per person for a three-show package and can be purchased at the Largo Community Center.
Here is an overview of the programming of the series:
• Dwight Icenhower: The Ultimate Tribute to Elvis – Thursday January 27, 1 pm. Icenhower started his Elvis career singing karaoke at a local fair when he was just 16. After studying every move of Elvis, he mastered the 50s, 60s and 70s eras of Elvis’ career. He has performed throughout the United States as well as England, Brazil, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Mexico and has toured Japan several times. Now he finally brings the King to the stage at the Largo Community Center.
• The Authentics – Thursday February 24, 1 pm. This band will serve up a 60s-style beach bash by performing the Southern California sounds of the Beach Boys with tight vocal harmonies.
• Anton Doran: The Piano Men of Rock – Thursday, March 24, 1 pm Described as “a cross between Billy Joel, Elton John, John Denver and James Taylor”, Anton Doran is the quintessential tribute artist. In addition to trying to connect with the audience, he pays close attention not only to the music but also to the character he plays. Doran features the music of two legends in this show: Elton John and Billy Joel.
The Largo community center is at 400 Alt. Route Keene to Largo. For more information, call 727-518-3131.
Florida Strawberry Festival Entertainment Tickets On Sale
PLANT CITY – Tickets for the main entertainment shows of the Florida Strawberry Festival on the Wish Farms soundstage are on sale now.
Tickets for all 24 shows can be purchased online at www.flstrawberryfestival.com, by phone at 813-754-1996, or at the Amscot Main Box Office, 2209 W. Oak Ave., Plant City. More than 20 shows – including Lauren Daigle, Sammy Hager & The Circle, Nelly, Zach Williams, Lady A, The Beach Boys, Tesla and Sam Hunt – will offer a wide variety of entertainment on offer in the 2022 lineup.
“Releasing our featured entertainment programming is always a crowd pleaser,” said Paul Davis, President of the Florida Strawberry Festival. “And we think this year’s lineup is one of our best. From rock to cult, rap to country, polka to a cappella – we’ve got a little something for everyone to enjoy. “
Advance tickets for admission are also available and can be purchased when purchasing tickets for shows. Advance admission tickets are $ 8 for adults, $ 4 for children 6 to 12 and children 5 and
the youngest are admitted free. As of March 3, entrance tickets purchased at the gates will be $ 10 for adults, $ 5 for children 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and under.
“We encourage everyone to buy early and reserve your seat now,” said Davis. “Plus, concert tickets make great Christmas gifts.”
The Florida Strawberry Festival is an 11-day community event celebrating the Eastern Hillsborough County strawberry harvest. Each year, nearly 500,000 visitors take advantage of the flagship events of the festival, breeding shows for young people, trade shows and, of course, its strawberry shortbread. The 2022 Florida Strawberry Festival will take place March 3-13 in Plant City. For information, visit www.flstrawberryfestival.com.
The Stirling Art Gallery will present the exhibition “Here in Paradise”
DUNEDIN – An opening reception for ‘Here in Paradise’ will be held on Friday, January 14, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Stirling Art Gallery, 730 Broadway, 2nd Floor, in downtown Dunedin.
“Here in Heaven” is an exhibition featuring artists from the Studio 1212 art gallery. Members of the public are invited to attend the reception. Participants will have the opportunity to meet local artists.
The exhibition will run until January 31. The opening hours of the gallery are Thursday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Studio 1212 will present ‘Over the Edge’
DUNEDIN – An opening reception for “Over the Edge” will be presented on Sunday January 9, from noon to 3 pm, at Studio 1212 Art Gallery, 234 Monroe St., in downtown Dunedin.
The public is invited to attend. The reception will provide light refreshments. The participating artists will be on site.
The exhibition will run until February 20. The gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The gallery also offers an online store. Visit studio1212.org.
Creative Pinellas provides update on the Lealman mural project
LEALMAN – Creative Pinellas recently presented a progress report on two Lealman fresco projects currently underway.
Mural artist Leo Gomez has started a new mural that brings his signature color and design to Lealman Exchange, and Laura “Miss Crit” Spencer, an artist based in Lealman, was recently selected to create a new mural at the start of this year. 2022 at the Mother Kombucha warehouse on the 28th Street North corridor. Both projects are the result of a partnership between Creative Pinellas and the Lealman Neighborhood CRA.
Creative Pinellas has partnered with the Lealman Quarter ARC to bring local artists and high quality art experiences to the community and use the power of art to help build community and energy. Through an open appeal process, Laura Spencer and Leo Gomez, whose work can be seen throughout the St. Pete area, were selected to bring their artistic talents to the goal of creating projects for community beautification that represents and engages the Lealman community.
“Bringing these murals to Lealman is a very important statement about the power of artists and their art to improve the quality of life and inspire a community,” said Barbara St. Clair, CEO of Creative Pinellas. “Leo and Spencer’s work is sure to add color and beauty to their locations. His secret power, however, is that he celebrates the people who live and work at Lealman, and the community they build together.
The process of two artists Gomez and Spencer is informed by a Lealman-focused public inquiry and community meetings held last summer, as well as touring locations and exploring the neighborhoods surrounding their locations with specific frescoes. Throughout his design process, Gomez said, “I wanted to focus on the community and craft a positive message with the goal of fostering friendliness… and being an image that residents would be proud to share. “
Spencer, at the start of his project, said, “This is something close to my heart and for this project I am researching Lealman’s story and hoping to create an immersive, interactive piece of art. and celebrating the simple beauty and liberation upon which this unincorporated community is founded.
“We are very happy to be able to incorporate the work of artists of the caliber of Leo and Laura into Lealman, but we are especially grateful that they have invested so much thought and effort to integrate the history and character of the community. in their design process, ”said Christopher Moore, Assistant County Administrator, Lealman Community. “Creative Pinellas has been extremely helpful in facilitating the process of getting us to this point.”
Creative Pinellas and Lealman CRA recently funded a mural by Cheryl “Jujmo” Weber at 4633 28th Street North. To find out more about the project or the artists and future call for artists, visit creativepinellas.org/opportunity/lealman-neighbourhood-mural-project/ or contact muralarts@creativepinellas.org with any questions.
