Spotlight: Lonestar and Jacksonville Sharks

Spotlight: Lonestar and Jacksonville Sharks

Jacksonville can feel like a big city that still runs on personal connections, and that’s the thread tying this whole show together. We kick off with a rapid-fire guide to upcoming Northeast Florida concerts and summer events, including big nights at the St. Augustine Amphitheater and the Florida Theatre, so you can actually plan your next weekend instead of doom-scrolling for ideas. Then we sit down with Dean Sams, founding member of Lonestar, for a candid look at what longevity really takes. Dean shares how the band started back in 1992, what it’s like to carry ten number one hits into a new era, and why the best nights on the road are the ones where parents bring their kids and everyone sings the same chorus. We also dig into the creative spark behind Iconic Volume One, a tribute project built from a spontaneous soundcheck, plus the thinking behind 10 to 1, where Lone Star re-records their chart-toppers to reflect how the songs have grown onstage. The second half shifts from music to arena lights at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena with Jacksonville Sharks majority owner Kevin Wezniak, joined by Isabella and Ashley. Kevin walks us through his Navy background, how caring for his dad during dementia led to falling in love with Sharks games, and how that eventually turned into ownership. Ashley and Isabella explain their home care work across Northeast Florida and highlight a VA home care benefit many veterans don’t realize they may qualify for. We also get the inside view of indoor football as an entertainment business: themed nights, a tightly scripted run of show, streaming growth, ticket affordability, and why the experience feels so close you can’t look away. Subscribe for more local stories, share this with a friend who loves live music or sports, and leave a review telling us what Jacksonville event you want to hit next.

PRI's Dream Day Returns

Dream Day is the kind of community event that makes you stop thinking about your to-do list and start thinking about what you’re here for. We’re sitting down with Randy Goodwin, owner and president of PRI Productions, to talk about bringing Dream Day back to Jacksonville after a five-year break, and why the return feels even bigger than before. This is a local charity event built with professional live event production muscle and a whole lot of heart, all in partnership with Dreams Come True, a Jacksonville nonprofit that grants dreams to children facing life-threatening illnesses. We talk through what Dream Day actually looks like on the ground: a red carpet arrival, confetti, nonstop performances, and kid-specific surprises designed to make every “dreamer” feel celebrated. Randy shares how COVID didn’t just pause the event, it scattered the support system many events rely on. Then a single night at the Dreams Come True gala brought the mission rushing back, and the city responded fast. About 150 businesses donate their services and supplies, volunteers pour in to do any job needed, and the result is a massive family-friendly Jacksonville event where nobody’s getting paid and nobody’s asking for money. The stories are wild in the best way, from custom “golden ticket” moments to major entertainment and a jaw-dropping booking: Gabriel Henrique, a singer Randy discovered on America’s Got Talent, is flying in from Brazil to be part of Dream Day, plus a free concert at Citri for supporters. We also cover the practical details like parking, timing, street closures, and how to watch the live broadcast on Channel 4 if you can’t make it in person. If you love Jacksonville events, nonprofit impact, volunteer-driven community, or just need a reminder that generosity still wins, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people find it and show up.

Happy Together Tour Preview With Ron Dante

Your concert plans can change fast when a city’s calendar is packed, so we kick things off with a tight rundown of what’s newly announced and what’s coming next to Jacksonville and St. Augustine. We hit the key stops and the official ticket links, from major arena nights to the buzz around newer rooms like Duval Hall, so you can spend less time hunting and more time actually going to shows.  Then I get to do something I still can’t believe I get to do: talk with Ron Dante, the legendary singer who provided the voice of The Archies. He’s back on the road with the Happy Together Tour, and he walks us through how rehearsals work, why the tour format is built for “hit after hit,” and what it’s like sharing a bill with a stacked lineup that includes returning favorites plus new energy. If you love classic pop, classic rock, and the kind of live show where the whole room sings, this is your kind of conversation.  We also dig into why these songs refuse to fade. Ron shares how “Sugar, Sugar” keeps resurfacing around the world through TikTok and dance culture, and we talk about the deep-cut Archies tracks fans still request, plus what can and can’t fit when eight acts are on one night’s schedule. If you’re heading to the Florida Theater for the Happy Together Tour, you’ll know what to listen for and why the night feels like a soundtrack you get to live inside.  Subscribe for more Live From Jacksonville updates, share this with a friend who needs a concert buddy, and leave a review with the song you hope they play next.

Teresa Caputo And Alex Band Reveal How They Find Hope Onstage

Jacksonville has no shortage of things to do, but picking the right night out can feel impossible when every venue is booking something big. We kick things off with a rapid, listener-friendly guide to May shows across Northeast Florida, including major concerts, comedy, family entertainment, and arena events, plus where to grab the details and tickets so you can actually plan your calendar with confidence.  From there, we go deeper with three guests who couldn’t be more different, but all circle the same theme: why live moments still matter. Teresa Caputo, the Long Island Medium, joins us ahead of her Florida Theatre stop to talk about the weight of her work, how she thinks about healing, and what the live experience looks like when she’s off the stage and moving through the crowd delivering messages. Even if you’ve never been to a medium show, her explanation of boundaries, faith, and the “why” behind what she does is surprisingly grounded.  Then Alex Band from The Calling takes us back to the early-2000s wave that made “Wherever You Will Go” a defining hit, including how his Santana collaboration happened and what it’s like being shaped by marketing you didn’t choose. The conversation turns unforgettable when Alex shares his Parkinson’s diagnosis, the years it took from him, and the recovery that doctors later called essentially unheard of, plus how that fuels a new album and the single “Dust.” We wrap with a fun Broadway in Jacksonville quiz with Amanda Scott from the FSCJ Artist Series, spotlighting Hamilton, The Sound of Music, The Wiz, Jersey Boys, and The Outsiders, along with dates and ticket tips.  If you like episodes that mix local culture, music history, and real talk, hit subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a Jacksonville events plan, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Whitney Cummings, A Neil Diamond Musical Star, And A Venue Glow-Up In North Florida

Jacksonville’s live event scene isn’t just busy, it’s evolving, and the best nights are getting easier to find if you know where to look. We start with a rapid-fire rundown of newly announced shows across the region, then settle into two conversations that reveal what’s happening behind the curtain for touring artists and the venues that host them. Comedian Whitney Cummings joins us ahead of her Jacksonville stop to talk about how stand-up survives cultural whiplash, why the room matters more than the comment section, and what it’s like to keep your act sharp while your life changes in real time. We get into the push and pull of “risky” comedy, how audiences grow up alongside performers, and why a great live show can make a divided world feel a little more human for a night. Then American Idol winner Nick Fradiani calls in from the road to share what it takes to star in A Beautiful Noise, the Neil Diamond musical. He talks tour life, the pressure of doing a beloved catalog justice, and the unforgettable whirlwind that took him from a scheduled run of shows to a last-minute flight to perform with Neil Diamond at a major benefit. Nick also looks ahead to what comes after the final curtain: new songs, studio time, and choosing the next chapter carefully. We wrap with Dianya Markovits and Lily Snowden from SJC Cultural Events Inc. to break down the massive Pont Vedra Concert Hall renovation, the upgraded sound, new seating options, improved amenities, and how the St. Augustine Amphitheatre keeps building community through concerts, pre-show hangs, Taste of St. Augustine, and the Saturday farmers market. If you’re searching for Jacksonville concerts, St. Augustine Amphitheatre tickets, or Pont Vedra Concert Hall shows, this is your roadmap. Subscribe, share this with your concert crew, and leave a review with the next show you’re chasing.