2014 Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival Guide

Plant City Observer

2013 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

OFFICIAL GUIDE TO THE 2014 BLUEBERRY

FESTIVAL Plant City Times &

Observer

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2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

PlantCityObserver.com

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Welcome

Plant City Times & Observer

to the 7th Tampa Bay BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL Hello and welcome to the you our new additions and, as Seventh Annual Tampa Bay always, let you U-pick away at Blueberry Festival. We love our 25 acres of blueberry bushes. festival time, and we continue This year promises to be to work tirelessly to keep a tremendous one for this an affordable, fun, the little blue gems. The safe, family event that is late-season cool weather truly Florida. delayed harvest by a couple You may notice weeks, which will result some slight changes in more and sweeter fruit at this year’s festival. for U-picking. As always, Over the last year, Keel we recommend you arrive Clay Keel early to beat the rush and Curley Winery grew tremendously. and get your choice of fruit — Improvements include an although we believe we will have on-site brewery, Two Henrys plenty to pick throughout the Brewing Company, upgrades weekend and beyond. to both the outside and Blueberries are not the inside entertainment areas, only attraction at the festival, and planting a few acres of however. You can find live blackberries. Everyone in the music, a free kids area, and Keel family is excited to show loads of vendors and food

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2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

TABLE OF

trucks, as well as beer and wine specials. Also, be on the lookout for our special-release beer and wine on festival days.

Our Strawberry Shortcake Wine, made with St. Clement Catholic Church’s strawberry sauce from its world-famous Make-Your-Own-StrawberryShortcake stand, will be back and available only during the festival — while supplies last.

Two Henrys Brewing Company also will feature our first true fruit beer, which, of course, is a Blueberry Lager. A portion of the proceeds from our special release products go to benefit St. Clement Catholic Church and other charities. Look for both starting Friday, April 25, at the festival.

We hope you come out and have a terrific time at the 2014 festival. Please feel free to ask for a Keel or Curley family member, so we can shake your hand and maybe even give a few pointers on growing, picking, fermenting or cooking with blueberries.

Clay Keel Keel and Curley Winery

CONTENTS

4 6 8

Festival Map and Schedule Blueberry Festival Preview Blueberry Recipes About the

10 WInes

the 11 About Blueberry Farm

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Blueberry Picking Tips

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Meet the Entertainment

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Meet the 2014 Queen

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2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

U-PICK AREA KIDS AREA WINE/BEER BAR FOOD VENDORS CRAFT VENDORS BATHROOMS

Plant City Times &

Observer KEEL AND CURLEY WINERY

WHEN: April 25 to 27 WHERE: Keel and Curley Winery, 5202 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City INFORMATION: (813) 752-9100

NORTH FORBES ROAD

STAGE

WEBSITE: tampabay blueberryfestival.com

ENTRANCE/EXIT THONOTOSASSA ROAD

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FRIDAY APRIL 25 7 a.m.: Gates open and U-pick blueberries starts and continues while supplies last Noon: Vendors open 2 to 8 p.m.: Festival hours 7 to 11 p.m.: Live music

by Mark Barrios

SATURDAY APRIL 26 7 a.m.: Gates open and U-pick blueberries starts and continues while supplies last 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Festival hours 10 a.m.: Live music by Faces South 2:30 p.m.: Live music by Skip Frye

Plant City Times &

Observer 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563 (813) 704-6850, www.PlantCityObserver.com

SUNDAY APRIL 27 7 a.m.: Gates open and U-pick blueberries starts and continues while supplies last 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Festival hours 11 a.m.: Live music by Southern Legacy 1:30 p.m.: Blueberry Queen presentation and Blueberry Royalty Court introduction 2:30 p.m.: Live music by Double Barrel Band

General Manager/Editorial / Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com General Manager/Advertising / Tony Del Castillo, tdelcastillo@tampabay.com Associate Editor / Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Justin Kline, jkline@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Executives / Veronica Prostko, vprostko@PlantCityObserver.com; Joanna Verga, jverga@tampabay.com Circulation/Office Manager / Linda Lancaster, llancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

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2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

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2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

FAMILY FUN By Justin Kline | Staff Writer

KEEL AND CURLEY WINERY ADDRESS: 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City PHONE: (813) 7529100 HOURS: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays; 10 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays

FEST OFFERS

NEW TASTES Sure, the little blue beauties in Keel and Curley Winery’s fields are the main attraction at the Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival. But guests of this year’s festival also should take the time to sample Keel and Curley’s newest offerings.

For the first time in festival history, Keel and Curley Winery’ will serve its own beer.

Two Henrys Brewing Company, the brand the winery launched in October 2013, has been quite successful throughout the Plant City area and promises be a large attraction over the weekend.

Perhaps it’s something in the brews. Some of the mainstays on the menu, including the lager and the stout, have been popular since their inceptions, even making good sales in

local restaurants.

“With some of the Budweiser products, some restaurants go through a keg a month,” says Director of Farming Operations Ryan Keel. “But, with our lager, they sometimes go through a keg in a week.”

And then, there are others that are occasionally on the menu, whether they were intentional or not.

The winery briefly featured a double Indian Pale Ale, which wasn’t originally supposed to be a double. But, because IPAs are extremely popular right now, the winery featured it anyway and quickly sold out.

Or, perhaps it’s because the people of Plant City just love to buy locally produced goods.

“We have a lot of people interested in the organization, with the new brewery,” says Clay Keel, vice president of production and head brewer of Two Henrys Brewing Company. “We have

a new group of customers we’ve never had before — that, plus selling our wine in Walmart gives us new shoppers.”

To go with the festival, Clay Keel has been working on a new product specifically for the festival: a blueberry lager, which will be the first that Two Henrys has ever featured as a menu item.

Fans of the limited Strawberry Shortcake Wine also will be happy to know that it’s coming back, and that experience is going to be a little different, too.

“We unveiled the Strawberry Shortcake Wine last year, and it’ll be back again,” Clay Keel says. “It’s made with the sauce from St. Clement’s strawberry shortcakes. They’re going to

help us serve it this year — the first time they’ve done that.”

In addition to the beer, it’s also going to be perfect timing for those interested in picking their own fresh blueberries. Because of the recent weather, blueberry season will peak during the festival this weekend. Usually, it peaks earlier.

“We’ll have a ton of blueberries this year,” Clay says. “This weather pushed everything later, which is good for the U-pick. We’re estimating to have about 30,000 pounds in the fields.”

The winery is hoping to exceed last year’s attendance total of about 12,000.

“The most appealing thing about the festival — if I were a guest — is that there’s so much going on, and you’re not going to spend a fortune,” Clay Keel says. “It’s $5 to park, free to get in, and you can pick three pounds of blueberries for $12. There’s wine, beer and live music.

It’s just a good family day — that’s what it’s really all about.”

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2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

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2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

KEY Ingredient

By Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

For about 30 days in March and April, it’s time to pick and sell Florida blueberries. That’s all the time growers have before the season begins in other parts of the country. But during half of that narrow window, Florida is the only place in the world growing fresh blueberries.

After your trip to the Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival this year, you’ll likely leave Keel and Curley Winery with a pound or two of its famous fruit. So, the Plant City Times & Observer has asked some locals to share their favorite blueberry-inspired recipes.

BLUEBERRY MINT JULEP Local artist Debra Bryant brings a taste of Kentucky with a Florida blueberry spin with her blueberry mint julep. She loves to serve it for “Run for the Roses.”

INGREDIENTS

SOPHIA’S HEALTHY & YUMMY BLUEBERRY COBBLER Plant City resident Sophia Hyde has been working to make her lifestyle more healthy through detoxes and clean eating. She’s devised a healthy spin on blueberry cobbler.

INGREDIENTS 4 cups fresh blueberries 1/2 lemon (juiced) 1 packet Stevia 2 cups almond meal 1/2 cup pecans, chopped 1/2 cup coconut oil melted 1/4 cup pure maple syrup 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

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1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Crushed ice 1 cup bourbon Seltzer, chilled

1 pint fresh blueberries, rinsed and dried 1/2 cup superfine sugar 1 large bunch mint

METHOD • In a small bowl, mash together the blueberries, sugar and vanilla and let sit at room temperature until juicy, about 20 minutes. Strain the mixture through a sieve into a bowl, pressing against the solids with a rubber spatula; discard the pulp.

• For each drink, place about 3 tablespoons of the blueberry syrup and 8 mint leaves into a cocktail glass and muddle together using the handle of a wooden spoon. Fill with crushed ice, 1/4 cup bourbon and a splash of seltzer. Garnish with a mint sprig.

METHOD • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

• Rinse berries and place in a 9-by9 baking dish. Sprinkle the Stevia and squeeze the lemon across the berries.

• In a separate bowl, combine the almond meal, pecans, coconut oil, maple syrup, cinnamon and salt.

• Spread the topping evenly over the berries.

• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the fruit is bubbly, and the topping is golden.

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2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL COCONUT BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE BARS

BLUEBERRY MARGARITA Julie Hasting, director of the Blueberry Festival Pageant, has the perfect recipe to unwind at the end of a long week. This tropical margarita will be perfect for summer.

1/2 container of frozen Minute Maid Limeade 1/2 cup of margarita mix

METHOD • Mix 2 cups ice blend into a blender with the tequila, blueberries, limeade and margarita mix until blended.

• Add salt to the rim, if desired.

The Keel Family has enjoyed eating blueberry cheesecake bars for years. But, their recipe calls for a tropical twist, infusing the bars with coconut.

INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup butter 3/4 cup crusted graham crackers 1/2 cup flower 1/2 cup flake coconut 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup ground pecans

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS FIT FOR A QUEEN This classic blueberry muffin recipe is 2014 Blueberry Festival Queen Shelby St. Amant’s favorite. She has made the muffins with her mom — using Keel & Curley fresh blueberries, of course.

“These muffins (are) so delicious, and it was because of the fresh blueberries we picked,” she says.

INGREDIENTS 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons baking powder 1/2 cup sugar 1 stick unsalted butter, melted 1 egg, slightly beaten

3/4 cup whole milk 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries 1/2 cup granulated brown sugar or white sugar

2/3 cup sugar 1 1/2 8-ounce cream cheese, softened 4 eggs 1 tablespoon brandy or milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups blueberries

METHOD • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a 12-cup muffin pan.

• In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and sugar. In another bowl, combine butter, egg and milk; mix well.

• Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and, with a spatula, stir until just combined. Do not beat or over-mix; it’s OK if there are lumps in the batter.

Gently fold the blueberries into the batter.

METHOD • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 13-by-9 pan.

• Heat butter until color of light brown sugar.

• Stir together graham cracker crumbs, flour, coconut, pecans and 1/4 cup of sugar. Add butter. Mix and spread evenly onto pan. Bake for 8 minutes.

• Mix cream cheese, 2/3 cup sugar, eggs, brandy or milk and vanilla. Pour over crust and sprinkle berries.

• Bake 18 to 20 minutes. Cool, cover and refrigerate.

• Spoon the batter into the muffin tray, filling each cup about 2/3 full. Bake for 10 minutes and remove from the oven.

• Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with the granulated brown or white sugar and return the muffins to the oven to bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

• Cool for about 10 minutes in the pan before turning the muffins out.

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INGREDIENTS 3 shots of your favorite tequila 1 cup blueberries

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2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

UNCORKED By Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Wine Guide BLUEBERRY

Take a look at the delicious blueberry wine offerings at this year’s Blueberry Festival.

Keel and Curley Winery will be offering more than 15 wine selections of all types (and Two Henrys Brewing Company selections) at this year’s Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival. But, perhaps the ones worth tasting aren’t made from traditional grapes, but rather blueberries. They are, after all, the star attraction.

DRY BLUEBERRY

SEMI-DRY BLUEBERRY

Dry Blueberry is 100% blueberries, no grapes added.

Purple-red coloring with the tart scent of sweet berry skin.

The body is big, brashly elegant and punctuated with mouth drying tannins softened by the warm juice of sun-dried blueberries.

Semi-Dry Blueberry is 100% blueberries, no grapes added.

Purple-red coloring with a nose of tart berries blending into a body that is bursting with sweet zingy acidity and warm dulcet fruit flavors. This wine is decidedly bold with sturdy structuring.

PERFECT PAIRING: Brie and dried fruits

PERFECT PAIRING: Red meats, stews and exotic cheeses

SWEET BLUEBERRY Sweet Blueberry is 100% blueberries, no grapes added.

Purple-red coloring with a medium body of intense sun-ripened blueberries with a delicate sweetness and balance that is neither the common syrupy or watered down texture of typical fruit wines.

PERFECT PAIRING: Barbecue at a weekend cookout

FAMILY FAVORITES

Clay Keel, the son of winery owner Joe Keel and the winery’s vice president of production and head brewer of Two Henrys Brewing Company, has his own picks for which wines you should try.

CLAY’S FAVORITE

“I like the Dry Blueberry. To me it has the most complex flavors, the best color, the best flavor, the best finish. Drink it at room temperature.”

FOR THE FESTIVAL

“At the festival, it’s outside, it’s hot, you’ve been picking blueberries all day. So go with something light like the Sweet Blueberry.” In addition to the Sweet Blueberry, Keel also suggests the Strawberry Riesling or Peach Chardonnay. Both can be served chilled and are refreshing on a warm spring day.

RESERVE FOR A CAUSE For the second year, Keel and Curley will be showcasing its Strawberry Shortcake Wine. The wine is made from strawberry juice from St. Clement Catholic Church’s shortcake booth at the Florida Strawberry Festival. The booth is a local legend, pumping out tens of thousands of shortcakes each year at the festival as a fundraiser for church programs. Part of the proceeds from wine sales will benefit the church.

WINE LIST

Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay Dry Blueberry Ice Wine Key West-Key Lime Merlot Peach Pinot Noir Riesling Sangria Semi-Dry Blueberry Strawberry Strawberry Shortcake Sweet Blackberry Sweet Blueberry Tangerine Tango White Zinfandel Wild Berry Winemaker’s Reserve Blackberry

Plant City Times & Observer

2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

FROM THE GROUND UP By Justin Kline | Staff Writer

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BLUEBERRY BENEFITS

Blueberries are the star ingredient in many delicious recipes, but the berries themselves also are linked to many health benefits.

The berries are packed with antioxidants and vitamin C. One cup of blueberries delivers 14% of the recommended daily dose of fiber and nearly one-quarter of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. A University of Florida research study found blueberry wine has more antioxidants than many traditional grape-based wines.

HIGH IN MANGANESE

DOWN ON THE FARM Keel and Curley has grown blueberries as its primary crop since 1997.

You don’t have to visit Plant City for more than five minutes to realize that the strawberry is king of area crops. But, it’s not the only sweet berry that grows here, and it’s round, blue rival certainly provides a tougher challenge.

Just ask a blueberry grower.

In short, it’s kind of a crapshoot: Blueberry season lasts from six to eight weeks, and it puts out just one crop a year. If you’re growing them, you have one chance to get it right during harvesting time.

Keel and Curley Winery has been growing blueberries as its primary crop since 1997 and, since going full-time in 2001, now has 30 acres of the fruit growing in its property.

“The lifespan of a blueberry bush is about 10 years,” says Keel and Curley Director of Farming Operations Ryan Keel.

“We’ve kept about 30 acres of production on blueberries. We re-set two to three acres every year from older bushes.”

With such a short crop window, it’s imperative that anything that can go right does.

After the end of season, the rest

of the year is spent maintaining the bushes and doing anything possible to keep them out of harm’s way.

Keel and Curley workers pick, on average, about 10 to 12 times a year, going only for what’s blue on the bushes.

Green berries are left there to ripen — hopefully to be ready for the next picking. This happens all the way up to the Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival.

“We probably average about $2 to $2.50 per pound in profit, Keel says. “Every year is different. Last year, we picked 150,000 pounds of berries off 30 acres. That’s probably an average year. The year before that was down, because of a lot of factors, but other years were higher than that. So, that’s a pretty good average.”

When the U-pickers come in, they pay $4 per pound.

But, according to Keel, not all of these outside pickers are welcome.

“The question that people always ask me is, ‘What do you have to worry about?’

Our biggest issue, believe it or not, is the birds,” he says.

“Everybody says, ‘Do they get insects? Do they get disease?’

They do, to some extent, but our biggest challenge is to fend off the birds. They’re hungry at the same time the people are hungry for blueberries, and this year is no exception.”

If you walk around the back of the winery on a normal day, you’ll see and hear this for yourself. It sounds like a lot of wings flapping, angry squawks and ... explosions.

“We can’t harm the birds, because they’re migratory, but we can scare them,” Keel says.

“We have a guy who works 12 hours a day, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with fireworks and just keeps them flying around. Tries to keep them from landing in the bushes.”

As cool as a job that lets someone launch fireworks all day sounds, Keel says it’s still an aggravating experience for everyone involved.

“When they get hungry, they get relentless,” Keel says. “I’ve seen flocks of 500 to 1,000 birds come in. You shoot fireworks, and they fly away 50 feet and then come back. And then you do it again, and they fly 50 feet and come back. It’s quite frustrating, especially if you’re watching them eat your fruit.”

Blueberries are an excellent source of manganese, which plays an important role in bone development and in converting proteins, carbohydrates and fats into energy.

LOW IN FAT

A one-cup serving of blueberries contains only 80 calories and virtually no fat.

PACKED WITH PHYTONUTRIENTS

Research has shown that the berries are packed with phytonutrients, called polyphenols, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These may help lessen the inflammatory process associated with chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and other age-related diseases.

VITAMIN C

One serving of blueberries delivers almost 25% of the daily vitamin C requirement.

Vitamin C promotes a healthy immune system and helps maintain healthy gums and capillaries.

DIETARY FIBER

Fiber keeps the body regular, the heart healthy and cholesterol in check.

Source: U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council

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2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

ADVICE By Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

How to Pick the

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REHABILITATION PROVIDER

PERFECTBLUEBERRY Ryan Keel, of Keel and Curley Winery, has some good advice on what to look for when picking blueberries.

As the director of farming operations for Keel and Curley Winery, Ryan Keel knows a lot about blueberries.

During blueberry picking season in April, Keel has about 100 pickers, whom he trains how to pick only the best blueberries.

During the two days of the Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival, visitors can join in on the last U-picks of the year.

To help those new to picking blueberries, Keel has offered some advice to help you leave with plenty of perfectly plump berries.

COLOR You only want the bluest of the blue. Green or red ones aren’t ripe. Make sure to not only look at the top of the berry for color, but look on the bottom, as well. Too dark of a blueberry means it is overripe.

TEXTURE Check out the berries for any aesthetic damage, such as bird pecks or frost damage. If they have damage, throw them on the ground.

RIPENESS

Providing a caring, upscale environment and state-of-the-art equipment.

Overripe berries are dark blue and soft to the touch. If the berries are overripe, they tend to spoil more quickly than other berries. If an overripe berry is packaged with ripe berries, leakage from the overripe berry can cause the package to become moldy.

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Available 7 days a week.

Pick one berry at a time. Don’t grab the whole clump at once.

Doing so will cause the stems to be pulled off with the berry. It may be faster to grab a whole clump at once, but later, you will have to pull out all the stems.

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The more you touch a blueberry, the softer they get. This can cause leakage, which will make the berry moldy and can contaminate other berries in your package. It’s best to leave the berries alone once they are in you basket.

Plant City Times & Observer

2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

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MARK BARRIOS PERFORMANCE TIME: 7 p.m. Friday, April 25

Although this year’s Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival is going to be chock full of Southern rock ‘n’ roll, Mark Barrios will be offering something a little different.

Barrios, a Tampa native, is bringing his brand of smooth jazz back to the festival for the first time in a few years. He typically performs at Keel and Curley Winery four or five times a year for the last three years.

He has played music professionally for more than 25 years, at times in other bands, and currently plays shows in support of his 2008 debut album, “West Tampa Style.” In addition to playing a number of shows at the winery, Barrios has played all around Florida — from a few appearances on Melbourne radio station WGRV-The Groove’s Wednesday night jazz series to performing at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday festival last October.

Although Barrios is primarily a smooth jazz artist, he does like to mix things up a bit. The guitarist also works in blues, contemporary Christian, funk and soul music, and incorporates a strong Latin influence into his work. He cites the legendary Carlos Santana as one of his biggest musical influences.

“The first time I heard Santana’s ‘Abraxas’ album on my best friend’s stereo, I knew what I wanted to do with my life,” Barrios says on his website.

The self-released “West Tampa Style” made it into the Top 50 chart on SmoothJazz.com and remained there for more than a a year. It currently is available on both iTunes and Amazon.

Barrios also is working on a new album, which he hopes to

release sometime in the next few months.

At the show, anyone unfamiliar with his work shouldn’t expect a set of strictly smooth jazz: Barrios plans to let his other styles come out, too.

“I like to start out with some smooth jazz from ‘West Tampa Style,’” he says. “As the show progresses, we like to get the crowd on the dance floor with some old-school, funky music,

and I like to feature a few Santana songs.”

And, just like members of the audience, Barrios also is excited to have some off-stage fun at the festival.

“This year, I’m looking forward to experiencing all that the festival has to offer and enjoying all the varieties of wine, besides performing there,” Barrios says.

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PlantCityObserver.com

2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

FACES SOUTH PERFORMANCE TIME: 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26 One of Plant City’s most popular local acts will return to the Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival this year — with a new face.

In May 2013, Faces South brought in frontwoman Geri Blount to complete the lineup. Blount, a Plant City native, was recommended by drummer Andy Fritsch, a former bandmate.

“He wasn’t sure how the other guys would accept a female front person, (because) they had always had a male lead singer, but he assured them I was not a ‘diva’ and thought they should at least have me audition,” Blount says. “After our first show together, they asked me to join them permanently, and the rest is history.”

The addition actually killed two birds with one stone: Faces South got a new

sound guy out of it, too.

“They actually got a ‘two-fer’ when they hired me,” Blount says. “My husband, Alan, is our sound technician.”

Since Blount joined the band, Faces South has been busier than ever. The band went into Rising Sun Studios, in Tampa, near the end of 2013 to record a seven-song demo, which it plans to add to in May or June. The band’s first single, “Walk Softly on this Heart of Mine,” has gotten over 17,000 YouTube hits and is now available on iTunes.

“It’s been an exciting past year, and we’re expecting this year to carry on just like it,” fellow band member Ken Speer says. “There’s always something new coming up.”

Playing the festival isn’t exactly new to the band, and Speer says last year’s festival

performance was a great success. He, along with the rest of the band, is expecting a similarly great experience in 2014.

“At a lot of shows, there’s not a lot of people,” Speer says.

“They’re not dancing.

It gets boring. But, Keel and Curley is always a great show.

We expect it to be bigger this year. Every year, it grows.”

Most importantly, the band is still having fun. The band prides itself on being a “dance band” — if the crowd can’t dance to a song, Faces South won’t bother to learn it.

The band hopes to bring that energy to the crowd at the festival.

“We want the crowd to have as much fun as we do,” Speer says. “If they’re having

fun, we’re having fun. It’s amazing how it really takes both factors to make (a show) the best that it can be.”

— Justin Kline

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Plant City Times & Observer

SKIP FRYE GROUP One of the two Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival newcomers in 2014 is Blues Hall of Fame guitarist Skip Frye and his band.

“This is our first one,” Frye says. “We love the venue — who wouldn’t? Great place to play. The people like us; we like them.”

It’s just one part of a busy month for Frye: The festival will be the band’s first big show since playing at Daytona Bike Week, and Frye also has done a few prison dates in Ocala with Fort Lauderdale-based Solid Rock Ministries.

Frye has been playing professionally since 1969.

Before he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2012, Frye dabbled in different styles with many bands. He toured with Those Muvin Brothers in 1970 and got to open for Jerry Lee Lewis, among other artists. Also in the early 1970s, he joined a rock band called Hough and

15

2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

got to open for acts such as Bob Seger and Ted Nugent. In the 1990s, Frye played with jazz outfit Free Time, which backed up legendary cornet player Nat Adderley.

Frye has just one album of his own, for which he formed a band called Jabbok. The band recorded the self-titled album in 1998 but never released it on a record label. Frye says he only recently submitted it to an Internet blues radio site.

The Skip Frye Group is currently a three-piece: Frye and Southern rocker Steve Mack both play the guitar, and Frye’s wife, Nancy, sings backup. All three, though, contribute on the microphone.

In addition to Frye’s signature blues tunes, the band has been known to move to other sounds. Mack, for example, brings a Lynyrd Skynyrdinspired Southern rock background to the group.

“He knows every single

PERFORMANCE TIME: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26

Skynyrd song,” Frye says.

“Good singer, good player.”

The group also likes to cover The Beatles.

“Last time we played at Keel and Curley, we did a whole hour of Beatles music,” Frye says.

Frye plans to get back in the studio to make another album

over the summer. But, for now, he’s just excited to get back to the winery.

“We’re looking forward to playing some good music, having a good time,” Frye says.

“Keel and Curley always has a great crowd when we play there.”

— Justin Kline

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PlantCityObserver.com

2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

SOUTHERN LEGACY BAND PERFORMANCE TIME: 11 a.m. Sunday, April 27

Charlie Olson, better known as “Charlie O.,” has performed with many bands in the last 40 years.

Plant City-area fans most likely know him from his current outfit, previously known as Charlie O. and the Houserockers.

Olson’s pleased with the current lineup. So pleased, in fact, that he’s changing gears in 2014 — he’s putting 100 percent of his energy into the newly christened Southern Legacy Band, which will be playing Sunday at the Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival.

“I couldn’t be happier with this band,” Olson says. “It’s the best I’ve played with in over 40 years.”

It’s still the same core as Charlie O. and the Houserockers. In addition to Olson on guitar and vocals, Billy Dickerson is singing lead and playing lead guitar, Rich Miller is

still on the keys, Eddie Cash is still playing the bass, and Pat Neff still is drumming.

Besides some of the music, it’s just everything else that’s new: a new Facebook page, new logo and new shirts.

So, why change the name?

Simply put, the band felt that “Houserockers” didn’t really mesh with their sound.

These guys are sticking to their guns and serving up a set full of Southern rock: music for fans of the Black Crowes, Blackberry Smoke and the Allman Brothers Band, plus some original tunes from an upcoming album. “‘Houserockers’ wasn’t a Southern name,” Olson says.

“You’d hear that and think, rhythm and blues, a little rock ‘n’ roll, something like that — not Southern rock. We finally came up with a new name after two or three years of trying to think of one.”

It’s a deviation from last year’s appearance, when Olson and some of the Houserockers broke off into a smaller, acoustic group — the Corkscrews — created specifically for shows at Keel and Curley. In addition to playing the festival, the Corkscrews played monthly at the winery’s Uncorked Friday Nights.

“We had a great time,” Olson says. “We always have a great time there — we play once or twice a month. The Blueberry Festival rocks.

“We’re looking forward to the audience,” he says.

“Great crowd out there, on a Plant City Sunday. Where else would you rather be?”

— Justin Kline

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Plant City Times & Observer

2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

17

DOUBLE BARREL BAND PERFORMANCE TIME: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 27 Another Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival newcomer is Plant City’s own Double Barrel Band, but they’re no strangers to the venue.

The party band, which mainly brings flavors of Southern rock, blues and country to its performances, has played its share of shows on weekends at Keel and Curley.

“This is the first time we will have played the Blueberry Festival, but we have been playing at Keel and Curley for over a year now, and we love it,” frontman “Trailer Park” Mark Sprouse says.

The band itself came together in early 2009, while Sprouse was working as a solo country artist. He had just released an album, “It’s a Country Thing,” and a local newspaper sent a writer to do a story on him.

That’s where the first seeds were planted.

“I found out he played keyboards, and we got a band together,” Sprouse says. “We had five people to start, and we are now a three-piece.”

Sprouse handles the band’s lead guitar and vocals, and also plays the fiddle and harmonica. Chris Klear, the drummer, contributes percussion and backup vocals. And Rich “Six Strings” Fiore, in addition to playing his trademark six-string bass, sings backup and some lead vocals.

“We are a very energetic band,” Sprouse says. “We use a wireless system that lets us get off the stage and interact with the crowd, have fun with them.”

The band’s goal is to be the “best party band in Tampa Bay.” It also dabbles in funk, disco and bluegrass, performs a number of classic-rock covers and even includes some comedy in its sets.

Following the Blueberry Festival, the band’s next big concert will be in Plant City for the Fourth of July celebration at Plant City Stadium, for which they’ve been named the featured entertainment.

At the festival, the band not only is looking forward to playing one of its favorite venues but also playing for a

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“Fun and family,” Sprouse says. “This is a family event for all ages, and we all have kids, so we like the fact that our kids can come out, have fun and get to see us perform.”

— Justin Kline

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PlantCityObserver.com

2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

HERE SHE IS By Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

MEET THE 2014

Blueberry Queen The competition was fierce for this year’s Miss Blueberry Queen, but Shelby St. Amant bested five other contestants to receive a dazzling crown and the coveted title.

What was it like being up on stage?

It was a lot of fun. I wasn’t nervous waiting, but, as soon as I got on stage, the nerves kicked in.

What is the hardest thing about pageants?

The hardest thing is getting in front of people on stage. Everyone is looking at you. They are judging your hair, makeup, dress and how you talk. You want to look good and sound good.

How did you feel about winning the title of Miss Blueberry Queen?

I was surprised. I thought there was tough competition. It was a blessing that I won.

What advice do you have for girls who do the Blueberry Pageant next year?

Win or lose, you are always a winner. You don’t have to have a crown to tell you that. I feel pageants are a self-confidence-building experience that everyone should do.

What do you like about pageants?

Every pageant, I am able to build self-confidence about myself. You can learn to speak well in front of a lot of people.

Are you excited for festival?

I have never been, but I hear it is a lot of fun. I am excited just to be part of the festival. I’m looking forward to representing the festival as queen.

SHELBY ST. AMANT,19 SCHOOL: Hillsborough Community College EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: After HCC, Shelby plans to transfer to Florida State University to major in sports management and law.

She hopes to use her degree to become a sports agent or coordinator. Shelby enjoys clogging, line dancing, volunteering at Shriners Hospital for Children and being a member of the Newsome FFA Alumni.

PAGEANT EXPERIENCE: Little Miss Plant City, Hillsborough Harvest Queen, Florida Strawberry Festival Queen Pageant, Pioneer Heritage Sweetheart Pageant FAMILY: Parents Robert and Whitney St. Amant; older sister, Courtney

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Plant City Times & Observer

2014 TAMPA BAY BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL

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