In Tune: Orlando Calling

Let’s face it: South Florida isn’t a major player when it comes to the music scene. A lot of tours and artists skip over the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area completely when they book shows. Sometimes, we’re lucky if we can get a concert in West Palm Beach and willingly make the drive up because it might be years before that artist makes his or her way down here again. But don’t get me wrong; I definitely think things have improved lately. Last year alone, bands like MGMT and Phoenix played back-to-back sold out shows at the Fillmore in South Beach.

Still, there is much to be desired by those like me who find themselves tortured by location and lack of funds to make it out to major music festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza. But, our luck could be changing, and it could be changing really soon. This weekend will prove pivotal.

Orlando Calling is upon us. It’s presented by Festival Republic, the same group that puts together a few things you may have heard of in Europe: Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds. No big deal? I think not. It’s not every day a major U.K. promoter decided to create a music festival across the pond. It’s even rarer when Florida is the chosen location. But that’s exactly what happened, and the two-day festival is taking place today and tomorrow at Florida Citrus Bowl Park in Downtown Orlando. Over 70 bands will be performing across five stages, including The Killers, making it their only show in North American this year. The lineup is diverse, ranging from the Pixies and The Avett Brothers to Kid Cudi and Blake Sheldon. For a complete schedule and lineup, check out the the Orlando Calling website.

I will be on site doing press on behalf of the “The Beacon,” so I’ll be posting lots of pictures in the coming days. Tune in to “In Tune” (don’t roll your eyes at me. I warned you in the first post that my cornyness was inevitable) for coverage of the festival, and if you have the means to, come out and join me!

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