WMNF 88.5 presents: The First Annual Tampa Bay Americana Music Festival On Sunday July 16, 2006

A WMNF Benefit for non-commercial radio 88.5

Sunday July 16th, 2006 From 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm at

Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road In Tampa, FL


Nine Alarm Productions and WMNF are pleased to announce The First Annual Tampa Bay Americana Music Festival to be held at Skipper's Smokehouse on Sunday, July 16, 2006 from 5-10pm.

The line up includes seven of the best Tampa Bay area Americana artists, including Steve Connelly and the Lesser Gods, Experimental Pilot, the Human Condition, Rebekkah Pulley and the Reluctant Prophets, the Urbane Cowboys, the Diviners, and Hangtown.

Advance tickets are available through WMNF for $8. The admission charge on the day of the show will be $10.00.

Steve Connelly and the Lesser Gods - Former member of the critically acclaimed Headlights, the multi-talented local
guitarist/songwriter/producer Steve Connelly unleashes his latest project, the Lesser Gods. If you've never seen Steve Connelly play a guitar solo live before, then prepare to be amazed.

Experimental Pilot - The acoustic duo featuring brothers Robert and Stephen Vessenmeyer (both formerly of local favorites, Men From Earth) mixes their own brand of rootsy, rugged harmonies with classic rock inspired songwriting.

The Human Condition - This unique band is the vehicle for
singer/songwriter Dean Johanesen. Their sound contains influences of rock, folk and other progressive artists. Their music has been described as both rhythmic and acoustic, combining intense and sometimes gentle dynmics.

Rebekkah Pulley and the Reluctant Prophets - Rebekah Pulley began playing at the age of fifteen encouraged by her father, a
country-western musician who played for country great Charlie Ryan. Rebekah was born the fifth of nine children in Anchorage, Alaska and spent her earlier years brought up on the road in a rather unconventional family atmosphere. Continuing to travel the country on her own, she found her place in the local scene of St. Petersburg Florida. Over the years she has developed her sound and is recognized by her fan base as a notable singer/songwriter. Her mix of haunting vocals,
earthy rhythms and sweet tones have earned a place in the hearts and CD players of an eclectic base of music fans throughout the southeast.

The Urbane Cowboys - This Tampa, FL americana/roots rock/alt.country quartet churns out what has been described as "ass kickin', beer drinkin', boot stompin' rock n' roll." Since 1999 The Urbane Cowboys Cowboys have gigged quite consistently around the Central Florida area with both local and national acts. In his feature article on the Cowboys in Tampa's local rag Weekly Planet, music columnist Scott Harrell had this to say: "The presence of two primary songwriters lend The Urbane Cowboys a surprisingly broad signature. Some songs rock with roadhouse
abandon, some would slide nicely into contemporary pop-country airplay, and still others play into that surf-a-billy backbeat. By
refusing to narrowly define what they do, the Cowboys have created a fun, eclectic, and widely appealing style.

The Diviners - Formed from the ashes of Will Quinlan's seminal Tampa bands, Pagan Saints and Murder Creek, The Diviners carry forward an earnest punk/folk/rock aesthetic while incorporating traditional country and bluegrass elements, resulting in a profoundly original take on contemporary americana. The Austin Chronicle says: "The Diviners throw
out righteous blasts of ragged American punk/folk/soul anthems of love, politics and drunkenness."

Hangtown - Since 1998, Tampa Bay's breakthrough americana band Hangtown has been churning out their own brand of roots-flavored, indie-alternative rock. Over the past eight years, the band has released two full length CDs: Here For Now (1999) on the Tampa based Blue Heart label (owned and operated by the legendary Ronny Elliott), and Eleven Reasons (2001) on Mississippi based Black Dog Records (a label founded
by members of the legendary alt. country band, Blue Mountain). The group temporarily disbanded in 2002, and In that same year, singer/songwriter Ted Lukas released a solo CD, titled Distracted. In 2005, the members of Hangtown reformed and began recording new songs for the 2006 EP release, Gone Today, Here Tomorrow (mixed by legendary americana producer, Eric "Roscoe" Ambel). Hangtown is officially back, with a new EP and a new sound that takes an edgier rock approach combined with a stripped-down, roots-rock presence.