Allman, Widespread Panic headline Wanee Music Festival

   It's still three and a half months away and a couple of hundred miles away, but the 2015 Wanee Music Festival is worth getting excited about.
   The 11th annual festival is set for April 16-18 in Live Oak. The lineup that's been announced so far includes three former members of the Allman Brothers Band, all playing separately with their own groups: Gregg Allman, Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band and Butch Trucks & Very Special Friends.

Gregg Allman

   Widespread Panic is the nominal headliner, but there are tons of great acts and big names, including Cheap Trick, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gov't Mule, JJ Grey & Mofro, Hot Tuna, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk and supergroup the Word, which includes Robert Randolph, John Medseki and Luther DIckinson.
   Also slated to appear are Oteil & Friends, Galactic, Zappa Plays Zappa, Leftover Salmon featuring Bill Payne (of Little Feat), Yonder Mountain String Band, Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes, Raw Oyster Cult,  Dragon Smoke, the Revivalists, Home At Last, The Nth Power Performs Steely Dan, Tea Leaf Green, Bobby Lee Rogers Trio, Pink Talking Fish, Eric Lindell & Company, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Twiddle, Natural Child, Jacob Jeffries Band and Juke.
   The festival is in Suwannee Music Park, which is a gorgeous place for music festival.
   Advance tickets are on sale now, and if you're sure you want to go you might want to get tickets soon. Three-day tickets are $195 plus "applicable fees" but the price will go up later. Tickets include three nights of primitive camping and music from 12:30 p.m. on Thursday and full days of music on Friday and Saturday.
   VIP tickets are $499 (again plus applicable fees) and include a whole lot of extra stuff, including catered meals and  access to private restrooms.
   For tickets and more information, go to waneefestival.com.  

Bradenton's We the KIngs play in St. Petersburg

   We the Kings, one of Bradenton's best bands ever, is out on a tour of Florida, and they'll be in St. Peterburg this weekend.

   The band, who hit the big-time with their platinum single “Check Yes, Juliet,” was on the Vans Warped Tour this summer, but

Hunter Thomsen and Travis Clark of We the Kings

they’ll be sounding quite a bit different at this show. The tour’s called “Stripped” and all the shows are unplugged.

   On Saturday, They be at the Local 662, at 662 Central Ave. in downtown St. Petersburg. Doors open at 7 p.m. seventeen-year-old Ella Jet, who's been making music around town for six years, opens.

   Tickets are $23.75. Call 727-258-4829 or go to daddkooltickets.com.

   This is the closest We the Kings will be coming to Bradenton on the "Stripped' tour. But they'll be performing their eighth annual Hometown Christmas Show at the The Hall, 1330 US 301, Palmetto. at 6 p.m.  Dec. 27.  Tickets are $10 for general admission and $50 for early entry with a meet-and-greet. You can get tickets through at showclix.com/event/3908571.

Idina Menzel to perform near Bradenton next year

   She became a Broadway star when she appeared in "Rent.” She became a Broadway superstar when she won a Tony Award from originating the role of Elphaba in “Wicked." She became a movie star when she voiced the role of Elsa the Snow QIeen in "Frozen." She became a pop culture icon at this year's Oscars when John Travolta introduced her as "Adele Dazeem,”
  

Idina Menzel

  Idina Menzel is maybe the most famous performer in musical theater and film these days, and definitely one of the most acclaimed. Besides her Broadway credits, Menzel has a recurring role as  Shelby Corcoran on “Glee” and she starred as the Elsa the Snow Queen In “Frozen.” 
   She’s just announced a world tour that will being her within driving instance of Bradenton in 2015.

   She’ll be at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall on July 28. That’s a long time from now, but tickets go one sale at noon Saturday (Dec. 6). It’s likely to sell very quickly, so if you want good seats it’d be good idea to get them soon.
   

   Tickets for the Clearwater show are $128.75, $103.25 and $83.25, $58.75. Call 727-791-7400 or go to  rutheckerdhall.com.