Sacred Lands Benefit Concert for the Homeless

Event Phone: 727-347-0354

SACRED LANDS is a waterfront botanical garden and has rich native American history. Their Christmas Music Benefit for the Homeless (St. Vincent’s – SVDP CARES) will be on Friday December 15th.

Check Sacred Lands’ calendar on the website for music line up, or see info below. A variety of performers (singer/songwriters and bands) will be performing.  The concert will start at 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. with all proceeds going to the food shelter. They will attend and give us an update at 8:15 p.m.

Reservations and prepayment are suggested or at the gate. You can prepay in two ways:

Visit the Sacred Lands’ website at www.sacredlandspreservation.org and click on the DONATE button on the home page to make your payment.  After payment your name will be added to a “Reservation” list for check in at the gate.  We recommend guests follow COVID safety procedures.  There is a No Dog Policy.

The evening will also be a CHRISTMAS POTLUCK DINNER so please bring items to share. The dinner starts at 7:00.  Any other questions please contact the Music Coordinator at 727-367-3592.  Please remember items for the Homeless will be collected and socks are always in need.

PARKING  DIRECTIONS:   Sacred Lands, 1700 Park St., St. Petersburg, FL 33710.  Turn off Park Street by the JP Tavern sign at Elbow Lane.  Drive past their parking area towards the boat ramp but turn LEFT before it into big parking lot.  Go to south end of lot to wooded gate entrance. You can bring chairs but some chairs and tables will be provided.

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SACRED LANDS CHRISTMAS MUSIC BENEFIT SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

6:00-6:30   Singer/Songwriter/Poet,  Steve Keteltas – Steve Keteltas started playing guitar while attending Florida State University during the 1960s.  His main musical influences come from that era, especially The Beatles, but also including The Byrds, CSN&Y, CCR, The Everly Brothers, Bob Dylan, etc.  As a hobby, he especially enjoys writing parody songs and poetry for special occasions, some of which can be found on his YouTube channel (youtube.com/@SteveKeteltas).  These days, Steve performs with his life partner, Mary McClead. Together they’ve entertained at the Florida Botanical Gardens annual “Holiday Lights in the Gardens” each Christmas season since that event resumed.  Audience participation is always welcome and encouraged.

6:30-7:15   Gulfport Swamp Opera band – Gulfport Swamp Opera specializes in the lively “French“ music of the Cajun and Creole people of Southwest Louisiana. Whether it’s a heartbreakingly sad waltz, a swingy creole blues, or a bouncy two step, it will make you want to dance! You may also hear a tune or two from other acoustic genres. The core band is Maureen Kilroy on vocals, guitar, and tit fer (triangle); Kathie Aagaard on fiddle; Tony Treadway on bass and vocals; and Sarah Mitchell on Cajun button accordion.

7:15-7:45   Walking Iris – Experience soul-shaking sounds and honey-dripping harmonies with this distinctive Americana trio. Hailing from Detroit, Rachel Lynn and Pat Beach unite their talents with McKayla Townsend from South Africa. Together, they deliver poignant original songs that inspire, move, reflect, and spread light and love.

7:45-8:15   Singer/Songwriter, Tom Scudiero – Singer and Songwriter Tom Scudiero offers a humorous (“Louie”), yet heartbreaking observation and narrative of life (“A River Rolls On”).  You feel as though he lefts you imagine snapshots of travelogue; people and places that you may know intimately or may have imagined.  His sound is distinct, earthy and leaves one with the immense sense of wonder.  It is incredibly rare to come across an artist so moving and thought provoking.  Tom Scudiero performs musical poetry to say the least!

 8:15-8:30   Carol with SVDP Cares (a/k/a St. Vincent’s Food Shelter) – Will provide our annual status update on all the good work being done.

8:30-9:15   The RockAways – classic rock – Terry Kearney, Robin and Frank Gerber, and Trish Harding, formed the RockAways 4 years ago.   While classic rock is their mainstay, the group also has several original songs, and they cover some folk songs as well. Trish and Robin sing beautiful harmonies and play rhythm guitar, Terry plays lead guitar and sings, and Frank plays the bass and provides percussion. Here’s their YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheRockAwaysinFlorida-fo7yg

9:15-10:00   Scuteri/Spencer duo – Between Vicki’s love of jazz, Celtic and Romanian music and Adam’s love of rock and sci-fi, they take listeners on a journey through time and space.  Vicki and Adam both studied saxophone performance at Saint Petersburg college with Professor  William Barbanera in the late 90s, but it wasn’t until 2015 that the two would cross paths and form the musical partnership that has made them so successful today. Their diverse tastes have contributed significantly to the development of their unique style, which is characterized by soaring violin and saxophone melodies, vocal harmony and intricate guitar work on popular pieces.