Day two of the Gasparilla Music Festival brought an eclectic mix of musical talent to Tampa. Despite the looming clouds and persistent rain, dedicated music fans turned out, donning plastic ponchos and embracing the inclement weather to dance in the rain.
Festival-goers were treated to a lineup of talented artists across five stages. On the Row House stage, Tampa locals Pet Lizard drew a large crowd with their nostalgic emo sound–a prime example of Gasparilla’s goal of showcasing the local talent. Gasparilla Music Festival largely featured top tier indie rock bands, from the irresistibly catchy surf-rock inspired music of Beach Weather, to the high energy and impressive showmanship of COIN, to the soaring vocals and intricate instrumentals of Young The Giant.
Still, fans could enjoy a diverse range of musical talent, such as the soulful acoustic folk and reggae-infused sound of Trevor Hall, or the signature jazz-infused hip hop of Digable Planets. Overall, Gasparilla Music Festival had so much to offer with the lineup, and is quite possibly one of the best bang-for-your-buck festivals. Below, we review other aspects of the festival experience.
Hospitality – 3/5
The food and beverage options at the Gasparilla Music Festival offered a diverse array of cuisines, but fell short in some aspects. Given the affordable entry cost to the festival, one might expect an appropriately matched cost for food and beverage, but that was not the case. Additionally, there seemed to be a lack of food vendors catering to vegan and gluten-free diets, which may have limited options for some attendees. On the beverage side, the festival provided a decent variety with cocktails from Tito’s Vodka and Kraken Rum, alongside a Biergarten and local brewery Coppertail Brewing. Despite these shortcomings, attendees still had options to enjoy refreshments while enjoying the music festivities.
Sustainability – 4/5
The Gasparilla Music Festival showcased commendable sustainability efforts, with features aimed at reducing environmental impact. The inclusion of a Bike Valet option promoted eco-friendly transportation choices, encouraging attendees to opt for greener methods of travel. Furthermore, the festival embraced the trend of eco-conscious beverage options by offering Liquid Death canned water instead of plastic bottled alternatives, accompanied by convenient water refill stations. These initiatives demonstrate a commitment to reducing waste and promoting sustainability within the live music event landscape.
Accessibility & Infrastructure – 3/5
By hosting the festival at Julian B. Lane Park, there was a range of transportation options for attendees, including public transportation, rideshare, bicycling, and even water taxi access. Nearby public parking garages with shuttle services facilitated access for those traveling from afar. The choice of a public park venue generally provided navigable grounds for wheelchair users in fair weather, yet the lack of a temporary rollout pathway from the paved paths of the park to the ADA viewing deck on the main stage lawn could have posed challenges in the rainy conditions. Notably, only the main stage featured an ADA viewing deck, highlighting potential areas for improvement in accessibility across all stages. Additionally, clearer signage indicating stage locations around the festival grounds would have enhanced navigation. Overall, while accessibility efforts were commendable, improvements in pathway accessibility and signage clarity could enhance the experience for all attendees.
Mission – 4/5
The Gasparilla Music Festival demonstrated a strong commitment to its mission goals, particularly in supporting the local Tampa community. By featuring a lineup that included talented local bands like Pet Lizard and providing vending opportunities for Tampa creatives, the festival effectively showcased the city’s vibrant music and arts scene. One recommendation to improve for next year would be to move the market to a more central location–perhaps along the main park pathway–to increase visibility for the vendors.
Conclusion
The Gasparilla Music Festival has an ambitious mission and the community, support, and resources to fulfill it. While there are some areas of improvement, the talent lineup is one aspect that more than impressed, making Gasparilla Music Festival an overall success. We are certainly looking forward to the next one!
