Free Fridays Concert Series

08/21/2024

Hey everyone! Remember to follow the Bo Diddley Plaza page for all Free Fridays Concert Series updates.

07/26/2024

Gainesville? More like RAINSville today.
Due to weather, the Gainesville Band Tribute Show is being moved to Heartwood Soundstage (indoor stage)!

The goal is to still have the show be from 7-9PM but be patient with us as we're moving fast to make this happen!

07/24/2024

This Friday, come out to Bo Diddley Plaza and wear your favorite Gainesville band T-shirt because we're going to be featuring 8 of our town's artists and bands from today performing music from Gainesville music legends of the past.

This Friday, 7/26, 7-9PM! FREE and All Ages!

Performances by:
The Lowly Worm
Jernie
Anna Galloway
Haylin Watkins
Maggie Clifford
The Housing Crisis
Jenarchy
Purple Kloud

Artists being performed:
Tom Petty
The Eagles
Stephen Stills
Sister Hazel
Less Than Jake
Against Me / Laura Jane Grace
Charles Bradley
Benjamin Booker
The Flying Burrito Brothers
Minnie Ripperton
Linda Lyndell
Hot Water Music
Hundred Waters
Flipturn
Big White Un**es
Bo Diddley
CYNE
Pearl & The Oysters

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/472245411794094

03/28/2024

The Random Kats' live performance this friday night is sure to take listeners on a musical journey! Blending elements of folk, rock, country and swing with tight grooves and soaring solos, the band's show is certain to be an unforgettable experience. All of the songs for the night will be original material written by members of the band.

Don't miss your chance to hear this dynamic band in action!

Don David, Michael Derry, Rob Rothschild, Vic Donnell, Ben Champion, Ron Thomas and Earl & Mari Robbins are the players in the band.

Check out randomkats.com for recordings of our songs!!! Let’s rock it out!!

03/28/2024

03/20/2024

Coming up at this Friday's Live & Local Concert, you're going to get your faces melted off!

We've got three bands ready to rock the (nonexistent) roof off of Bo Diddley Plaza... Mike & The Nerve, Earworms, and (Recording Grant Recipient) Boat Stuff! We're pumped and hope you are too.

See you on March 22 from 7-9.
Free and ALL AGES, as always!
Bo Diddley Plaza.

This Program is sponsored in part by the City of Gainesville - Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) and the State of Florida Division of Arts and Culture.

03/19/2024

02/06/2024

One update to the Live and Local Concert Series - March 2024!
One act had to bow out due to unforeseen circumstances, so we are STOKED to announce that Mike & The Nerve will now be playing our March 22 show now! 🤘🤘

This Program is sponsored in part by the City of Gainesville - Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) and the State of Florida Division of Arts and Culture.

01/31/2024

The Live & Local Concert Series returns in March!
Live & Local is a FREE concert series open to ALL AGES. It features some of Gainesville’s most talented emerging artists curated by MusicGNV.

Join us every Friday in March at Bo Diddley Plaza from 7PM - 9PM.

The Lineup:
March 1 - Noah Moses, Buboy, Stirling Myles
March 8 - Singer Songwriter Showcase - Zara Dalvi, Thomas Allain, Janie, HelDog, Robbie Pawns, Jack Edmondson, Thymn, Banyan Leaves, Vincent Raphael, Coffee Project
March 15 - Jane K Collective, In Full Swing, Jernie
March 22 - Half Gone, Earworms, Boat Stuff
March 29 - Second Annual Teen Artist Showcase

We’re excited to see you there!
This Program is sponsored in part by the City of Gainesville - Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) and the State of Florida Division of Arts and Culture.

10/11/2023

The Downtown Festival & Art Show is seeking volunteers! Individuals or groups can apply. Four-hour shifts are available from the evening of Friday November 17th through the evening of Sunday, November 19th, for volunteers of all ages.

Volunteers who complete a shift receive a commemorative t-shirt or poster with original artwork by Nicola Barsaleau.
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If you would like to join our team of volunteers for the 2023 show, complete the Volunteer Sign-Up Form at https://www.gainesvilledowntownartfest.net/volunteer.html by Friday, November 3, 2023 to apply. For more information you can also contact Chelsea Carnes, Festival Director, at 352-393-8543.

10/11/2023

09/09/2023

The last Live & Local Concert Series show of 2023 is tonight from 7-9PM, where you will be able to enjoy the amazing sounds of The Lowly Worm, Trustfall, and Hannah Harber. Live & Local is a FREE concert series open to ALL AGES at Bo Diddley Plaza. It features some of Gainesville’s most talented emerging artists, curated by MusicGNV. Come on out. You will NOT be disappointed.

This Program is sponsored in part by the City of Gainesville - Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) and the State of Florida Division of Arts and Culture.

09/01/2023

Thank you for another great season of Free Fridays Concert Series.
specially like to thank all the artists that performed.

Announcements for next season coming soon!

For information about other events at the plaza please visit

The beautiful Bo Diddley Community Plaza is located at 111 E. University Avenue on the corner of SE 1st Street and East University Avenue in the heart of Historic Downtown Gainesville. The plaza is available to rent for concerts, festivals, church gatherings and more throughout the year.

08/14/2023

We had a great time hosting Dionysus last Friday.

Next up we have a night of Reggae with De Lions Of Jah

More info here:
Free Fridays- De Lions of Jah
😎

08/03/2023

Meet our 2023 Downtown Festival & Art Show Emerging Artist Cohort! Congratulations to artists Silvana Fajardo, Jaya Patel, & Ally Esteban who will be joining the festival for the first time to show their work! Visit their booth in November to view and purchase their work!

The Downtown Festival & Arts Show’s Emerging Artist Program aims to create a pipeline for new talent to access and participate in the juried art show portion of the Downtown Festival & Art Show, Gainesville’s largest street festival and north central Florida’s largest celebration of fine art.

This program welcomes diversity and fresh perspectives, creating intentional space to celebrate BIPOC artists, immigrant artists, and other underrepresented voices. DFAS launched this program in 2022 with support from GFAA, Sequential Artists Workshop, and Florida Division of Arts and Culture

07/31/2023

We had a blast last Friday with our buds in Wax Wings and American Dream Survivors!

Next up we have Free Fridays- Pet Detectives playing your favorite 90s Alt-Rock Covers from artists like Green Day, Weezer, Nirvana, The Cranberries and More!