Savor the Sounds brings fresh lineup to 2024 season

Get ready to Savor the Sounds at Longboat’s annual outdoor concert series.

New Chamber of Commerce President Kim Verreault has been busy preparing for the first Savor the Sounds under her leadership. 

Verreault shared that this is the first year the band SoulRcoaster will be in the lineup. The band covers a variety of genres from classic rock to jazz to country. The concert series helps give exposure to local bands and make new memories in the Longboat community, Verreault said.

“We actually did new research this year and paid attention to different local bands,” said Verreault. “We found SoulRcoaster, and they've done some outdoor venues before, such as the Ringling Museum and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. I think they are going to be crowd pleasers. They play a variety of music and they're going to appeal to a wide age group.”

On Jan. 27, Kettle of Fish will be kicking off the series held at the Karon Family Pavilion at the Town Center Green. The band mixes rock, blues, reggae and New Orleans soul with a variety of covers. SoulRcoaster will be playing the second show on Feb. 17. Yesterdayze will close out the series on March 16 with covers of Top 40 hits from 1960-69 and modern classic country.

Each installment of Savor of the Sounds will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Local artist Mike Sales will be opening for the bands as people enter, starting at 4:30 p.m.

General admission tickets are $25 ahead of time and $35 at the gate. People can reserve a table of eight in advance for $250. Otherwise, people are welcome to bring a picnic blanket and lawn chairs. 

The presenting sponsor is Bank of America located on Longboat. The other sponsors include Cadence Bank, Reed Medical Group, Lifeworx, Secur-all Insurance, Welcome Home Concierge, the Observer Media Group and the town of Longboat Key. 

Verreault said that Mayor Ken Schneier, Town Manager Howard Tipton, Assistant to the Town Manager Susan Phillips and the rest of the town staff have been a great help with organizing the series since it is her first year. She explained that the Chamber’s outreach committee has been instrumental in making her first Savor The Sounds as enjoyable as possible. 

“I envision seeing a large crowd of people at each of these concerts enjoying this beautiful space that has been created,” said Verreault. “That's what I'm looking forward to the most. That'll make me happiest to be able to see others enjoying this opportunity.”