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Pow Wow festival music set to energize
By KATHY FERGUSON
Article published on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 |
SEMINOLE – High energy and musical variety headline this year’s Pow Wow entertainment lineup. The tunes sung on the Pow Wow’s main stage are destined to strike just the right chord with lovers of all things musical.
“Each year, we search for groups that will provide a level of energy to the festival along with diversity in the style of music they feature,” said Jim Sheets, director of recreation who serves on the entertainment committee with Dorie Michalik and Leah Hoffman. “This year is one of the best lineups I can remember.”
Along with the Seminole Sings competition, the professional entertainers will include Lorna Bracewell, Point 6, the Vodkanauts and the New Tropics.
Friday, 9:30 p.m.
Lorna Bracewell, an up-and-coming singer writing her own style of folk rock
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![[Image]](/content_images/031506_leconcert-01-a.jpg) |
| Lorna Bracewell |
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In her early 20s, Lorna Bracewell reigns as a fresh, energetic singer-songwriter who has been compared to musical greats like Bruce Springsteen and Melissa Etheridge. Recording artist Amy Grant once said, “Lorna Bracewell is a spirited young artist with a lot to say.”
Bracewell has deep roots in this area having been born in Indian Rocks Beach and living in St. Petersburg. She has been performing professionally since she was 13 years old and has more than 700 professional performances under her belt. She has toured college campuses in Florida, across the United States and in Europe.
Bracewell performs her own original music along with a variety of her favorite songs from Springsteen to Ani DiFranco. After the cataclysmic events of 9/11, Bracewell changed her major to political science and went on to earn a bachelor of arts degree, graduating summa cum laude from Flagler College in St. Augustine. Her philosophies wind their way through her songs in witty comments and stories.
With her unique style and winning talent, Bracewell was selected as a finalist for Best Solo Artist by the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities. The group is an association of campus activities organizations on community college, college and university campuses throughout the U.S. Bracewell will find out about her standing at the organization’s national conference this month.
Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
Point 6, a band to watch offering a Latin rock ensemble
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![[Image]](/content_images/031506_leconcert-01-b.jpg) |
| Point 6 |
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The six talented members of Point 6 are enthusiastic about bringing the party to Seminole. They offer an unusual blend of musicianship, showmanship and dedication to what they term “One music, one world, from the heart and soul.”
The band was formed by drummer Rafael Avendano four years ago as he wanted to move away from his alternative band, Child Proof. He wanted to reach back to his Latin roots and build upon the early influences of the Santana Brothers and the Lonely Boys.
Other band members are Star Q, Joseph Androsky, Armando Lopez, Mario Guini and Arnold Vega.
Star Q was born in Spain and serves as the vocalist, songwriter and choreographer for the band. She lends her own energetic performance to every show. Androsky is a bass player who has performed with the bands Flesh, Lucky 7 and South Wind. His favorite musicians are Beethoven and Patrick O’Hearn. His music philosophy is “Unto thyself be true.”
Armando Lopez is the band’s percussionist who also plays timbales and adds vocals. His musical influences include do-wop, Motown, Latin and rock. Favorite bands are the Beatles and Pink Floyd.
Mario Guini was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was exposed to music at 5 years old. At 15, he taught guitar and became a piano teacher at 16. Guini earned two master degrees in harmony and composition from the National Music Conservatory in Argentina. The sixth band member, Arnold Vega, plays percussion and provides vocals. He was influenced by heavy rock and Latin rhythms.
The band performs several original songs along with Latin rock and world beat tunes. The talented ensemble also plays many popular Santana songs like “Evil Ways,” “Smooth” and “Primavera.”
Saturday, 5:45 p.m.
The Vodkanauts blast out all types of music known as Power Lounge
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![[Image]](/content_images/031506_leconcert-01-c.jpg) |
| The Vodkanauts |
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The mission of this band is to expand its repertoire to include rhythm and blues, funk and other roots-informed genres while still encompassing the surf classics, lounge numbers and other original compositions.
Indeed, the band works its musical magic to play tribute to masters of the mid-to-late 20th century. The Vodkanauts pay special tribute to the legends of Neil Diamond, the Beatles. Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, James Brown, Wilson Pickett and Sly Stone. The band also plays many surf instrumentals like “Hawaii Five ... Oh!,” “Walk Don’t Run” and “Pipeline.”
Five talented musicians make up the Vodkanauts. Mark Warren, a native Floridian, plays the guitar and is the founder of the group. He also performs with power poppers, Barely Pink. Alex Stevens is a singer/songwriter who has fronted several popular acts and released three CDs. He is particularly fond of providing “on stage antics.”
Ryan Arsenault works the keyboard and adds vocals. Arsenault served seven years in the military before hooking up with the Vodkanauts. John DeBellis plays bass that he learned growing up in New York listening to his parents’ record collection filled with the sounds of Bobby Darin, Herb Alpert and many popular Italian singers. He moved to Tampa in 1989, playing in jazz and rockabilly groups until he found an ideal outlet for his music with the Vodkanauts.
Stan Arthur rounds out the band by playing drums and adding his special brand of vocals. He has performed with many of Tampa Bay’s top bands and for the past four years has played with Barely Pink.
Saturday, 8 p.m.
New Tropics brings deep roots to modern and classic rock
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![[Image]](/content_images/031506_leconcert-01-d.jpg) |
| New Tropics |
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Charlie Souza, bass guitar and lead singer of the New Tropics, hails from a branch of the De Souza family off the coast of Portugal that claims the same ancestry as the famous band leader John Philip Sousa.
Souza has performed in the music business for more than 30 years doing just about everything. He has built a career of recording, performing live, singing, playing bass guitar, piano, guitar and sax, producing and writing songs.
Souza was the original Tom Petty bass player. He has also collaborated with other music artists like Greg Allman, Cactus, White Witch, Gale Force and Fortress. Souza played bass on native American actor, Floyd “Red Crow” Westerman’s album of protest songs.
In addition, he teamed up with Eric Turner, Fortress and Tropics guitarist; Robin Trower and Sly & The Family Stone drummer Bill Lordan, on “Live Your Dream” and “9 Ball in the Corner Pocket” CDs recorded in Los Angeles. Over the years, Souza and the Tropics have produced more than 10 CDs and DVDs showcasing their musical talents.
The New Tropics opened for the groups WAR, Night Ranger and Grand Funk Railroad at BBQFEST 2005 in Pinellas Park. They also opened the show for Lisa Marie Presley at Sunfest 2005 in West Palm Beach. Members of the talented band include Tony Arnone, Doyle Lindsey and Cary Palmer.
Coming soon is the new pop rock musical “Perception” in which Souza and his group will be performing his theme song, “Live Your Dream.”
Saturday, 8:45 p.m.
The national anthem will be sung with the traditional spectacular fireworks to blast off over the soccer fields.
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Article published on Wednesday, March 15, 2006
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