Bands on the Bayou, presented by the East Hill Neighborhood Association, will rock out with local band Ben Loftin & The Family on Friday, September 15 at 6:30pm at Bayview Park & Community Center.
Now in its third year, the Bands on the Bayou concert series brings the Pensacola community together for a free concert with all proceeds from sponsors going to support six local nonprofit organizations. Hundreds of concert goers will enjoy the show from Bayview’s lawn on their own blankets, chairs, golf carts, or boats anchored in Bayou Texar.
Local food vendors and other family-friendly activities will also be onsite. Bands on the Bayou is open to the public thanks to the concert’s premier sponsor East Hill Automotive and over 30 additional local businesses. For the 2023 concert series, the money raised by Bands on the Bayou benefits these six local nonprofits: AMI Kids, Bluffline, BFA (formerly Bream Fishermen’s Association), Chain Reaction, From the Ground Up Community Garden, and Valerie’s House. Friday’s concert will showcase two of the six local nonprofits, Bluffline and From the Ground Up Community Garden. In 2022, Bands on the Bayou gave out $24,000 in donations.
Ben Loftin & the Family formed in the laid-back coastal town of Pensacola, Florida, where the band’s signature “white sand soul” continues to be heavily influenced by the rich musical cultures of the Gulf Coast. The group was born in 2013 when founding singer/songwriter and guitarist Ben Loftin and friends — drummer Christian Sanders, saxophonist Austin Paul Jr. and bassist Marcus Gillard — began practicing and producing original music. After refining their sound, the group began playing live shows around town, cultivating a loyal, backyard following. BL&F has since added additional instrumentation, including auxiliary percussion, brass and keyboards. Today, the ensemble produces a vibrant blend of pop, funk, soul and reggae at a range of venues across the southeastern United States.
ABOUT BANDS ON THE BAYOU:
Bands on the Bayou is a three-part concert series, presented by the East Hill Neighborhood Association. The mission of Bands on the Bayou is to bring East Hill residents together and support local non-profit organizations through a community-centric outdoor concert series. The shows will be held on the lawn next to the Bayview Community Center in East Hill. Bring your chairs, picnic blanket, family & friends by car, bike, or boat to enjoy the show. Food Trucks, pop-up vendors and other family-friendly activities will also be onsite to enjoy.
