PENSACOLA, Fla., September 2, 2025 ― WSRE has announced the artists selected to perform for the 16th season of the public television station’s “StudioAmped” music series and invites the public to join the studio audience for the recording of six concerts. The concerts, starting Oct. 3 with the annual Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival show, will be performed in the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio at Pensacola State College.
From the songwriters festival, performing in the round, will be Gary Nichols, Billy Droze and The Burney Sisters. Nichols is a Grammy-winning producer, singer-songwriter and guitarist from Muscle Shoals, Ala.; Droze is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter with 11 No. 1 hits; and The Burney Sisters are a multi-instrumentalist indie-folk duo based in Huntsville, Ala.
The free concert series will continue with Pensacola’s Katie Dineen on Monday, Oct. 6; The Tree-Oh (Ocean Springs, Miss.) on Wednesday, Oct. 8; About to Sweat (Fort Walton Beach) on Tuesday, Oct. 14; Ben Loftin & The Family (Pensacola) on Wednesday, Oct. 15; and Blue Mother Tupelo (Como, Miss.) on Thursday, Oct. 16.
All shows start at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is free, and donations for Manna Food Pantries are collected at the door.
Presenting the original music of regional artists, “StudioAmped” airs weekly at 9 p.m. Thursday on WSRE PBS with livestreaming and on-demand access on wsre.org and the free PBS app. The new season is sponsored in part by The Bear Family Foundation and Blues Angel Music.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Former SteelDrivers vocalist Gary Nichols is a Grammy-winning producer, singer-songwriter and guitarist whose career has been shaped by an innate talent and his upbringing near the music town of Muscle Shoals.
Singer, songwriter, and record label owner Billy Droze has secured his spot on the bluegrass music circuit with timeless hits of gospel, Americana, country and roots music, including 11 #1 singles.
The Burney Sisters are a powerhouse sibling duo redefining indie-folk with their soulful harmonies, heartfelt lyrics and magnetic stage presence, creating a fresh blend of folk, rock and Americana.
Processed with VSCO with kx4 presetKatie Dineen is a folk and indie-rock artist and founder of the monthly Pensacola Songwriter Rounds series. She released her debut album, “This One’s For You,” in August 2024. Performing with her will be Jacob Palmer (electric guitar/vocals), Tay White (drums) and Zack Ketchum (bass).
From Ocean Springs, Mississippi, The Tree-Oh combines funky blues, R&B and bluesy reggae for a soulful mix of original music. Members are Bob Erickson (lead vocals/guitar), JoJo Morris (bass/vocals) and TK Lively (drums/vocals). Playing with The Tree-Oh will be keyboardist Chris Alexander.
Creating jazz rock out of Fort Walton Beach, About to Sweat band members are Robbie Paynter (lead vocals/guitar), Hayden Welch (drums/vocals), Adrian Howland (bass/vocals), Josh Zook (keys/saxophone/vocals) and Chase Jasko (trombone).
From Pensacola, Ben Loftin & The Family produces a vibrant blend of pop, funk, soul and reggae heavily influenced by the rich musical cultures of the Gulf Coast.
Chosen 2022 Music Artist of the Year by The Southland Music Line, Blue Mother Tupelo is the married songwriting and recording artist team, Ricky Davis (acoustic guitar/dobro/kick drum/vocals) and Michol Davis (keyboard/tambourine/vocals), that brings a seasoned edge to their Southern soul, country rock and Americana music.
ABOUT WSRE PBS:
WSRE, a PBS member station licensed to the Pensacola State College District Board of Trustees and supported by the WSRE-TV Foundation, serves as a critical media source for trusted content and a safe media space for children to grow and learn.
