The Applebutter Express to Headline Sarasota Bay Water Festival November 1

SARASOTA – The 2014 Sarasota Bay Water Festival will feature more than five hours of free live music on Saturday, November 1 at Ken Thompson Park. The award-winning guitarist Ben Hammond is the performing emcee for the third consecutive year. The Applebutter Express is this year’s headliner band and the other performers include Serotonic and Ari and the Alibis. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the live music starts 10:30 a.m.

The Applebutter Express was born in Bradenton when Kyle Biss met his future wife Shannon while working at a local record store. Fiddler Joe Trivette and bass player Matt DeSear joined the duo in 2012. The prolific foursome has performed at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Suwannee Springfest, Hulaween and many other popular music events.

Serotonic formed in Tampa in 2010 and has quickly developed a regional following with their blend of conventional and innovative music. That includes plenty of funk and jazz. And finally, Ari & the Alibis infuse funk, jazz and samba with blues, soul and tango. The Sarasota band includes singer Ari McManus, guitarist Nicolaas Kraster, bass player Gregg Voorhes, drummer John Walker, and trombonist James DaBone.

Other festival highlights include local artists and photographers selling gift items, Dragon Boat Races, expert speakers, a presentation by acclaimed nature photographer Clyde Butcher, a display of the winning submissions to the I Love Sarasota Bay Photo Contest, food trucks, fun activities for kids, vintage and new boats, an interactive community art mural supported by students at Bayshore High School in Bradenton, and displays promoting kayaking and paddle boarding. A free water taxi service provided by Freedom Boat Club will operate between Marina Jack in downtown Sarasota and the Sarasota Sailing Squadron next to Ken Thompson Park.

New for 2014 is an after party featuring live music, craft beer samples and the original Aqua-Garde Fashion Show Design Contest. The party will be held at Circus City Architectural Salvage in downtown Sarasota. The doors open 8pm and the fashion show contest is set for 10pm. Ticket information and details about entertainment are posted at WaterFestivalAfterParty.com. Proceeds benefit Save Our Seabirds and Sea to Shore Alliance.

The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) is the Founding Sponsor of the Sarasota Bay Water Festival. HDR, Inc. is the Community Sponsor and Sea to Shore Alliance is the Host Sponsor. SBEP is one of the 28 National Estuary Programs in the U.S. celebrating its silver anniversary.

Other sponsors in random order include Sarasota County, Freedom Boat Club, Manatee County, Sarasota Sailing Squadron, Cannons Marina, City of Sarasota, Mote Marine Laboratory, Save Our Seabirds, Sarasota Bay Watch, High Five Dragon Boat, WUSF Public Media, Southwest Florida Water Management District, Town of Longboat Key, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, WSRQ Talk Radio, City of Bradenton, Around the Bend Nature Tours, The Inner Circle Spa, Sarasota Day, Suncoast Food Trucks, The Old Salty Dog, MindSpa, Frank’s Gentlemen’s Salon, Anheuser-Busch Wholesalers, Stantec, Vintage Paws Sanctuary, SUP Sarasota, UF/IFAS Extension, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, Friends of Sarasota County Parks, Circus City Architectural Salvage, N2 Publishing, Friends of Disc Golf, Sun King Disc Sports, Top 10 Sarasota, Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Foundation, ROI Media, and Triple 3 Marketing.