Friends of Joe - Lakeland, FL

Friends of Joe is a concert series that provides a forum for local musicians in the Lakeland, Florida area. It is looking to book local to touring solo artists and bands to perform live at the Unitarian Center in Lakeland on various nights of the week. Morgan Creek Grill welcomes a wide variety of genres, except for rap, metal and punk. Artists will be compensated. This amount will be determined at the time of booking./n/nFriends of Joe is a concert series that provides a forum for local musicians in the Lakeland, Florida area. It is looking to book local to touring solo artists and bands to perform live at the Unitarian Center in Lakeland on various nights of the week. Friends of Joe welcomes a wide variety of genres, except for rap, metal and punk.



Here’s what selected artists get:

• Artists will be compensated. This amount will be determined at the time of booking.


• A sound system will be provided at the venue, but artists are responsible for bringing their own instruments and any additional equipment.

In the early 1990's, Joe Prine almost single-handedly revived the live music scene in Lakeland, bringing performers including; Roy Book Binder, Steve Young, Eric Taylor, Richard Shindell, Michael Smith and Trout Fishing in America. In 1996, Joe Prine brought Willie & Lobo to the Renaissance Ironworks in downtown Lakeland. Then they appeared later that year at an outdoor performance in Munn Park and mesmerized an audience of thousands with their gypsy and flamenco sounds.



Joe continued to bring acts to Lakeland until a few years ago including venues at Arts on the Park and also organized the music at Mayfaire on Lake Morton. He helped provide a forum for local musical artists including Ken West, Bill Peed and Bryan Rivers. Joe died on April 17, 2005 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis, but his legacy will go on.