Live from The Waterworks
The Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, in partnership with the St. Johns Cultural Council, announces the 2025–2026 season of “Live from The Waterworks”, an intimate monthly concert series celebrating the legacy of St. Augustine’s own Gamble Rogers. Tickets for all shows in the series go on sale Tuesday, August 26, at 10:00 a.m. right here on our Tickets page! There are limited seats available, so purchasing tickets early is recommended. Thank you for your support, you are making dreams come true!
The New 76ers
YoungFolk Opening Act: Holt and Cabe
Saturday, October 18th
Doors: 6:30 pm
Show: 7:00 - 10:00 pm
The New 76ers are an American folk band formed in Tallahassee, Florida, in 2004. This family trio is best known for their sweet harmonies and well-crafted songs—each a blend of folk, bluegrass, and rock. They rose to popularity shortly after the release of their debut full-length album, Superhighway, and have since become regular headliners at Americana, jam, and folk festivals across the South. With instinctive vocals and stripped-down instrumentation, The New 76ers often stand around a single microphone and deliver timeless, soul-stirring music in it's purest form. Passionate performers and festival favorites, their mission is to share love through music—and they believe that music is, and always will be, a force to inspire change. Real music. Real people. Come listen with an open heart.
Jordan Tice
Saturday, November 22nd
Doors: 6:30 pm
Show: 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Jordan Tice is a musical seeker of the most dedicated sort. Listening to the breadth of his discography, which includes 7 projects as a solo artist and 6 as a founding member of the string band, Hawktail, one will hear this dedication at play. Equally virtuosic as a flatpicker and fingerstylist, and with a casual vocal style, Tice conjures ingredients from far-flung worlds with ease which has earned him glowing press from such outlets as NPR and American Songwriter and taken him to stages such as the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and the Ryman Auditorium. His performances call upon the repertories of American and British Isles folk, bluegrass, blues and pop-oriented songs, and though his earlier releases are instrumental in focus, he has been carefully honing his craft as a singer-songwriter in his most recent work. Having filled the roles of guitar ace, sideman (w/ Aoife O’Donovan, Andrew Marlin of Watchhouse and David Rawlings), songwriter and student of American music for the better part of his life, Jordan’s songs are enriching for all manner of listeners, from guitar fanatics to more casual fans of Americana music. He delivers performances that are not weighted by any one area of his prowess, allowing listeners to join his world of candor, wit and ineffable facility with comfort.
A Guitar Outlaw Christmas
Saturday, December 20th
Doors: 6:30 pm
Show: 7:00 - 10:00 pm
From the ashes of the Tavern Opera “A Simple Love Story With Guitar Outlaws” by Carl Sander and Chris Carlson, “A Guitar Outlaw Christmas” was born. Starting in 1992 (or ’91 or ’93… Outlaws aren’t very good with dates and such) this ragtag bunch of musicians have been putting on a Holiday show every year at the Fabulous Eastlake Zoo Tavern in Seattle, Washington.
This year, 2025, the reins have been handed to a great group of St. Augustine musicians and storytellers including Duffy Bishop, Don Cooper, Derek Coghlan, Katherine Archer, Rusty Springfield, Alex Richmond, Chris Hadjipoulos, Chris Clark, Chris Carlson and Lonesome Bert (and more!). The Guitar Outlaws will sing songs and tell stories about their favorite - and least favorite - things about the Christmas Season, culminating in a telling of the first Christmas, Outlaw style.
Funny, joyous, sometimes irreverent, but always heartfelt, The Guitar Outlaws want to celebrate Christmas with you!
Will Maring and Robert Bowlin
Saturday, January 17th
Doors: 6:30 pm
Show: 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Award-winning singer-songwriter Wil Maring and virtuose guitarist/ fiddler Robert Bowlin combine their talents, smoothly blending elements from oldtime and bluegrass, jazz and blues, celtic and country, to create an original acoustic music all their own. Wil’s songs arise from her rural midwestern roots and paint vivid pictures of her southern Illinois landscapes, but also address emotional topics universal to the human experience. Wil’s clear, airy vocal style and heartfelt delivery, with her proficiency on upright bass and guitar, provide a perfect complement to Bowlin’s instrumental fireworks on lead guitar and fiddle. Wil has toured Japan and played professionally for a decade in Europe, was a Merlefest songwriting contest winner, a Kerrville NewFolk finalist, and they both have performed their original music on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry and NPR’s Whaddya Know program.
Robert Bowlin, a two-time National Fingerpicking and Flatpicking Guitar contest winner, and well-respected Nashville studio musician, has appeared on hundreds of recordings. He has been a band member with legendary artists like Bill Monroe, Maura O’Connell, Kathy Mattea, the Osborne Brothers, Tom T. Hall, Ray Price, and more.
As a duo, Wil and Robert have travelled coast to coast for over a decade, in Canada, the UK and the U.S, playing everywhere from the nation’s largest acoustic festivals to intimate house concerts. Their numerous recording projects, both solo and duo efforts have been well-received by acoustic music radio and fans all over the world.
Sunny War
Saturday, February 21st
Doors: 6:30 pm
Show: 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Sunny War is an American singer and songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. Her sound is frequently categorized as folk-punk while her songwriting is often described as introspective. Her songs blend rock, gospel, and country music. She began her music career in 2014 with the release of her extended play Worthless, but garnered mainstream attention and critical praise after the release of her 2020s albums.
Pat Burgeson & Bruce Forman
Saturday, March 21st
Doors: 6:30 pm
Show: 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Pat Bergeson
Guitarist and harmonica player Pat Bergeson has written, toured, and recorded with many of his musical heroes. Beginning at the University of Illinois in his home state, he moved on to New York City and picked up a Jazz Studies degree at William Paterson University. After playing in New York for ten years, he moved to Nashville upon the request of Chet Atkins who heard Pat on a demo tape. Chet invited him to play on his album “Sneakin’ Around” with Jerry Reed, and later featured Pat’s guitar and compositions on his 1994 release Read My Licks. They were good friends and toured together for several years.
A versatile guitarist as well as chromatic and diatonic harmonica player, Pat’s style incorporates jazz, blues, rock and finger style and he is known for his session work with a variety of artists. He has been in the studio with Lyle Lovett, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Bill Frisell, Martin Taylor, Suzy Bogguss, Bill Evans, Peter Frampton, Michael McDonald and many others. He has toured with Shelby Lynne, Madeleine Peyroux, Wynonna Judd, Suzy Bogguss and then four years with Lyle Lovett and his Large Band. Pat has been a teacher and producer and has appeared on many movie soundtracks.
Bruce Forman
Bruce Forman is a renowned jazz guitarist with an extensive career spanning decades. He's known for his active touring schedule, numerous recordings as a leader and sideman, and contributions to film soundtracks, including the Academy Award-winning "Million Dollar Baby". Forman is also an acclaimed educator, serving in residence at USC's Studio/Jazz Guitar Department. He has been praised by jazz figures such as Barney Kessel.
Walter Parks
Saturday, May 16th
Doors: 6:30 pm
Show: 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Walter Parks is both entertaining and educational, presenting historic music, original music and stories that preface songs in a contemporary way. Walter toggles between hollers, spirituals, Appalachian reels, Delta blues, work songs, swamp jazz and even bits of opera all delivered with Walter’s northeast Florida swampy feel. At every show Walter tributes Woodstock legend Richie Havens with whom he served as sideman for 10 years performing worldwide in Madison Square Garden, The Glastonbury Festival and Carnegie Hall amongst other prestigious venues. Walter was recently invited by The Library of Congress/American Folklife Collection to archive his research work on the music made in southeast Georgia’s Okefinokee Swamp. Now based out of St. Louis, Walter has recently co-written with Stan Lynch, former Tom Petty drummer and has performed at various venues with R&B drum legend Bernard Purdie and at Lincoln Center with Judy Collins. Walter tours solo, with his trio Swamp Cabbage and with The Unlawful Assembly, a group that reimagines historic spirituals, propelled by drummer Steven Williams and female vocalist Ada Dyer who’s currently on the Bruce Springsteen world tour. Walter was a founding member of The Nudes, a popular folk duo, with cellist Stephanie Winters.
Guy Davis
Saturday, June 20th
Doors: 6:30 pm
Show: 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Guy Davis is a renowned American blues musician, actor, and songwriter, recognized for his authentic blues sound infused with elements of folk, rock, and world music. Davis has received two Grammy nominations and multiple Blues Foundation nominations for his music, as well as the Keeping the Blues Alive Award for his acting work. His album Legacy was recognized by NPR and DownBeat in 2004. He has performed with and opened for numerous notable musicians. Davis is recognized globally for his extensive touring. Beyond music, Davis is an actor, playwright, and novelist. He has also developed an educational program and teaches master classes on blues music. He is the son of actors Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis.
We are more than excited to begin preparations already for our 31st Annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival next April!
Are you an artist interested in performing at next year's festival? Apply today!
Are you a vendor interested in selling at next year's festival? Apply today!
As the oldest music festival in St. Johns County, we are ever grateful to YOU, our longtime and dedicated supporters to help us keep this important and fulfilling musical legacy alive and well.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we'll look forward to seeing you soon!
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Here are a few magical moments from our 30th Anniversary Festival Celebration
with Gamble's own spectacular rendition of his tune, Deep Gap Salute, written in honor of his longtime friend, Doc Watson.
