"Bands on the Sand" rocks Treasure Island

TREASURE ISLAND - Music fans enjoyed reggae, rock, country, blues, and funk on Treasure Island beach this Memorial Day weekend.

Fortunately for those in attendance, the rain stopped before the free 11-hour concert began on Saturday.

“Bands on the Sand” was organized by the City of Treasure Island Parks and Recreation and the Treasure Island Chamber of Commerce.

The event showcased original live music of nine local bands.

Music played continuously from two stages. There was reggae and cool Caribbean rhythms from Shaka and rockin’ soul from Motel Funk. Bruce Nye the Elvis Guy brought Vegas to the beach. Rob Pieniak of Buffalo Strange joined Soul Shine for some cosmic reggae, and the Tampa Bay Blues Machine band featured Nitro, who sang Chicago and Delta-style blues.

Players and singers from the Rascals, Vanilla Fudge, Tom Petty, Springsteen and Derringer also played hit songs in the Rock Legacy Band’s Legends of Rock Show.

Other performers included Tom Gribbin and the Saltwater Cowboys, the Greg Billings Band, Michael Young and Fred George, and veteran bluesman Sarasota Slim.

The bash started at noon and wrapped up at 11p.m. with a dazzling fireworks show.

The event served as a fundraiser for local nonprofit organizations, the Chamber of Commerce, and the city-organized children’s summer camp.

One of the 40 event volunteers is Randy Davis, a retired stone mason. Davis has volunteered at numerous events held in Treasure Island. He said that this event changes names every year but “Bands on the Sand” is getting “bigger and better.”

“We hope to attract more tourists to our beach,” said Dominique Reiter, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce.

This was the first of four planned holiday festivals. The others will be held July 4, Labor Day weekend, and New Year’s Eve, Reiter added.

“Bands on the Sand” was dedicated in memory of Colonel Larry “Huffy” Huffman, the first president of the Treasure Island Chamber of Commerce.

“One of the guys we lost this past year made this event happen the previous years," said PR Officer Jeff Jensen. "He was a great friend of ours and he loved Treasure Island.”

“It didn’t take long for the musical community to sit up and take notice,” said Parks and Recreation Director Cathy Hayduke. “We’ve had an astounding number of requests from bands and musicians to play ‘Bands on the Sand’ this year.”

You can find links to the bands and additional “Bands on the Sand” info at www.mytreasureisland.org.