The Groove Orient is throwing a pair of X-Mas Ragers!

The Groove Orient boys and blues belter Kaleigh Baker have a special X-Mas Rager planned for you this Friday and Saturday with some very special friends. You don’t want to miss these special shows with The Southern Belles from Richmond!

Friday’s Rager takes place at Will’s Pub in Orlando, with Katie Burkess featuring Leisure Chief also on the bill. Saturday, the fun moves to The Crowbar in Ybor City (Tampa), where Future Vintage opens the show, brought to you by Brokenmold Entertainment.

The Groove Orient with Kaleigh Baker

The Groove Orient are Chuck Magid on guitar and vocals, with Harry Ong (lead vocals, bass), David Vanegas (percussion, bass, vocals) and Aaron “Bucky” Buckingham (drums). The band’s secret weapon is Tommy Shugart, a wizard on Hammond B3 organ, electric piano and guitar. Kaleigh Baker is an excellent singer whose deep blues will move you to your soul. Baker and each of the band members will be singing songs to fit certain styles, which should be a blast!

The Southern Belles first came to our attention last February, when we wrote:

Because The Southern Belles (you know there are no ‘belles’ in this band) were “sick as funk.” We had no idea what to expect. It was a brilliant, tight set, with all four members showing huge chops. Keyboard player Tommy Booker in particular was amazing. (Andrew Carper, bass, vocals, and Aaron Zarrow, drums) They opened with “Big City” and “Everywhere.” Juanjamon staged-rushed with his tenor sax at some point: “Thanks to the mystery sax player!” On the last long jam on “Jet,” guitarist Adrian Ciucci blew it all the way up. Put them on your list of bands you NEED to see.

Baker, Groove Orient and the Belles play both nights.

Katie Burkess

At Friday’s shindig, you get a very special set from Katie Burkess, the fine backup vocalist for The Legendary JCs. She is a truly gifted singer, and it will be great to have her front and center for an entire set along with Leisure Chief, another outstanding Orlando quintet. They released their first album, King of Nothing, in the spring. Both Leisure Chief and The Groove Orient toured extensively this year, expanding their geographical boundaries.

Saturday’s excitement includes Future Vintage, the superb jamtronic trio from St. Petersburg. They released their first full-length album a year ago (Doin’ It Right) and will begin recording their next album in January.

X-Mas Rager is no euphemism here. This is the real deal. Go get you some!

You can also catch The Groove Orient and Leisure Chief at Hometeam New Year’s Rally in Lakeland December 29 – January 1. You won’t find a better, safer way to ring in the New Year with your friends!