WJCT Public Media and the Jacksonville Music Experience are putting the spotlight on the artists making noise in Northeast Florida, presenting three unique nights of music at three different venues around Jacksonville.
The JME Showcase Series kicks off at the Blue Jay Listening Room in Jacksonville Beach on Saturday, February 12 with an eclectic, all-local lineup, featuring indie-folk artist Souvineer, synth-forward singer-songwriter Animal Clinic, jazz-and-R&B-infused bedroom-pop singer Sailor Goon and hip-hop artist and poet Ebony Payne-English.
Doors at 7 p.m. Show starts at 8 p.m.
Dig in deeper on the local artists performing at Blue Jay Listening Room
Ebony Payne-English
AA pillar of Duval’s hip-hop scene and the city’s defacto poet laureate, Ebony Payne-English has recently undertaken her most ambitious work to date. In 2021 she dropped Kuongoza, her sixth studio album, which was released with an accompanying visual: a full-length hip-hopera of the same name. Payne-English is already at work on a follow-up.
– Stream Kuongoza on Spotify
Sailor Goon
With a smattering of well-received singles and videos, and a spot on NPR Music’s #NowPlaying blog in 2021, local singer-songwriter Kayla Le, who works under the moniker Sailor Goon, has a high-ceiling. Le’s top-flight vocals and propensity for blending R&B, jazz, psychedelia and more also landed Sailor Goon on JME’s list of 10 Jacksonville artists to watch in 2022.
– Stream “Persian Rugs” on Spotify
Animal Clinic
The solo project of multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and audio-tinkerer James Scott Rubia, Animal Clinic combines ethereal synths and samples with first-class lyricism and moody soundscapes. Animal Clinic’s 2019 full-length, Year of the Bore, got the reissue treatment in 2021, a retro cassette released by local music promoter Winterland Presents.
– Stream Year of the Bore on Spotify
Souvineer
Souvineer is a new project from Alissa Leonard, whose group Isabela Parole is widely admired in the Jax music scene for their songwriting and blend of folk and indie rock. Souvineer’s first EP, Snowglobe, sparkles with lush production, intriguing imagery and gorgeous melodies.
– Stream Snowglobe on Spotify
About JME
From WJCT Public Media, the Jacksonville Music Experience is a nonprofit, publicly supported music platform based in Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to WJCT’s three music stations (Classical 24, Anthology, and Electro Lounge), Music Thursdays on Jax PBS, and live events from the WJCT Soundstage, JME features curated playlists, reviews, profiles, music history, think-pieces and concert recommendations.
