Bringing the beach to the plantation

Posted by Stephen Centanni | Sep 27, 2017 | Music Briefs | 0 |

Band: The Blueberry Sessions featuring Charlie Mars
Date: Thursday, Oct. 5, with doors at 6 p.m.
Venue: Weeks Bay Plantation, 12563 Mary Ann Beach Road (Fairhope), www.weeksbayplantation.com
Tickets: $29, available through Weeks Bay Plantation website

Those wanting to extend their musical experience for the TenSixtyFive weekend should look across Mobile Bay to Weeks Bay Plantation. In addition to growing delicious, organic blueberries, Weeks Bay Plantation serves as the Alabama Gulf Coast’s most scenic outdoor venue. Situated on the shores of an idyllic pond, the stage faces a natural incline that envelops the crowd with sound. When the sun goes down, stage lighting dances across the water as bands fill the area with music.

In anticipation of fall weather, Weeks Bay Plantation is collaborating with Hix Snedeker Cos. and Skate Mountain Records for The Blueberry Sessions concert series, featuring notable headliners supported by groups from Skate Mountain Records’ roster.

Mississippi singer-songwriter Charlie Mars will be the first headliner. In recent months, Mars has been taking his listeners to the shoreline with cuts from his most recent release, “Beach Town.” This acoustic-based album is filled with vivid musical snapshots that trip across the emotional spectrum. From the lighthearted “Dream Kitchen” to the album’s lazy title track, Mars’ Blueberry Sessions performance should provide a mellow evening on the plantation before the madness of TenSixtyFive.

About The Author

Stephen Centanni

With the exception of two years spent at Auburn University, Steve Centanni has spent his life in Mobile County while focusing on his two passions: music and the written word. As soon as he was issued his driver’s license, Centanni began to explore the local music scene in the early ‘90s. He filled his weekend with visits classic local venues such as the Four Strong Winds Coffee House, Vincent Van Go-Go’s and Culture Shock, all of which welcomed those who had yet to reach 18. After high school, Centanni traded Mobile for Auburn to complete his B.A. in English with an emphasis on general writing. While at Auburn, he had the honor of studying under the Pulitzer-winning poet Natasha Trethewey, who served as the nation’s Poet Laureate in 2012 and 2014. After receiving his diploma, Centanni quickly moved back to Mobile and completed the University of South Alabama’s graduate program with a M.Ed. Eventually, he was tapped by the nationally distributed Volume Entertainment Magazine to serve as the magazine’s managing editor/senior writer. His time with Volume allowed him to exercise his love for both music and writing. As Volume began to fade, Lagniappe recruited Centanni as their Music Writer and later their Music Editor, where he has remained for a little over a decade. As far as his involvement in the local music scene, Centanni organized Cess Fest at the Langan Park, which was a mini-festival focused on original local music in a time when original local music was veritably taboo in Downtown Mobile. For a short time, he brought original music to Downtown Mobile as the in-house promoter for the now deceased venue Cell Block. He managed local underground powerhouse Fry Cook, until the members parted ways. Centanni has lent his bass to bands such as Keychain Pistol and The F’n A-Holes, and he toured nationally as a member of Abstract Artimus & the Torture Children. Currently, he provides vocals for the garage blues rock outfit Johnny No. Ultimately, Centanni’s experience in the local music scene as both a participant and an observer has allowed him to witness the ever-changing persona of Mobile’s enigmatic music scene, which continues to leave him with more questions than answers.