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Ramblin’ Mutts play a mixture of original and classic blues, soul and R&B, with an occasional nod to country music at “Free Fridays” on Friday, Aug. 9 at Bo Diddley Plaza in downtown Gainesville. They are performing selections from their upcoming album that pays a passionate tribute to the traditions of the soul and rhythm and blues genres. They are also playing updated reinterpretations of traditional classics by such artists as Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Otis Reding that honor the legacy of this timeless music.

The Duppies are a high-powered, seven-piece band that formed in Gainesville in 2004. Since that time, this popular ska, rocksteady and reggae band has received the attention of audiences beyond the local scene by touring throughout the United States. Band members include The Duppies founder, Brian Hiebel (lead vocals/percussion), Tony Farah (bass), Ryan Bonner (keyboards), Daniel Kinney (drums), Chris Chiares (guitar) and Jose Pineiro (sax/backing vocals).

The band Captive Eddies is playing a concert at “Free Fridays” Friday, July 26 at 8 p.m. at the Bo Diddley Plaza in downtown Gainesville.

The band Other Voices and Friends will present California Dreaming, a tribute to the early Laurel County music scene on Friday, July 19 as part of the Free Fridays concert series. In the late ‘60s, some of the best musicians of their generation took up residence in Los Angeles’ Laurel Canyon, a mountainous neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills. California Dreaming plays tribute to some of those artists with covers of The Mamas and the Papas, The Byrds, The Monkees, Linda Ronstadt, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

A concert highlighting the music and significant events of 1969 will be performed at Free Fridays Friday, July 12. The show covers popular hits of 1969 such as "Bad Moon Rising," "Honkey Tonk Women," "Get Together," "This Magic Moment," "Put a Little Love in Your Heart," "Hooked on a Feeling," "Age of Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" and more.

Showtune Shenanigans performs at the “Free Fridays” special edition All-American Song Fest on Friday, June 5. This celebration of America’s birthday is held annually at “Free Fridays” on the first Friday in July.

Closing out the celebration of June as national African American Music Appreciation Month, “Free Fridays” hosts popular reggae band, De Lions of Jah, to play a concert Friday, June 28, at 8 p.m. The Jacksonville, Florida band has been dubbed “the best reggae band in Duval County.”

The “Free Fridays” Concert Series, as part of its celebration of June as African American Music Appreciation Month,  presents The Shakedown Friday, June  21 from 8-10 p.m. at the Bo Diddley Plaza.

The band Fast Lane features funk, soul and R&B at its “Free Fridays” concert, held Friday, June 14 from 8-10 p.m. at the Bo Diddley Plaza.

A celebration of African American Music Appreciation Month occurs every Friday night in June at the Bo Diddley Plaza as part of the “Free Fridays” concert series. Inspired by the dream of late local musicians Richard Baxter and Roland Burns, African American Music Appreciation Month has been celebrated in Gainesville since 1998.