LIVE FROM JACKSONVILLE! with Amadeus
99.9 Gator Country morning show host Amadeus shares stories that did not make it on the air, and he takes a deeper dive into those that did make the cut. Fans of Your Hometown Morning Show will enjoy a more behind the scenes look at what goes into the making of a country radio morning show. Listen daily for this PG-13 version of the top stories making pop culture headlines, artist interviews, and much , much more.
LIVE FROM JACKSONVILLE! with Amadeus
Conversations with Entertainment Legends: Howie Mandel and Clay County Fair Preview
The entertainment pulse of Northeast Florida beats strong in this packed episode showcasing the region's most anticipated events. We kick off with a lineup of stellar performances heading to the Florida Theater. Daily's Place prepares to keep the Parrothead spirit alive with "Keep the Party Going," featuring Jimmy Buffett's original Coral Reefers band. Meanwhile, the St. Augustine Amphitheater presents an impressive roster, including a three-night "residency" for one particular band.
The spotlight shines brightly on the Clay County Fair returning April 3-13, as Executive Director Tasha shares her excitement about her milestone 10th anniversary celebration. Far from your average county fair, this year's event introduces several unique attractions, including the fair's first-ever demolition derby. Music lovers can enjoy performances by Sugar Ray and Uncle Cracker, Clint Black, Spin Doctors, and Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. The fairgrounds will also host a silent disco party complete with goats in pajamas—a quirky combination that perfectly captures the fair's fun-loving spirit. Visitors can explore the often-overlooked Early Florida Village, pet animals, sample creative fair foods, and witness the always-popular tractor and truck pulls.
The episode closes with big news from the Thrasher Horn Center, including the announcement and details an appearance by William Shatner. Plus we'll chat with Comedian fans Howie Mandel, who'll be at the TH Center on March 13th.
Whether you're a music enthusiast, comedy fan, fair-goer, or Trekkie, Jacksonville's entertainment calendar has something extraordinary waiting for you. Follow the new Live from Jacksonville Facebook page to stay updated on all the exciting events coming to Northeast Florida!
Welcome to another episode of Live from Jacksonville. I'm Amadeus from 99.9, gator Country. This podcast is all about things coming to Jacksonville Concerts, comedians, events, fairs over the next couple of weeks and months. A little bit later on we'll be chatting with Howie Mandel, who's coming to the Thrasher Horn Center, and the executive director of the Clay County Fair. But let's get started with what's happening at the Florida Theater over the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 1:Wednesday, march 12th, it's Get the Lead Out, a celebration of the mighty Led Zeppelin. Saturday, march 15th, it's actor-comedian Desi Banks. Country music legend Tracy Lawrence will be at the Florida Theater on March 20th that's a Thursday night. And the Little River Band Thursday, march 27th. Tickets for all these shows are available at floridatheatercom. By the way, little River Band if you've never seen them great show Next weekend.
Speaker 1:Daily's Place has Keep the Party Going, a tribute to Jimmy Buffett, featuring Jimmy Buffett's original touring band, the Coral Reefers. There's some great seats still available for this show. So do not sleep on this one. Dailiesplacecom for your tickets on that. The St Augustine Amphitheater has ZZ Top on Friday, march 14th, joe Bonamassa on Saturday, march 15th, foreigner on March 16th, diana Ross on Tuesday, march 17th. And Widespread Panic will be playing three dates at the AMP St Augustine March 21st, 22nd and 23rd. They are staying very, very busy at the AMP St Augustine. All right, our first guest this week is someone I've known for 10 years and I don't even know what her job is. Let's just get right into this with Tasha from the Clay County Fair. The Clay County Fair is back April 3rd through the 13th and I'm joined right now by Tasha. Is your title the director of the fair?
Speaker 2:I'm the executive director.
Speaker 1:I never really know what people's titles are. You know someone for so long and you're like and people are like who are they? I'm like, I don't know they run the fair.
Speaker 2:And I'm not a title person, so call me whatever you want.
Speaker 1:Oh, you don't want me doing that, Tasha. You've been at the fair for 10 years now.
Speaker 2:I know it's like yesterday. We were just talking about it, right.
Speaker 1:I remember when I first came to the radio station as a promotion director, we got together at some restaurant in Orange Park and I was dying to get us to be a part of the fair. And now we're going to be there like six nights.
Speaker 2:I know. I'm excited for you guys, finally, finally, thanks to you, and a little bit of hard work, so, uh, and you got a huge lineup this year outside of the concerts. What are you excited about for the fair this year? So I'm most excited about our hobby horse competition. Have you heard about our hobby horse?
Speaker 1:No, Tell me about that.
Speaker 2:So you know we're known for doing some weird things and the hobby horse competition is right in line with that. Um, it's taken social media by storm and it's literally what it sounds like hobby horse is that the ones on the broomstick? Uh-huh oh, my gosh are you kidding me and it's for kids and adults. So do you have your hobby horse ready to go?
Speaker 1:I don't, but I could get one and since I limp anyway, I could just kind of limp along and you'll get sympathy points. Yeah, Wait is it a race?
Speaker 2:It's like a course.
Speaker 1:Oh, it's a course. Yeah, okay, how many nights are you?
Speaker 2:You can have your horse do the course.
Speaker 1:How many nights are you doing that?
Speaker 2:Only one.
Speaker 1:Oh.
Speaker 2:It's the second Friday, so I think that's the 11th.
Speaker 1:You know what I'm going to do train my hobby horse for next year, because it'll be back, right, yes, it's gonna come back, okay, excellent, and something else new, too, I want to talk about, but we'll get to it as we go down the schedule. The fair opens on thursday I'm sorry on wednesday, march 3rd thursday april 3rd thursday april 3rd. Golly, I'm looking at numbers, not march 3rd we've already been opening.
Speaker 2:Don't give me a heart attack see, I'm looking at numbers.
Speaker 1:I didn't write out April. I see that. Okay, sugar Ray and Uncle Cracker Fun, fun, fun.
Speaker 2:That's going to be a good one.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It's going to be a fun concert.
Speaker 1:Sugar Ray is so much fun. I'll tell you a story. One time they played at NES Jaxx. They were opening up for I believe it was Goo Goo Dolls and we had Nope, I want to see Sugar Ray. So I missed the meet and greet.
Speaker 2:Oh, you missed it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because I wanted to see Sugar Ray. It was during Sugar Ray's set.
Speaker 2:Well, you might know someone who knows someone that can help you out this time around, oh, really Okay.
Speaker 1:Well, maybe I'll get to meet them you never know so that's going to be a fun show. By the way, tickets for all the shows are on sale now at claycountyf April 4th not March, because we would have already been there. Clint Black.
Speaker 2:Oh man, Mr Black Cat himself, huh.
Speaker 1:So much fun. I've seen him several times. One time I got lucky enough, through the radio station, to go on the bus with him after the show. He was so kind and gentle. His wife was there. It was just a really, really fun time.
Speaker 2:Did you wear your black cowboy hat? I think I just saw that in your office.
Speaker 1:It is in my office right now, but I don't think I wore it that night.
Speaker 3:Maybe I did I don't remember.
Speaker 1:I have to go back and see if I can find some old pictures. All right, Saturday April 5th.
Speaker 2:Chase, matthew and Sadie Bass, or Bass I'm trying to figure that one out myself.
Speaker 1:Right before you got here. I was going to go to YouTube and see if I could find out, but it's one or the other.
Speaker 2:I'm struggling with that one and the next one. You're about the Costellos, oh yeah, it is the Costellos, oh okay.
Speaker 1:I actually did when the lineup got first announced.
Speaker 2:I went online Checked on that one. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:And you know what? I'm really impressed by them.
Speaker 2:They're amazing local-ish and they're with Tiger Lily Gold, who we love, and that show is April 6th, oh so we've got one in the middle right.
Speaker 1:Did we miss one?
Speaker 2:We might have skipped.
Speaker 1:Oh, Clint Black, Sadie Bass.
Speaker 2:Oh no, we were good.
Speaker 1:Now we're up to April 7th. Michael Tyler and we, the Kingdom. I love that every year at the fair you guys do kind of a Christian night, and that's going to be a great show.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Our people have been wanting it and we gave the people what they wanted.
Speaker 1:You've got to give the people what they want.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's why we have the stuff that we have.
Speaker 1:Like hobby horse racing.
Speaker 2:That's what I was thinking of.
Speaker 1:Tuesday, April 8th, Spin Doctors are scheduled to perform. They're a lot of fun as well.
Speaker 2:I hear they put on an awesome show.
Speaker 1:They do, and that's one of those bands where you forget how many great songs they have Right, until it's like one after another and you're singing along with every song and they are a blast.
Speaker 2:I mean, I have to admit I didn't know any songs until I Googled them. I'm like, oh, I know these songs. This is an awesome band you knew like every song, right yeah?
Speaker 1:Yeah, they're a fun party band. Wednesday April 9th. Okay, you know Steve Sutton who works on the Morning Show. I do yes. He has already cleared his schedule For.
Speaker 2:Ricky Skaggs.
Speaker 1:He is a huge fan of Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. Oh man, Were you laughing at Ricky?
Speaker 2:Skag. It's just turned into one of our more popular concerts, which is somewhat surprising to me.
Speaker 1:You know what? I worked for a station up in Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley once and we played Classic Country and Bluegrass. And we did Bluegrass every Saturday night like a four-hour set, massively popular.
Speaker 2:Well, I'm from East Tennessee in the Appalachian Mountains. Oh, and Ricky Skaggs is one of our guys.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you should totally get it then Completely. You should totally. Yeah, you should totally get it then completely. Yeah, all right, thursday, april 10th, 4-h and ffa tractor driving contest dude.
Speaker 2:Have you not heard what we're bringing on thursday? Is this breaking news right now on your podcast? It?
Speaker 1:might be way before you tell me, because I know, I know I've seen this, because right before that competition we host the high school competition right like, like, right there in the Cattlemen's Arena. Steve Sutton and I have been doing that for a few years and we see them getting the tractor competition ready.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So what's the breaking news?
Speaker 2:We are bringing. Are you ready for this?
Speaker 1:I'm ready for this.
Speaker 2:The first ever demolition derby to Clay County, I know. Thank you.
Speaker 1:Golf clap, Nice, nice. Now is this going to be full on like oh yeah, crashing, burning, all the sounds is that going to be on thursday night?
Speaker 2:yeah, unfortunately it's the same time your high school night of competition is high school competition tractor.
Speaker 1:Competition derby yeah wow, that's a packed schedule.
Speaker 2:Come on out on thursday, it's a busy night take friday off, whatever you know.
Speaker 1:You don't even need to be at work on Friday. Okay, let's talk about Friday. You're definitely going to want to take the night off. Is this the first year you guys are doing this? Remind me what we're doing Friday. I know I know You're so busy with all that's going on. We have so much stuff. April 11th the silent disco party. Oh, yes'm getting old.
Speaker 2:It's a great night.
Speaker 1:I've been to two silent discos. They were in bars.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:No goats, but it's cool to watch people dancing and you can't hear what they're dancing to.
Speaker 2:I like going to them and taking my headphones off and listening to everyone singing.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, do that the next time.
Speaker 2:It's hilarious.
Speaker 1:Okay, I've got to be there for that. That sounds like fun, and if anyone's never been to a silent disco party, it's a blast You've got to see it yeah, and we have goats, so ours in pajamas, by the way. This sounds almost like a Saturday Night Live skit, but it works.
Speaker 2:It works, people love it.
Speaker 1:And finally Last weekend of the Clay County Fair this year. It's one of our favorite things that we're thank you for letting us be a part of it. The tractor and truck pulls.
Speaker 2:Presented by Gator. Country Presented by Gator.
Speaker 1:Country and I learned the first year I bought some noise-canceling headphones because I have a little issue with vertigo and like 90% deaf in one ear. The other overcompensates. So yeah, I always put like on our Facebook page. I always put I personally recommend some kind of ear protection because it gets loud.
Speaker 2:And even if you're not coming for the tractor pulls, if you're just coming to the fair to ride the rides or get the food, bring some ear protection, because it does get loud.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it definitely does get loud, so are you excited about this year?
Speaker 2:I'm so excited. I mean 10 years. There's nothing I could be more excited about. It's a big anniversary celebration.
Speaker 1:You know what else I love about the fair is walking through where the animals are petting all the animals. And then the Florida, the whole little Florida, yeah, early Florida.
Speaker 2:A lot of people don't know that we have early Florida Village. Isn't that shocking?
Speaker 1:It is kind of shocking because it's well, it's not tucked away.
Speaker 2:It's behind the exhibit building.
Speaker 1:Yeah so.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So for those of you that don't know about it, go left and it's behind the exhibit buildings.
Speaker 1:Seek it out, find it. There was something else I wanted to. Oh, there's something new this year that I got invited to judge the Star Search competition.
Speaker 2:So it has been around oh it has.
Speaker 1:Yes, you mean, I'm just now being invited to judge?
Speaker 2:Yes, you know I don't control everything at the Fairhouse.
Speaker 1:So Bob Olson from the Thrasher Horn Center I had him on the podcast a few weeks ago and then he's like, oh, you should be a part of this thing. I'm like, yeah, I'd love to be a part of this thing.
Speaker 2:Absolutely should be a part of this thing.
Speaker 1:So is this a singing competition, or is it all over the map?
Speaker 2:Mostly singing, but I think they do have some dancers as well. So it's in trouble, it's clay.
Speaker 1:County's got some talent yes come out and see it. And the other thing I always really, really love that you've invited me to a couple of times is the tasting of the new items yeah, the yummy contest the yummy contest so how bad did that mess up your stomach so I've learned from doing it. I don't eat the whole anything like I think we have. Is it 10 servings we normally get?
Speaker 1:yeah, it depends on who how many new foods we have yeah, it could be anywhere from 10 to 20 and it's a lot of desserts and it's a lot of rich yeah, rich and sweet things. So I learned the first year I did it I was trying to eat like the entire, like whatever it is, and then halfway in I'm like I can't eat another thing. Yeah, so now I've brought, I bring tupperware and I bring ziploc bags, because I've learned you can't eat it all genius yeah, it is pretty smart to teach all the young ones how to do I think it was uh two years ago.
Speaker 1:Uh, the new uh girl at wap was there, uh, what's her name?
Speaker 2:barbie?
Speaker 1:barbie, yes, and and rants from news for jackson. We were like girl you got, I actually brought some extra Tupperware with me. I'm like here you want to take some stuff home with you.
Speaker 2:Oddly enough, I think she's coming back. Oh good, Sometimes we lose them after a year because of stomach issues, but she's coming back.
Speaker 1:That's hilarious.
Speaker 2:I'm like all right, Steve.
Speaker 1:Sutton and I have judged enough barbecue competitions. We learned from the older guys. They competitions, we learned from the older guys. Yeah, they all brought out like. They brought out like little, uh little coolers, okay with ziploc bags and tupperware.
Speaker 2:We're like, oh, these guys are professionals see, I'm a vegetarian, so I never get asked to be a judge.
Speaker 1:Really, I'm okay with that I didn't know you were a vegetarian. I am. Wow.
Speaker 2:Okay, we learned something new you can be a fair manager and be a vegetarian, it seems impossible, because all that great stuff on a stick. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Corn dogs and.
Speaker 2:So my food vendors know that I'm a vegetarian and they made me a corn dog, but with a mozzarella stick in it.
Speaker 1:Oh really. Oh, that sounds good.
Speaker 2:It's the Tasha special. Not everyone can get a corn dog with a mozzarella stick.
Speaker 1:Do they serve it like throughout the whole fair? Whenever I want one, I just put in my order and I go you love to tell me which vendors and I'll just go up be like oh, I need a tasha special I will all right, I'll text that to you and then I'll, and then I'll try and be like, oh, I'll judge that one you should.
Speaker 2:It's actually pretty good all right.
Speaker 1:so april 3rd through the 13th I almost said march again april 3rd through the 13th, the clay county fair Fair back in town. Make sure you go to claycountyfairorg Purchase your tickets for the shows, all the events. It's going to be a great year this year.
Speaker 2:It is. It's going to be a fun year. We've got something for everyone.
Speaker 1:Tasha, thank you for coming in.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me and thanks for supporting the fair.
Speaker 1:Always. Not too far from the Clay County Fairgrounds in Orange Park, it's the Thrasher Horn Center. Last week I promised a big announcement from the Thrasher Horn Center and here it is. Oh my gosh, this is going to be so much fun. William Shatner is coming Sunday, august 3rd. There'll be a screening of Star Trek II, the Wrath of Khan, followed by a Q&A with Captain Kirk himself. This is a must-attend event. Thcenterorg for all the details. Also at the Thrasher Horn Center Joe Nichols on Thursday March 27th. Turn to Stone and ELO Tribute on Monday March 31st, but coming up before that, thursday March 13th. It's Howie Mandel, and I had a couple of minutes to chat with Howie earlier in the week. You probably don't remember, but we spoke about 30 years ago. I do.
Speaker 3:It's great to talk to you again. It is fantastic to speak to you. I was wondering. I've been waiting by the phone. I don't remember what did we talk about?
Speaker 1:I think it may have been a Bobby's World maybe, or something around that time I don't remember what we talked about.
Speaker 3:I remember you just before you hang up and go. I'll call you back in 30 years. I remember that. I remember that part of the conversation.
Speaker 1:And I kept my promise, thank you.
Speaker 3:It's good to hear from you again.
Speaker 1:Well, nice to chat with you. I was just looking at like everything you're involved with right now. You must be one of the busiest people on the planet.
Speaker 3:I don't think I am, but I am, I am, but I try to stay busy. I try to work, I try to do as much as possible, but the one thing I love the most is stand-up comedy. Aside from doing AGT, america's Got Talent and CGT and some producing and stuff, stand-up comedy was my start, stand-up comedy is my fuel and stand-up comedy is the one thing I look forward to. And I should mention to people who may come out to the Thrasher Center that you know, you may know me from America's Got Talent and Deal or no Deal or whatever. Don't bring the kids.
Speaker 3:And that's the thing I love about stand-up comedy because there are no rules, there are no marks to hit, there's no commercials to throw to, there's no language that is off and not because I look to do anything that would be not family friendly just that I don't edit myself so anything could happen. I look at it like a giant party and I'm just trying to be the center of attention and people are constantly blown away when they come up and see me. Do stand up live, because I and I'll say this and because I've been told I am 14% more gorgeous in person than anything that you've ever seen on television or on the radio.
Speaker 1:Going back to you talking about loving stand-up. I'm going to date us both, but I was a huge fan of Make Me Laugh. Going back that far, I've been a fan.
Speaker 3:Thank you. I think I started doing Make Me Laugh in the 70s, in the late 70s.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's been a while since I did that, but I got that by accident. I showed up, I was on vacation in Los Angeles and my friend got me on at the comedy store and the producer was in the audience and that was the first TV show I ever did. So that was an exciting time and I got to work with a lot of people and if you had asked me, would I still be talking about it like 40 years later, almost 50 years later. It's pretty amazing. Nobody's more excited and thrilled and surprised than I am that I'm still doing it, but it's the thing I love to do.
Speaker 1:So Thursday, march 13th, at the Thrasher Horn Center, howie Mandel, and the warning has been thrown out. Don't bring the kids.
Speaker 3:Yes, don't bring the kids. I would say that I look at it like a giant party and I'm just trying to be the center of attention.
Speaker 1:Tickets are available at thcenterorg. I know it's early out there for you, Howie. I appreciate your time this morning. Thank you so much.
Speaker 3:Thank you, buddy.
Speaker 1:And thank you for listening. By the way, I have started a live from Jacksonville Facebook page If you'd like to follow. I'll try to make sure that all the press releases for all the new shows coming to town and in Florida get posted on that page. I'll have another episode up next week and keep you on top of what's happening live from Jacksonville.