Bay Area Beat’s June  Showcase will feature local singer/songwriter Lorna Bracewell’s “Farewell to the Bay Area Concert” Friday, June 26 at 7:00 pm at ProsStar Sound Stage   3220 28^th Street North, St. Petersburg, Fl 33713. Beatnik Castle featuring Francillia and Sleeping Dogz will open. Ms. Bracewell certainly no stranger to the Tampa-St. Petersburg music scene; the Indian Rocks Beach native has opened, headlined, and hosted numerous Bay Area musical events, including several CD-release parties, special events involving local organizations, and spoken word lectures that heighten community awareness.

Lorna’s musical resume and subsequent accolades are, without doubt, incredible and certainly well-deserved. She’s opened for Chris Isaak, Chrissy Hynde, Halycon, Colin Haye, Amy Grant, Melissa Ferrick, Sarah McLaughlin, Adrianne, Poco, Star Williams, Little River Band, and Patty Larkin to name a few. Her unique musical prowess was recognized by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Grammy Committee 2007 and 2008. She’s toured Europe and Canada. Creative Loafing selected Lorna as one of the “Top Ten Women Musicians in Tampa Bay” and awarded the title track of her 2007 CD Flowers on the Chains with a Best of the Bay Award for” Best Contemporary Protest Song”. The June 26^th Showcase will be Lorna’s final Bay Area show for quite some time: In Fall 2009 she’ll be a full-time doctorate student at the University of Florida.  

Bay area psychedelic dance/pop outfit Beatnik Castle’s high-energy dance/club hit “Will U B Mine?” is hurriedly buzzing about the dance world.; it’s currently being played on over 54 US dance/mix radio stations as well as 16 countries in Europe and South America. The song was nominated for Best Dance Recording by the 2008 Grammy Committee. Fronted by Tampa-based singing sensation Francillia and her better half Quincy B., Beatnik Castle –with guitar accompaniment from musical friend Lorna Bracewell (!), will be performing rare acoustic versions of the group’s original high energy dance/club material. This rare “unplugged” concert also will be videotaped.

Sleepin Dogz is singer/songwriter Jeannie Blatus and lead guitarist Leo Burke. This Vero Beach-based duo has continued to impress Tampa Bay area music-lovers since their first visit to Pro Star in September 2007 with a healthy dosage of Blues sprinkled with crafty Jazz.

Doors open at 7:00 pm and show starts at 8:00 pm. Admission for this all-ages concert event is $10.