Community Corner

Gypsies in the Palace Promise Beachin' End to Summer at Sunset Blast

The Jimmy Buffett cover band plans to make thousands of Blast-goers feel like they are ending summer in Key West with a three hour performance Saturday.

"If you don’t like the sunshine, ocean and a few cocktails, I think you’re halfway dead," said Gypsies in the Palace front man Dave Hill. 

The Jimmy Buffett cover band is performing a three hour free show for the expected 15,000 crowd Sept. 1 at the city's . 

The band performed at the Blast once before in 2009. Community Information Coordinator Linda Nahrstedt affectionately refers to it as "the year we ran out of beer."

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Gypsies in the Palace Manager Bob "Secret Agent" Gelvin said not only was it the year the event ran out of beer — but food and ice cream too. 

"Part of my announcement this time when I introduce the band is I'm going to put on the spot a bit and tell crowd, "Last time we were here ran out of beer and food!' But I’ve been assured by the current mayor that will not happen this time," Gelvin said with a chuckle.

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The band has been performing for more than a decade and Gelvin said "I'm not sure how much longer we'll be doing this." 

But with time, comes experience and Jimmy Buffett himself has given his approval on the performance.

Blast-goers "can close their eyes and think Jimmy Buffett is there," Gelvin said. 

Hill said he's actually performed with Buffett in Cleveland and the band has played Margaritaville in Key West, among many other venues. 

"We've played for hundreds of thousands of people over the years at big and small events," said Gelvin, who is also an employee.

Speaking of thousands,  Nahrstedt said usually there are about 5,000+ people who attend the event at  normally, but this year she expects the crowd to triple to 15,000 for the free show. 

Gelvin said the group wanted to do the show for free because "We’re big supporters of the Stow community and this is a big event."

"We play fun music ... this show is going to be great for those who are young and old ... it'll be a great end to summer," said Hill. 

For more information on the band, visit the Gypsies in the Palace website and of course, look for coverage of the event on Stow Patch this weekend. 

If you take photos at the Blast, please share them with your community in the Stow Patch photo gallery

What's your favorite Jimmy Buffett tune? Hill said his is Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude.

"That’s an easy question," he said. "It’s one of Jimmy's early songs. I like the words ... I like what the song is about."


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