Gamble Rogers Festival

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Gamble Festival Blog

Press Information

May 1-3, 2009
St. Johns County Fairgrounds

In addition to the music, artists like Joe Mark have added to the cultural consciousness of this musical event.

Since the early days of the Gamble Rogers Festival, Joe Mark has been painting Gamble’s stories and setting the mood with his unique, vibrant watercolors. Click on the picture and view his previous festival artwork.

Gamble Rogers balanced a love of balladry and folk songs with a passion for the oral tradition and storytelling. The son and grandson of influential architects, Rogers was described as both a "modern troubadour" and the "resurrection of Will Rogers and Mark Twain". Capable of enchanting an audience with Travis-style guitar finger picking, Rogers was as effective relying his latest tales about the inhabitants of the fictitious Oklahowa County.

The Atlanta Constitution called Rogers, "an American treasure worthy of inclusion in the Smithsonian". Rogers was just hitting his peak when he died, on October 10, 1991, trying to save a man from drowning. The recreational area in Flagler County, where the accident occurred, was later renamed, "The Gamble Rogers Memorial Park".

In the liner notes of his album, Fruitcakes, Jimmy Buffett dedicated the recording to Rogers' memory and wrote that Rogers, "taught me how to move an audience with dialogue and delivery as much as with music". In 1993, Rogers was posthumously awarded a Folk Heritage award.

~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide

It is nice to find a place of your own where you can relax and enjoy great music on the grounds of the St. Johns County Fairgrounds. The purpose of the Gamble Rogers Festival is to continue the tradition of folk and other music and expose children to the power of this art form. Families can enjoy this event together and experience original music in a natural setting. Furthermore, the tented stages with plenty of seating, are arranged in a manner where you can stroll from one stage to another and enjoy a variety of musical styles and performances.