Barley and Vine Biergarten
2406 E. Washington St., 407-930-0960, barleyandvineorlando.com
When Barley and Vine Biergarten opened their doors, we were eager to invade their patio, littered with long picnic tables that encourage communal carousing. Typically open at 4 p.m., the bar extends their hours on the weekends to welcome day drinkers at noon, and on Sundays, the welcome wagon has some extra sheen. Guest chefs grill out in the garden, serving free food to famished folks guzzling craft beers on draft or in bottles. For those in the Milk District already spoiled by the selection at Sportstown and Milk Bar, maybe it’s the new kid on the block, but making friends is easy when you have such a cool backyard.
The Space
1206 E. Colonial Drive, 407-205-7572, thespaceistheplace.com
If you’ve never been to the Space, it can sound a little like a hipster clubhouse, but the informal venue run on donations has evolved to become an artsier alternative to Uncle Lou’s Entertainment Hall. Whatever your weird idea is, it’s accepted, as the stairs leading up to the curious venue pronounce: “Welcome. You are here. It is now.” Unique arts events crop up, like The Caress of Progress and I Believe in You, and it’s the preferred venue for edgy events by Body//Talk, Is It Over Yet?, Literocalypse and Polylust Burlesque. Add to that stacked lineups of notable local bands like Golden Pelicans, Me Chinese, Sales and Case Work, plus touring acts like Centuries, Emperor X and Bombadil, and you quickly learn the Space is equal parts community and courage.
John Vanderslice at the Acre
4421 Edgewater Drive, theacreorlando.com
Despite – or perhaps because of – his lack of concert-organizing experience, local culture prod Dave Plotkin set a new standard for special musical engagements when his favorite musician returned to play Orlando. Experimental popsmith John Vanderslice usually has his pick of the top indie clubs when he comes here. But last November, he went off the booking grid and let Plotkin build a fresh event around him. Between the arty souvenir tickets, the dynamic setting and the live local collaborations, it was a mold-breaking, 360-degree experience that impressed the audience and – according to what Vanderslice told us – the artist alike.
Roadkill Ghost Choir on Late Show With David Letterman
roadkillghostchoir.com
We told you these DeLand kids were gonna go places. Well, this year, one of those places was national TV as the musical feature on the Late Show With David Letterman. Not bad for a band that hasn’t even released a full album yet. Fundamentally excellent and current in sound, this astonishingly deep folk-rock group is easily one of the most complete bands this area has ever yielded. Hopefully, they’ll go from big promise to full-on breakout when their hotly anticipated debut LP, In Tongues, is released on Aug. 19.
Talib Kweli
talibkweli.com
With four DJ dates, Questlove graced Orlando plenty this year, but those nights were the fortunate windfall of bigger scheduling coincidences. Hip-hop royalty Talib Kweli, however, has notched a surprisingly deep association with our city. He spins here frequently thanks to Bullitt Bar, shot his latest music video (“What’s Real”) in public at the same bar in May and recently signed the tropic-cool Niko Is – one of Orlando’s freshest, most original MCs – to his label. We think shit’s getting serious.
ButterQueen
facebook.com/butterqueenfl
ButterQueen guitarist-vocalist Phil Longo has been a fixture of Orlando music as part of much-loved bands like Country Slashers and Basements of Florida, so it comes as no surprise that his newest project references familiar settings on songs like “Dinner at Wally’s” and “U.F.Pho88.” Their song “Speaking Of” introduces ButterQueen’s members, describes a bunch of other local bands on the scene, and throws in an allusion to the Peacock Room. But this band isn’t exceptional just because they name-drop city favorites; the lyrical conversations between Longo and vocalist-bassist Susana Chaplin (Wet Nurse) make for an engrossing live show. Although Munchkin-like vocals and carnival instrumentation is employed to sell the jokey premise of “Butter Run,” the musicianship on their debut – also featuring local go-to drummer Jordan Duttinger (Tam Tam the Sandwich Man) – demands serious attention.
Rabbitfoot Records Coffee Lounge
309 E. First St., Sanford, 321-926-3417, rabbitfootrecords.com
Anyone who’s ever romanticized record stores as hangouts after watching cult movies like High Fidelity and Empire Records should make sure to stop in at Rabbitfoot Records Coffee Lounge, where you can flip through their gently used selection of vinyl, request to play any album in the store and chill out for as long as the caffeine from their gourmet coffee allows. Located in Sanford’s enviable downtown strip, this is the second area Rabbitfoot Records, made possible after big moves at the original Titusville location – becoming a label and cutting their own records. We can’t wait to see what innovative business owner Rob Wallace does next, but for now, we consider ourselves lucky to be neighbors to both far-flung vinyl haunts.
Commemorative tickets
Is anyone still collecting tickets in this increasingly paperless world? Maybe less and less, but for a few Orlando shows, promoters gave us good reason to revive old keepsake tendencies. Leading the resurgence of event-tickets-as-art was the Civic Minded 5, whose 3-D pyramid design for Sun Araw at Will’s Pub literally stood for itself as a stunning example, as did their pop-up ticket for Peter Brötzmann at Timucua (both designed by Jim Ivy). Then there was Dave Plotkin’s John Vanderslice at the Acre tickets, featuring rare photos the musician took on various tours. Admittance to Emperor X at the Space was granted by flashing tickets marked by photos from all around Orlando (shot by local musicians Ark Calkins and David Zimlinghaus). They might be good for just one night, but you gotta admit, they help amp up anticipation for upcoming shows more than an overlooked email notification from Ticketfly.
Will’s Pub
1042 N. Mills Ave., 407-748-8256, willspub.org
As if being one of the city’s longest-standing prime venues weren’t enough, Will’s Pub has undergone an unprecedented blitz of improvements this year that have upped the experience of the space as both live venue and hangout. Widened doorways to the music room have increased sightlines immensely, the front room’s been converted from a space-hogging billiard zone to a social room with generous seating, the joint’s gone nonsmoking and – god save us – it’s full-ass liquor now, making that new keg-smash mural rather literal.
Player 1 Video Game Bar
8562 Palm Parkway, Lake Buena Vista, 407-504-7521, player1orlando.com
The amount of nerd-themed bars in this city continues to blow minds, but the reigning king is without a doubt Player 1 Video Game Bar. Whether you’re kicking your friend’s ass in Street Fighter or pwning punks while dominating the newest Call of Duty, there is no better place to wiggle your joystick in public. The number of gaming and arcade machines at your disposal is rivaled only by the broad selection of craft beers, lagers and ales on tap. Pro tip: Get to the Super Smash Bros. setup before anybody else does. You’re welcome.
