Plant City residents will see a familiar face performing at Duke’s Brewhouse Friday, Nov. 27.
Plant City native and Nashville transplant Anna Gavin will be performing with her band, Anna Gavin & The Good Time, at the local eatery. Also performing that night will be her second cousin, Este Loves, who has been playing music professionally across Central Florida for the last few years.
“We grew up playing together,” Gavin said.
Gavin moved to Nashville from the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World about two and one half years ago. Since then, Gavin has been performing on and off with her fiance, Ben Blakely, and his brother, Joshua Blakely. After Gavin gave birth to twin boys a year ago, the band picked back up.
Gavin grew up around music and began singing at an early age. She remembers singing at First Baptist Church of Plant City when she was 5 years old. Her grandmother would accompany her on the piano.
At age 12, Gavin began writing her own songs. At 16, she began playing guitar.
Gavin’s music tastes began to change as she got older. Her influences come from a variety of artists, including Ryan Adams, Jewel and Johnny Cash.
“I’ve kind of evolved and matured musically,” she said.
The Blakelys also come from a musical family. Ben and Joshua Blakely’s grandparents were the well-known Nashville swing duo, Jimmy and Dorothy Blakely.
In 2013, the musician released “Detour,” her first album.
Attendees of Gavin’s Nov. 27 show who are familiar with her first album can expect something different from the singer.
“It’ll be a mixture of folk rock, classic country and classic rock,” Gavin said.
The Duke’s Brewhouse show is the only performance that Gavin will be doing with her band while in Plant City, but the musician does have a few other solo shows in the area during the holiday season. Though she still has family in Plant City, she has no plans to return to the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World.
“I’m pretty rooted (in Nashville),” Gavin said.
But Nashville might not be home forever. In January, Anna Gavin & The Good Time will be recording an album. The recording will take about six months and is set to be released in 2016. Following that, the band will most likely embark on a national tour in 2017.
“We’re working on going on the road,” Gavin said.
Still, the artist won’t forget about her hometown. She may come back to perform in Plant City in the spring of 2016.
“We’ll be rocking out for sure,” Gavin said.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
IF YOU GO
Anna Gavin & The Good Time and Este Loves
When: 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 27
Where: Duke’s Brewhouse, 2212 James L. Redman Parkway
Cost: Free
