Saturday Sounds fill the Amphitheater with groovy tunes and community spirit
November 25, 2024
This past weekend, purple vibes and community spirit lit up the Apopka Amphitheater as Florida's premier Prince tribute band, Sir Jac, delivered an electrifying performance. The free concert, part of the City of Apopka's Saturday Sounds series, brought together music lovers, families, and friends for an unforgettable evening of grooves and connection under the autumn sky.
Spanning from the warm summer months to what is now becoming a brisk fall, the concert series, hosted by the City of Apopka, has drawn out all sorts of members from the community to enjoy family-friendly music at no cost.
The concert series, which features local food trucks and musical acts, has become more than just a Saturday night activity; it is now a community-building event.
As the sun set on the amphitheater, Sir Jac burst on the stage with a thunderous roar from the trumpet and quickly settled into a groove. With Apopkans settled in their seats, the show quickly began.
As advertised, the band "blew the Apopka Amphitheater away with the authentic look and sound of a real Prince concert," fully embodying the man himself's passion, eclecticism, and dynamism. Between the first few songs, Joey Sirjac Colon, the lead singer of Sir Jac, clapped at the audience, saying, "We are playing the deep cuts, the low cuts, and everything in between."
Everyone got to hear their song that night.
Despite the fantastic performance, the local community and their engagement were the show's true stars. The amphitheater was a sight rarely seen in larger cities. Children tossed footballs, friends laughed with each other, families huddled together, and overall, neighbors came together to enjoy each other's company for an evening.
"I wish they would do it more," said 10-year Apopka resident Wanda Moore when discussing the free concert series. "You run into people you know, mingle with the rest of the community, and it really builds unity."
It was apparent from the crowd that they were there for the music as they moved and grooved along with the band, but they will leave with the sense of camaraderie that they shared when showing up as a community.
Rufus Jenkins, a 64-year resident of Apopka, noted the population boom over the last few years and how the concert series "meets the needs of those who have just moved here." Local events build community engagement, and as more people move into the area, events such as Saturday Sounds will be the catalyst for integrating these new members into the community.
As the Saturday Sounds concert series approaches its grand finale with Silent Knights: A Jolly Holiday Concert featuring the UCF Symphony Orchestra and the Singing Knights on December 14th, the echoes of Sir Jac's electrifying Prince tribute still linger. Their performance showcased top-tier musical talent and highlighted the community's vibrant spirit. It will be exciting to see how future acts continue to bring people together and how Apopka's residents will keep supporting these unifying events in the years to come.
