TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — When artists go on tour, they're usually stopping at places like Atlanta, or Orlando, or Miami.
Now the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority and Visit Tallahassee want to make the Capitol City a stop on that list.
TDIA and Visit Tallahassee is filling up the seats by putting local artists right here on stage.
And with more chances to shine the spotlight on the Tallahassee artists, one rapper says now is the time for the city to highlight varying genres of music.
"My whole goal is to put the city on the map," said rapper TaReef Knockout.
Tallahassee native TaReef Knockout has been making music since 2016 and in that short time, he's made a name for himself.
"I've done stuff for Florida State. I've been featured on ESPN," said TaReef.
But his music always comes back to the Capital City.
"A lot of stories that I share within my music happened right here," said TaReef.
The music scene in Tallahassee is big. Thanks to events like the Summer Down Concert Series, those artists get the chance to perform for the city.
"This concert series has been able to over the past five years draw in regional acts that have a really strong following," said Elizabeth Emmanuel, TDIA CEO.
Now the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority is making sure that there are more opportunities for the people to come out and fill all of the seats at the Cascades Park Amphitheater, all to support the local artists in the Capitol City.
TDIA along with Visit Tallahassee is extending the series, adding three more shows in the fall. But TaReef is looking for more growth, specifically with the lineup.
"You've got one genre here dominating the entire downtown. That's not fair to artists in different genres," said TaReef.
TaReef says that the vast majority of acts performing on the stage are country musicians, but the people in Tallahassee want to hear more. A change that the TDIA says will happen this year.
"We've got some great jazz bands, and blues, and folk," said Emmanuel. "So, it's a good mix of different types of music."
The message that TaReef has been waiting to hear.
"I think it's important moving forward that they give us an opportunity as well," said TaReef.
The Sundown Summer Concert Series starts up this Saturday at Cascades Park at 7:00 p.m. featuring FutureBirds and JD's Zydeco Zoo. Neither artist is considered country.
Just like all of the concerts, this one is free.
