The Heavy Pets & Friends celebrate 20th anniversary with shows in Miami Beach & St. Petersburg

High school friends guitarists Jeff Lloyd and Mike Garulli met and began performing together. At Syracuse, they found like-minded keyboard wiz Jim Wuest. In 2004, they all moved to South Florida, and shortly thereafter The Heavy Pets emerged as jamband juggernauts. Drummer Jamie Newitt joined the fold in 2008; since then, the band has been raging all across the country at shows and festivals. Several years back, bass player extraordinaire Chris Patsis jumped in with both feet, and now we have arrived at the 20th anniversary of this outstanding experiment.

The quintet played a triumphant set at Suwannee Hulaween in October, and they have put together two special shows to celebrate the anniversary: December 19 at Miami Beach Bandshell and the following evening at Jannus Live in St. Petersburg. Upping the ante, their compatriots and livetronica monsters Guavatron will join them for both dates. The Miami Beach extravaganza will also include guitarist Jaden Lehman and DJ Ackdaddy. The St. Pete show will feature hometown heroes MiniM.

The Heavy Pets. 📸: DJF Workshops- Photography & Multi-Media

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!

Mike Bryant and Dunedin Brewery kicked it way up, facilitating the addition of more great music to the festivities: pedal steel paragon Roosevelt Collier, amazing music educator and performer Melody Trucks, and The Heavy Horns, led by the incomparable tenor man Rob Smiley (Fusik/Electric Piquete/Funkin’ Grateful).