Freebird Live

The Freebird Live is a music venue located in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The venue was originally both a music venue and a restaurant, under the name Freebird Cafe. However, the location was renovated into a strictly music venue and renamed "Freebird Live" in order to emphasis this.

Freebird Live is a two story music venue located 1 block from the Atlantic Ocean in Jacksonville Beach, FL. Capacity of 700 including 2 full bars, a balcony overlooking the ground floor acoustically designed stage with dance floor and an additional exterior wrap around balcony.

The Freebird, as it is often called by locals, is known for giving a platform for acts ranging from nationally known to just starting out. The Freebird has been instrumental in the local music scene in Jacksonville, allowing such acts as The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Limp Bizkit to headline midweek shows before they were signed to a major label.

Freebird Live is owned and operated by Judy Van Zant, the widow of Lynyrd Skynyrd founding member and lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. It is also described as being "ground zero of the Lynyrd Skynyrd legacy".

The popular Jacksonville based rock band, Shinedown made their debut at the Freebird Live. Guitarist Jasin Todd is married to Ronnie Van Zant's daughter, and the band covered Skynyrd's "Simple Man" on the rerelease of their debut album in 2003 titled Leave A Whisper which was recorded at a studio owned by Judy Van Zant.

Bands That Have Performed At The Freebird Live

Mindless Self Indulgence
Leon Russell
Gregg Allman
Zakk Wylde
Something Corporate
Kill Hannah
Chevelle
Shinedown
Lost Prophets
Inspection 12
Charlie Daniels
Gavin DeGraw
Willie Nelson
Robby Krieger
Yngwie Malmsteen
Delbert McClinton
Pepper
Ziggy & Damian Marley
Merle Haggard
Blues Traveler
Medeski
Martin & Wood
Jason Mraz
Indigo Girls
Switchfoot
Donna The Buffalo
Buddy Miles
Toad The Wet Sproket
Mofro
Nickel Creek
30 Seconds to Mars
Yellowcard
The Starting Line
Underoath
Cartel
Copeland
Head Automatica
The Killers
Fozzy
cKy
Crossfade
Thursday
The Rentals
Dinosaur Jr
mewithoutYou
Sparta

Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9)

References

[http://www.freebirdlive.com Website]