Matt Shaw Arts & Culture Editor email
Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw has covered Northeast Florida's arts scene for more than a dozen years. He's the former editor of Folio Weekly and Void Magazine. His writing has also appeared in the Surfer's Journal, SURFER Magazine and NPR Music. His first book, The Sea in Every Sound: Chasing the influence of surf music in America is out in October via Chicago Review Press.
Featured image for “ARTS PICKS | Sept. 22-24”
September 20, 2023

ARTS PICKS | Sept. 22-24

This weekend is all about music, from national headliners in St. Augustine to a local jazz trio taking on “A…

By Matt Shaw

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Grammy nominated Tiny Desk contest winners Tank and the Bangas headline Florida Fin Fest at the Seawalk Pavilion this weekend | Credit: Courtesy of the artist
September 14, 2023

ARTS PICKS | Sept. 15-17

Visual arts in LaVilla, music at Jacksonville Beach and a new atrium exhibit at Downtown’s MOCA are this weekend’s Arts…

By Matt Shaw

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September 7, 2023

ARTS PICKS | Sept. 8-10

Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw shares his arts and culture picks for the weekend.…

By Matt Shaw

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Icon of Southern hip-hop, Big Boi performs at this weekend's Jacksonville Taco & Tequila Festival | Concerttour, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
August 31, 2023

ARTS PICKS | Sept. 1-3

Two museums with free admission and a music and taco festival are this Labor Day weekend’s Arts Picks.…

By Matt Shaw

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Credit: Toni Smailagic, courtesy of @Cre8Jax
August 23, 2023

ARTS PICKS | Aug. 25-27

This weekend’s Arts Picks span from the beach to Riverside and Avondale. Where will you be?…

By Matt Shaw

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August 17, 2023

ARTS PICKS | Aug. 18-20

This week, your Jacksonville Arts Picks are experimental theater, a makers’ market or dancing the night away in a honky…

By Matt Shaw

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Headliners for this year's Queer Country Disco include (clockwise from top left) Rachel Angel, Daddy and Folk is People.
August 10, 2023

ARTS PICKS | Aug. 11-13

New art, a musical about life as an artist and a concert event celebrating queer country music are this week’s…

By Matt Shaw

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From the Jazz Jam photo collection on view at the Main Branch Public Library through late September | Felicia Bass
August 3, 2023

ARTS PICKS | Aug. 4-6

A comedy and film fest, a Civil Rights exhibit and photos of the pandemic’s early days are this weekend’s local…

By Matt Shaw

Featured image for “ARTS PICKS | July 28-30”
A celebration of hip-hop and all its elements -- graffiti, DJ'ing, emceeing and (seen here) breakdancing -- is the main thrust of this weekend's Summer in the City held in James Weldon Johnson park | Photo by Toni Smailagic, courtesy of Cre8Jax
July 27, 2023

ARTS PICKS | July 28-30

Free music in Avondale, theater in Arlington and a free celebration of hip hop Downtown are this weekend’s Arts Picks.…

By Matt Shaw

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Grammy-winning drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. (center) leads a trio of topflight jazz artists at Wildcrafters on Sunday | Photo by Toni Smailagic
July 20, 2023

ARTS PICKS | July 21-23

A clay workshop, competitive storytelling and a jazz jam are the Arts Picks for this Jacksonville weekend.…

By Matt Shaw

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July 13, 2023

ARTS PICKS | July 14-16

Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw shares his arts and culture picks for the weekend.…

By Matt Shaw

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Summer at the Cummer returns to Riverside's revered cultural institution this week with the first of 10 free Friday evenings of programming taking place across the museum's grounds | Photo by Toni Smailagic, courtesy of Cre8Jax
July 6, 2023

ARTS PICKS | July 7-9

Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw shares his arts and culture picks for the weekend. Friday Summer at the…

By Matt Shaw

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Popular Jacksonville-based country band Dean Winter and the Heat present Heat Fest at Intuition Ale Works this weekend, in celebration of the vinyl release of their debut full-length record | Jesse Brantman, courtesy of the artist
June 29, 2023

ARTS PICKS | June 30 – July 2

Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw shares his arts and culture picks for the weekend. Saturday Heat Fest  Intuition…

By Matt Shaw

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Jacksonville artists (clockwise from bottom left) Daddy, Bebe Deluxe and Bad Madonna are among the artists performing at the Walrus on Sunday for Duval County Queer Pride | Press photos courtesy of the artists (cropped)
June 22, 2023

ARTS PICKS | June 23-25

Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw shares his arts and culture picks for the weekend. Friday Bab’s Lab Story…

By Matt Shaw

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Jazz great, the saxophonist and composer Dayna Stephens, performs at a special event honoring James Weldon Johnson's birthday, on Sunday. | Credit: Courtesy of the artist
June 15, 2023

ARTS PICKS | June 16-18

Weekend Arts Picks include a Juneteenth Festival, LGBTQ history bike tour and a jazz concert in James Weldon Johnson Park…

By Matt Shaw

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The inclusive dance party Duval Folx returns to the Cummer Gardens on Friday in celebration of Pride | Photo courtesy of Toni Smailagic, Cre8Jax
June 8, 2023

ARTS PICKS | June 9-11

Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw shares his arts and culture picks for the weekend.…

By Matt Shaw

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Miami surf-rock band Haute Tension headlines the Summer Crush Series at the Walrus, put on by St. Augustine BIPOC- and queer-focussed music and arts organization Underwire Collective | Credit: Courtesy of the artist
June 1, 2023

ARTS PICKS | June 2-4

Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw shares his top 3 arts and culture picks for the weekend.…

By Matt Shaw

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Thin Veil, 2021, by Bo Bartlett (American, b. 1955). Oil on linen, 82 x 100 inches. © Image courtesy of the artist and Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, NY
May 25, 2023

ARTS PICKS | May 26-28

Southern Gothic drama in a new show at MOCA, insiders’ picks for the Jacksonville Jazz Fest and experimental rock are…

By Matt Shaw

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Flalgler College's Crisp-Ellert Art Museum hosts the second annual exploration of experimental film and art, the Finger Mullet Film Festival, this weekend. | Credit: Courtesy of CEAM
May 18, 2023

ARTS PICKS | May 19-21

A film festival, a music fest and the city of Jacksonville’s Emancipation Day celebration are this week’s Arts Picks.…

By Matt Shaw

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May 11, 2023

ARTS PICKS | May 12-14

Contemporary dance, an artist talk, and a storytelling competition are this weekend’s Jacksonville Arts Picks.…

By Matt Shaw

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May 4, 2023

ARTS PICKS | May 5-7

Live theater, the music of the wild, wild West and a figure-drawing workshop are this weekend’s Arts Picks.…

By Matt Shaw

Featured image for “ARTS PICKS | April 28-30”
April 27, 2023

ARTS PICKS | April 28-30

Live local music in Jax Beach, new art Downtown and a musical to bring you back to highschool are this…

By Matt Shaw

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San Marco's Yesterday and Today Records is one of several Jacksonville independent music retailers participating in Record Store Day on Saturday. Photo: Cole LoCurto, courtesy of the Jacksonville Music Experience
April 20, 2023

ARTS PICKS | April 21-23

Tell your own story, hear the Indigo Girls play or snag some vinyl. Those are this week’s Jacksonville Arts Picks.…

By Matt Shaw

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April 13, 2023

ARTS PICKS | April 14-16

A classical duo, a local music showcase and Menopause the Musical make this week’s Arts Picks.…

By Matt Shaw