Ship of Fools

Ship of Fools formed in Sarasota, Florida in 2012 and has been a fixture of the Gulf Coast bar and club circuit since. Sarasota's Your Observer covered them straightforwardly as a tribute to the Dead, and the band's own About page leads its repertoire list with the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir before broadening into the Beatles, the Stones, Dylan, Cash, Marley and others. The band describes its approach as improvisational rock and blues with folk, bluegrass and reggae threaded through, and claims roughly 250 songs in rotation. They hold a standing first-Sunday afternoon residency at Jungle Hideaway on South Tamiami Trail, free to get in. Members over time have included Mike Hoffman on bass, Turner Moore on mandolin and vocals, and Doug Rogells on drums.