From Staff Reports and the City of Apopka
In Summary:
The Dave Matthews Tribute Band will perform May 16 at the Apopka Amphitheater as part of the city’s Saturday Sounds Concert Series. The Buffalo-based tribute act has spent more than 20 years recreating the sound and live concert atmosphere of the Dave Matthews Band, performing more than 2,000 shows across the United States and internationally. The free family-friendly concert runs from 5 pm to 7 pm and will include food trucks, lawn seating, and amphitheater seating.
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On Saturday night, the sound of late-1990s jam rock will echo through the Apopka Amphitheater as the Saturday Sounds concert series welcomes The Dave Matthews Tribute Band to town.
Related: Apopka to celebrate America’s 250th birthday with July 4 event and fireworks finale.
The free concert is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Apopka Amphitheater, located at 3710 Jason Dwelley Parkway. The performance is part of Apopka’s ongoing Saturday Sounds Concert Series, which runs through May and features a rotating lineup of local artists and tribute bands.
But this show comes with a different kind of nostalgia.
For longtime fans of the Dave Matthews Band, The Dave Matthews Tribute Band is less a cover act and more a recreation of a musical era — a return to the peak years of jam-band culture, live improvisation, and the communal concert atmosphere that helped define the late 1990s and early 2000s.
“The DMTB is a celebration of the music of the Dave Matthews Band, a time machine to a funky tea party in the ’90s,” the band states in its promotional materials, describing an era of “tape trading, sing-alongs, and exploration into a new sonic landscape.”
Based in Buffalo, New York, the tribute band has spent more than two decades recreating the sound and feel of classic Dave Matthews Band performances. Since forming in 2004, the group has performed more than 2,000 shows across 46 states and 10 countries, building a national following among fans looking to relive the experience of vintage DMB concerts.
The performances lean heavily into the musical identity that made the original Dave Matthews Band so distinctive: intricate guitar work, soaring violin melodies, smooth saxophone lines, and expansive live drumming that often pushes songs well beyond their studio versions.
The tribute band says its goal is not simply to imitate songs note-for-note, but to recreate the atmosphere surrounding them.
“The attention to details, love for the music, and sense of community creates an atmosphere that causes concert goers to say, ‘Wow, if I close my eyes, it’s like I’m there,’” the group states.
While the band primarily focuses on the classic Dave Matthews Band sound associated with the group’s original lineup, its performances also include selections from later albums and newer material to create what it calls a “well-rounded and authentic tribute.”
The concert also serves as one of the final performances in Apopka’s current Saturday Sounds season, which began in October 2025 and concludes this month.
The city’s Saturday Sounds series has become a recurring community event at the amphitheater, combining live music with a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Attendees can bring blankets, lawn chairs, food, and drinks to enjoy on the amphitheater lawn, while local food trucks will also be on site during select events.
The Apopka Amphitheater includes 1,360 free seats, along with additional lawn space for guests.
The May 16 concert follows Apopka’s International Jazz Day celebration on April 18 and a May 2 performance by Fire Rhythms Band.
Admission to the Dave Matthews Tribute Band concert is free. Concert updates and weather information are available through the City of Apopka’s Alert Center and Facebook page.
Key Points:
• The Dave Matthews Tribute Band will perform Saturday, May 16, from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Apopka Amphitheater.
• The free concert is part of Apopka’s Saturday Sounds Concert Series.
• The tribute band has played more than 2,000 shows in 46 states and 10 countries since forming in 2004.
• The group focuses on recreating the sound and atmosphere of classic Dave Matthews Band concerts, including extended jams and live improvisation.
• Guests may bring blankets, lawn chairs, food, and drinks, while food trucks will also be available onsite.
