3 questions with Flipturn ahead of Gasparilla Music Festival

North Florida indie rockers Flipturn are ready to bring their high-energy live performance to Tampa’s Gasparilla Music Festival this weekend.

The 5-piece band, based in Fernandina Beach, developed its unique sound playing around Gainesville while its members attended the University of Florida. Their cinematic, summery tunes, including songs “August” and “Chicago,” have generated buzz both in and around the state. Then last year, the group released its debut album, “Shadowglow.”

Ahead of their set Saturday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Times chatted with the band. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What’s your approach to playing a festival in Tampa?

Bassist Madeline Jarman: I guess with a festival set, you really try to put some songs in there that people would have heard of, the things that are familiar rather than a deeper cut. Gasparilla Music Festival is in Florida, which is super special to us. It’s our stomping ground and our home state.

I remember a couple years ago when we first started playing around the state, the Tampa and St. Pete shows were always so fun. I just remember thinking like, “Wow, there’s people outside our town that are buying tickets to our show?”

How did your time in Gainesville impact the way you grew as a band?

Jarman: We started in our hometown and didn’t know of any other bands, so when we started going to college, getting to know all these other people that were also playing music really helped to show us like what a local show like can be.

Singer and guitarist Dillon Basse: It shaped how we played together. Gainesville really was the first place where we played a show. They would be at house shows, dive bars, places like that. Learning to play those types of shows really heightened our sound. I think the energy we have really started in those crazy, sweaty house shows.

How has the reception for “Shadowglow” been?

Basse: It’s been really cool to see the fans and people in Florida and across the U.S. starting to really know the album. For forever, our biggest project was (2019 EP) “Citrona.” People are really starting to find us through this album now, which is really cool.

Jarman: We’ve been working on the album for two years. It makes me smile when I see people sing these new songs.

What to know about Gasparilla Music Festival

The festival takes place from 1 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park (600 N Ashley Drive, Tampa).

Saturday’s lineup highlights include local artists like Speak Easy and Pusha Preme, plus national acts like Cannons, Chromeo and Run the Jewels. Stick around Sunday to see acts including Local Natives, Rising Appalachia and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. Check out our story on the full lineup and parking options here. Visit gmftickets.com for tickets.