A Gamble Rogers Concert: Pat Bergeson & Bruce Forman

The Gamble Rogers Folk Festival has partnered with the St. Johns Cultural Council to present a monthly series of Saturday concerts at the Waterworks, from October 18, 2025, through June 20, 2026.

These concerts celebrate St. Augustine's Gamble Rogers—songwriter, storyteller, guitarist, and recording artist—who taught, befriended, and performed with many of the performers on the schedule. Each concert includes two acts, one local to the region and one with national or international acclaim. 

March 21, 2026: Pat Bergeson & Bruce Forman

The Gamble Rogers Music Festival presents guitarists Pat Bergeson and Bruce Forman in an evening showcasing their exceptional musicianship and the magic that happens when two guitar virtuosos share their talents on the same stage.

Bruce Forman picked up the guitar when he was 13 after learning the piano. When his family moved from Texas to San Francisco, Forman led bands and performed with local and nationally-known jazz musicians. He's produced 17 albums since 1981, performed with Richie Cole, and was featured on albums by Dan Hicks, Jimmy Knepper, Ray Brown, and many more. He's often performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival. He's performed on the soundtrack of three Clint Eastwood films and is a revered music educator. In Jazz Times, Barney Kessel said that "Bruce Forman is one of the great lights of our age." Kessel mentored Forman, and bequeathed his 1946 Gibson ES-350 to him.

Pat Bergeson studied music in college and later studied jazz in New York City. A few years and gigs later, Chet Atkins heard one of his demo tapes and invited him to play on Sneakin' Around with Jerry Reed. Bergeson later toured with Atkins and then joined Lyle Lovett's band. He's recorded with many artists, including Chet Atkins, Randy Travis, Alison Krauss, Asleep at the Wheel, Martina McBride, and is credited on several movie soundtracks.

Bruce Forman and Pat Bergeson schedule performances together to honor their mentors and friends, Barney Kessel and Chet Atkins. The evening is sure to be special.

Headliners for 2025/26

• Saturday, October 18, 2025—The New 76ers
• Saturday, November 22, 2025—Jordan Tice
• Saturday, December 20, 2025—A Guitar Outlaw Christmas
• Saturday, January 17, 2026—Robert Bowlin & Wil Maring
• Saturday, February 21, 2026—Sunny War
• Saturday, March 21, 2026—Pat Bergeson & Bruce Forman
• In April, there will be no Waterworks concerts; the Gamble Rogers Music Festival is April 10 to 12, 2026
• Saturday, May 16, 2026—Walter Parks
• Saturday, June 20, 2026—Guy Davis

Held at the Waterworks, a renovated historic building on San Marco Avenue, each concert is limited to 100 attendees. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

Admission: Tickets for all shows are now available. 

When: Select Saturdays from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. Most shows in the series will be held on the third Saturday of each month. 

Where: St. Augustine Waterworks, 184 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Access to the Waterworks is through the St. Augustine Main Library parking lot. (Use 1960 North Ponce de Leon Blvd. in your GPS.) 

Built in 1898, the St. Augustine Waterworks is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The city moved this waterworks facility to a new location after significant population growth. For a time, the building served as a community center and theater, and was later left unused. Now fully renovated again, this facility is accessible, has free parking, and yet retains its historic architectural properties and charm.