Chuck Redd, quite literally, is vibes—and he’s bringing them to Tampa Bay first thing next year.

The 67-year-old jazz vibraphonist is no stranger to the Tampa Bay area, and just played the Suncoast Jazz Festival, but is all the rage (and outrage) lately these days after he canceled a Christmas Eve show at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center to protest President Trump adding his name to the building. 

Roma Daravi, current Kennedy Center spokesperson and Trump acolyte since at least 2016, says the center will sue Redd for $1 million, but in the meantime, the jazz composer who’s toured with Dizzy Gillespie and played both drums and guitar for Charlie Byrd is still gigging.

Tampa Jazz Club welcomes Redd to New Tampa Jazz Nights next month, where he’ll be backed once again by Best of the Bay-winning trio La Lucha.

Tampa Jazz Club: Chuck Redd

Time Sat., Jan. 17, 8 p.m.

Location New Tampa Performing Arts Center, 8550 Hunters Village Road, Tampa

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Redd isn’t the first artist to protest Trump, obviously, and joined the like of “Hamilton” and Rhiannon Giddens who’ve canceled or moved Kennedy Center shows over the president’s overhaul of the storied venue, which has included an overhaul of the board and a crackdown on so-called “woke” programming.

Tickets to see Chuck Redd play New Tampa Performing Arts Center on Saturday, January 17 are still available for $10-$35.

See Josh Bradley’s latest list of newly announced Tampa Bay concerts below.

Inhuman Condition w/Wretched/Trash Panda Friday, Jan. 9. 7 p.m. $17.67. Crowbar, Ybor City

Leftover Crack w/La Pobreska/Bad Future Thursday, Jan. 15. 6 p.m. $26.33. Brass Mug, Tampa

Zeta w/Discord Theory/Pet Lizard Friday, Jan. 16. 8 p.m. $17.67. Crowbar, Ybor City

Bolo Saturday, Jan. 24. 10 p.m. $25.96 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City

Rick Monroe and The Hitmen Sunday, Jan. 25. 7 p.m. $18.30. Brass Mug, Tampa

James McMurtry & Betty Soo Saturday, Jan. 31. 8 p.m. $30.30. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa

Brooke Lee (opening for NeedToBreathe) Thursday, Feb. 5. 7:30 p.m. $127 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa

Teenage Bottlerocket w/Authority Zero/Billy Liar/Right On Time Thursday, Feb. 12. 7 p.m. $20. Brass Mug, Tampa

Markus Schulz Saturday, Feb. 28. 10 p.m. $20.77 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City

Ventana w/Aeternum Thursday, March 12. 7 p.m. $18.30. Brass Mug, Tampa

Cult Member w/TBA Saturday, March 14. 7 p.m. $29.67. Crowbar, Ybor City

Ship Wrek Saturday, March 14. 10 p.m. $20.77 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City

FlyingFish w/Love Letter Sunday, March 22. 6 p.m. $24.06. Crowbar, Ybor City

Saturdays At Your Place w/Retirement Party/Kerosene Heights Sunday, March 29. 7:30 p.m. Crowbar, Ybor City

Billy Strings Wednesday, April 8. 7:30 p.m. $69.55 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa

The Academy Is Saturday, April 18. 6 p.m. $51.25. The Ritz, Ybor City

Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra Friday, April 24. 8 p.m. $44.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

Troy Doherty Saturday, May 2. 7 p.m. $31.97 & up. Crowbar, Ybor City

Evanescence w/Spiritbox/Nova Twins Friday, June 12. 7 p.m. $49 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa

Chicago w/Styx Wednesday, July 15. 7 p.m. $42 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa

Megan Moroney Friday, July 17. 7 p.m. Prices TBA. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa

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The post Chuck Redd, who just canceled a Kennedy Center concert over Trump, is coming to Tampa in January appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

Like a massive amount of fellow New Yorkers, Zydeco outfit Donna The Buffalo have a thing for spending New Year’s in Florida. The band has rung in the new year at Tampa’s Skipper’s Smokehouse for the last few years, but takes a different, slightly more intimate approach on Wednesday.

There’s currently no telling whether Jim Lauderdale will show up for a guest spot, but expect an accordion-drenched career retrospective to kiss 2025’s ass goodbye next week.

Ahead of the band’s first downtown Clearwater show in a decade, co-founder Tara Nevins told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay about the best gig she ever saw. Read her full quote below.

I have seen many incredible concerts so it’s difficult to answer, but one of the most influential concerts was the first time seeing Preston Frank and his family band play Zydeco in Soileau, Louisiana. I came home and immediately bought an accordion, and that started a very important chapter in both mine and Donna The Buffalo’s musical evolution. -Tara Nevins, Donna The Buffalo

Tickets to see Donna The Buffalo play Clearwater’s Bilheimer Capitol Theatre are still available and start at $44.

Donna The Buffalo

Time Wed., Dec. 31, 8 p.m.

Location The Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland Street, Clearwater

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Attend the tale, because Josh Groban and Jennifer Hudson are joining forces for an arena tour this summer, which stops in Tampa this June.

The 44-year-old multi-faceted tenor took to Hudson’s talk show on Tuesday morning to co-announce the 16-date run of shows. “I am so honored to be able to hit the road with you this summer. To be able to travel the country, to be able to blend our voices. The duet possibilities!” he told the EGOT-winner during the announcement.

The news comes following a few years off the road—which was preceded by an incredible, Tony Award-nominated Broadway run as the titular character in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”—and in the midst of Groban promoting Hidden Gems, a new collection of ultra-deep cuts. Many of the songs on the record have never been widely available before, so while it technically isn’t a new studio album, non-ride-or-dies may as well consider it as one.

Tickets to see Josh Groban and Jennifer Hudson play Tampa’s Benchmark International Arena on Friday, June 19 go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m., and start at $82.

Josh Groban with special guest Jennifer Hudson

Time Fri., June 19, 8 p.m.

Location Benchmark International Arena, 401 E Channelside Dr., Tampa

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The Beatsnchill crew has always been a taste making one, and the trend continues with this booking that pairs some of Tampa’s finest emcees with rising talent from across the U.S.

Marco Plus leads the charge this time around. After a short stint in Pensacola, now-Atlanta-based rapper Marco Plus arrives supporting a new LP, Marco Plus Vs. Tha Underworld, where the kingmaking hip-hop blog Passion of the Weiss says he’s making the best music of his decade-long career.

“His flow helixes from the same DNA as Andre 3000, sticky and staccato, and occasionally revving up into double and triple time rhyme schemes,” critic Will Schube adds.

Lo-fi-leaning Missouri rapper Sunset Tim is also on the bill.

Tickets for Sermons Fest happening Friday, Dec. 19 at Crowbar in Ybor City are still available for $22.85.

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The post Sermons Fest brings another hip-hop showcase to Tampa this weekend appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

After being forced to take a break in 2025, Tampa’s long-running Gasparilla Music Festival (GMF) returns this spring at a new venue on the north end of downtown Tampa’s Water Street neighborhood. 

GMF Executive Director David Cox told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the festival will happen over three days—Friday-Sunday, April 10-12—at and around the Meridian Fields site near Channelside and most recognizable by the old silos left standing after the demolition of Tampa’s Ardent flour mills.

Tickets for Gasparilla Music Festival 2026 go on sale today, Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. EST and start at $85 for a three-day general admission pass. A three-day VIP pass is $210. Cox told CL that a band lineup and information on single day passes will be available in the coming weeks.

Gasparilla Music Festival 2026

Time Fri., April 10, 3-11 p.m., Sat., April 11, 3-11 p.m. and Sun., April 12, 3-11 p.m.

Location Meridian Fields, 101 S Meridian Ave., Tampa

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Founded in 2012, the nonprofit music festival serves the Gasparilla Music Foundation, which utilizes its Recycled Tunes program to refurbish musical instruments and places them in schools across Hillsborough County.

Powered by a board of locals, the festival didn’t even miss a year during the pandemic, opting instead to give fans two festivals in one calendar year to make up for lost time. GMF started to run into bad luck in 2023 when rain forced the cancellation of a headlining set by Run The Jewels, and bumped into more wet weather when it staged a solid, albeit soggy, debut at Tampa’s Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park. 

GMF’s resurgence, Cox said, speaks to the will of the people involved, who have always seen the festival as a long-range project.

“Sometimes that forces you to make some tough decisions,” Cox noted, adding that GMF has not been immune to rising and volatile prices, along with venue challenges.  “It’s a lot for us to just keep kind of pushing down the same path. We needed to pause, regroup, and look at what the next 10 years could look like.”

Ultimately, Cox said, they reminded themselves that the foundation serves the community year-round and stages a festival to showcase Tampa’s local music and arts scene.

“Even when we said we were going to take this year off, longtime supporters understood. They said, “we’ll be there for you when you’re coming back.,” he added. “So it’s really a good feeling to see how much not just our attendees, but just other other groups and companies and people that have supported the festival for years, want to continue to support it forever.”

Water Street Tampa is among those supporters and has signed on as the 2026 title sponsor.

“The Gasparilla Music Festival needed a place to land, and we had space that was open and ready,” Josh Taube, CEO of Strategic Property Partners (SPP), which operates Water Street Tampa, wrote in a press release. “It felt like the perfect fit for right now, and a great way to give this festival the stage it deserves.”

Water Street Tampa is where GMF has spent three years putting on the popular Beats on the Street festival, and partners with GMF for over 200 local music performances a year.

Cox would not tell CL if GMF had a multi-year agreement with Water Street and SPP, but said that he does see a future at the site.

Meridian Fields proper is owned by the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority, but GMF will utilize space around the fields as well.

A tentative Gasparilla Music Festival 2026 site plan shared with CL shows the main gate situated near the intersection of S Meridian and E Cumberland avenues. The mainstage sits north, with a second stage closer to the old flour mills still standing after the relocation and demolition of Tampa’s Ardent Mills which opened there in 1938.

Cox anticipates 10,000 daily attendees, and notes that the site—11.5 acres according to a press release— itself can hold up to 20,000 people. That capacity is much larger than GMF’s beloved original home of Curtis Hixon Waterfront and Kiley Gardens, and is about the same as its last venue Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, but organizers won’t try to pack the venue.

Cox told CL there will be smaller stages throughout the site, but noted that GMF will also stage free-to-attend performances within Water Street and Sparkman Wharf before and during the festival.

“We’re not trying to max out,” Cox said. “Our focus at GMF is the attendee, and band hospitality—we want to make sure the food lines are moving, there are plenty of restrooms, all that stuff.”

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At the tail end of what we thought would be the first year since 2017 where AJR didn’t stop in Tampa Bay (with the exception of 2020), the band announced a last-minute show in downtown Tampa, set for tomorrow evening.

Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met—who headline Feel Good Fest at Ford Thunder Alley outside the recently-renamed Benchmark International Arena—are on the heels of releasing a new, ultra-personal EP called “What No One’s Thinking.”

The five-tracker, which came about during a bout of writer’s block following the end of last year’s The Maybe Man tour and era, encapsulates the deeper emotions going through the brothers’ heads, such as a fear of commitment and confronting someone who cuts everyone off after a psychotic break.

Feel Good Fest, which currently only promises food and said live entertainment, is open to the public for no cover. And, if you’ve ever caught one of Jack Met’s trademark bomber hats, don’t feel like you have to leave it at home, because the high in Tampa tomorrow is only 74 degrees. You may sweat, but probably not profusely.

There’s no cover to see AJR play Ford Thunder Alley at Benchmark International Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Update 12/17/25 1:33 p.m.: This story has been updated to correct information about needing tickets to the show. 1iota tickets were released as a promotion, but no tickets are necessary for the event.

GEICO and iHeartRadio present Feel Good Fest: AJR

Time Wed., Dec. 17, 5 p.m. 2025

Location Benchmark International Arena, 401 E Channelside Dr., Tampa

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The Florida Strawberry Festival is less than three months away, and once again has one hell of a concert lineup coming to the bandstand in 2026.

As usual, pretty much every one of the 11 days includes multiple concerts, each carrying its own separate ticket. With a couple exceptions, concertgoers must always purchase a gate admission ($4.45-$11.05, kids five and under free, with special discounts available daily) to gain access to the concert venue.

Notable headliners include Joan Jett & the Blackhearts closing out the festival on March 8, Riley Green on March 1, The Offspring on March 7.

While both old and new country is well-represented on the bill, pop (Lauren Daigle) and R&B (Brian McKnight with Ginuwine) are on the lineup, too.

Tickets to Florida Strawberry Festival concerts happening in Plant City Feb. 26-March 8 are on sale now. See the full 2026 Florida Strawberry Festival headlining concert lineup, complete with showtimes and ticket prices, below.

More information is at flstrawberryfestival.com.

2026 Florida Strawberry Festival concert lineup

Thursday, Feb. 26

• Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra 10:30 a.m. No cover with paid gate admission
• The Oak Ridge Boys 3:30 p.m. $40-$45
• Alabama 7:30 p.m. $65-$85

Friday, Feb. 27

• Jo Dee Messina 3:30 p.m. $40-$50
• Jamey Johnson 7:30 p.m. $45-$75

Saturday, Feb. 28

• Lonestar 3:30 p.m. $35-$45
• Ty Myers 7:30 p.m. $50-$75

Sunday, March 1

• Riley Green feat. Hannah McFarland 6:30 p.m. $110-$135

Monday, March 2

• Gene Watson 3:30 p.m. $30
• Legends of Love feat. Brian McKnight, Ginuwine & Ruben Studdard 7:30 p.m. $40-$80

Tuesday, March 3

• Sandi Patty 3:30 p.m. $30
• Lauren Daigle 7:30 p.m. $70-$85

Wednesday, March 4

• John Foster 3:30 p.m., $25-$35
• Brantley Gilbert 7:30 p.m. $50-$85

Thursday, March 5

• Bill Haley Jr. & The Comets 10:30 p.m. No cover with paid gate admission
• The Bellamy Brothers 3:30 p.m. $30
• Dierks Bentley 7:30 p.m. $70-$90

Friday, March 6

• The Marshall Tucker Band 3:30 p.m. $35-$40
• Forrest Frank 7:30 p.m. $70-$90

Saturday, March 7

• The Offspring 7:30 p.m. $70-$90

Sunday, March 8

• Joan Jett & The Blackheart 7:30 p.m. $45-$75

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The post Joan Jett, Riley Green, and many more coming to Plant City for 2026 Florida Strawberry Festival appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

Tampa Bay’s live music calendar is in the holiday spirit, big time, from The Castle’s big Hallucination Before Christmas party to Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Nate Najar’s Jazz Holiday, the Merry Mosh and more, there’s no shortage of festive concerts to check out.

Those shows, along with local jazz, rock, and more in venues big and small, are in this listing of Tampa Bay’s best live music and concerts happening Dec. 11-18.

This listing is compiled by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay staffers and contributors, then supplemented with select gigs on CL’s user-submitted Tampa Bay event calendar. Don’t see your gig listed here? Please join the other artists, venues, and promoters submitting their own events daily.

Thursday, Dec. 11

• Tampa Oratorio Singers: Handel’s Messiah (Church of the Ascension, Clearwater)
• Nate Najar’s Jazz Holiday (Hough Hall at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)

Friday, Dec. 12

• Ax and the Hatchetmen w/John-Robert (Crowbar, Ybor City)
• Brandy & Monica w/Kelly Rowland/Keyshia Cole/Jamal Roberts (Benchmark International Arena, Tampa)
• Photon w/The Family Funk (Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin)

Saturday, Dec. 13

• Rusko & Subdocta (The Ritz, Ybor City)
• Hallucination Before Christmas: Gene Farris w/Josh Wink/Oona Dahl/Three/Left / Right/Monk/Acuna/Audia/Brian Busto/Essential Freaks/more (The Castle, Ybor City)
• Obituary w/Intoxicated/Castrator (Brass Mug, Tampa)
• Photon (The Moon Tower, Dunedin)
• Antacid Trip album release w/Ramtha/Phantom Power (Pinellas Ale Works, St. Petersburg)
• Silverstein w/Bloom (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
• Today Is The Day w/The Path of Increased Indifference/Permanent Makeup (Deviant Libation, Tampa)
• Tophouse w/Crowe Boys (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
• We Belong Here Festival: Kaskade w//Lane 8/E/more (St. Pete Pier, St. Petersburg)

Sunday, Dec. 14

• Agnostic Front w/Raw Brigade/Violent Way (Orpheum, Tampa)
• And the Show Goes on—Jazz From Paris to Shanghai: Vince di Mura & Jing Yang (Cathedral Church of St. Peter, St. Petersburg)
• Bad Vibrations w/Boney Fiend/Car Bomb Driver/Las Nadas/Pretty Voices (VFW Post 39, St. Petersburg)
• Merry Mosh 2: Fallfiftyfeet w/Clock Out/Gas/Dagger/more (Magnanimous Brewing Seminole Heights, Tampa)
• Raekwon w/Mobb Deep (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
• Photon (The Moon Tower, Dunedin)
• Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Benchmark International Arena, Tampa)
• We Belong Here Festival: Odesza w/Elderbrook/more (St. Pete Pier, St. Petersburg)

Tuesday, Dec. 16

• Central Park Jazz Jam: The Nick Peters Quartet (African American History Museum at Encore!, Tampa)
• Ritmo Tuesdays: Mila Killa (M. Bird, Tampa)

Wednesday, Dec. 17

• The Casualties w/Crazy & The Brains (Crowbar, Ybor City)

Thursday, Dec. 18

• Method Man and Redman (Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa)
• Tyler Hilton & Kate Voegele (Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg)
• Whores w/Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol/Meatwound (Orpheum, Tampa)

See the extended version of this listing via cltampa.com/music.

Thursday, Dec. 18. 7 p.m. $28.69. Orpheum, Tampa

More concerts happening in Tampa Bay Dec. 11-18

Beats Antique Friday, Dec. 12. 6:30 p.m. $25.62 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Brian Caudill Friday, Dec. 12. 7 p.m. No cover. Woodwright Brewing Co., Dunedin

D.R.I. w/Scattered Guts/Vital Pain Friday, Dec. 12. 7 p.m. $20. Brass Mug, Tampa

Dueling Pianos Friday, Dec. 12. 7 p.m. No cover. Grand Central Brewhouse, St. Petersburg

Ella Jet w/Branson Welsh Group Friday, Dec. 12. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Ruby’s Elixir, St. Petersburg

Elovaters w/Kash’d Out/Coyote Island Friday, Dec. 12. 6:30 p.m. Sold out. England Brothers Park, Pinellas Park

Elovators After Party: Eric Swanson w/Flip Flop Republic/Stoney Banks Friday, Dec. 12. 10 p.m. $16.05. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg

Fatal Realm w/Moment of Truth/Ephemeral/Unregistered Weapon/Wasted Life/Fragmentation Friday, Dec. 12. 7 p.m. $20. Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa

Hot Tonic Friday, Dec. 12. 8 p.m. No cover. Cage Brewing, St. Petersburg

John Olthoff and the Pipedream w/Queen of Coins/Colin Gerding and the Chase/Julep Friday, Dec. 12. 7:30 p.m. $15. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa

Keith Harkin Trio Friday, Dec. 12. 7:30 p.m. $49.87 & up. Music4Life Living Arts Center, Clearwater

Kudu Friday, Dec. 12. 7 p.m. No cover. The North End Taphouse, Gulfport

Rave Jesus w/I Met God on the Dancefloor Friday, Dec. 12. 8 p.m. $28.69. Orpheum, Tampa

Row Jomah Friday, Dec. 12. 7:30 p.m. No cover. The Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg

Sam Williams Friday, Dec. 12. 5 p.m. No cover. Biergarten at New World Brewery, Tampa

Sarah Brightman Friday, Dec. 12. 8 p.m. $53.75 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Shaun Cassidy Friday, Dec. 12. 8 p.m. $56 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

A Static Riot Xmas: Lot Lizards w/Rath & The Wise Guys/Earthgirl/Miller Lowlifes Friday, Dec. 12. 7 p.m. $10. Moon Tower at Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin

Then There’s Me Friday, Dec. 12. 7 p.m. No cover. Outcast Brewing Company, St. Petersburg

Uncle John’s Band Friday, Dec. 12. 7 p.m. No cover. Crooked Thumb Brewery, Safety Harbor

Wyatt Norton Friday, Dec. 12. 6 p.m. No cover. Gulfport Brewery, Gulfport

Zach Short Friday & Saturday, Dec. 12 & 13. 7 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday. No cover. 3 Daughters Brewing, Clearwater

2000s Night Saturday, Dec. 13. 10 p.m. $25.96 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City

7C & Friends Saturday, Dec. 13. 10 a.m. No cover. Seven C Music, St. Petersburg

Albert Cummings Saturday, Dec. 13. 7:30 p.m. $38.57. Crooked Thumb Brewery, Safety Harbor

Ashley Lux Band Saturday, Dec. 13. 8 p.m. No cover. 3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg

Bruce Hornsby Saturday, Dec. 13. 8 p.m. $69.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

Cariies Ries Saturday, Dec. 13. 2:30 p.m. No cover. Outcast Brewing Company, St. Petersburg

Carrollwood Community Chorus (Holiday concert) Saturday, Dec. 13. 7:30 p.m. $12 & up. Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa

Continental Drift: 2Phrozen w/Donnie Luv/Double R/TeekLaFreak/Vncello Saturday, Dec. 13. 8 p.m. $22.99. Courtyard at New World Brewery, Tampa

Discord Theory w/Gloomchild/Big Sad/Luciidea/Face The Fence Saturday, Dec. 13. 7 p.m. $12.49. Crowbar, Ybor City

DJ Nemesis Saturday, Dec. 13. 8 p.m. Cover TBD. VFW Post 39, St. Petersburg

Emo Night Brooklyn Saturday, Dec. 13. 8 p.m. $23.19. Orpheum, Tampa

Emorfik Saturday, Dec. 13. 9 p.m. $25 & up. TK Lounge, Tampa

The Fab Four: Tribute to The Beatles’ ‘Help!’ 

Fall Jazz Jam Saturday, Dec. 13. 11 a.m. No cover. Teco Theater at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa

Four Star Riot Saturday, Dec. 13. 8 p.m. No cover. Pub at Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin

Grego Anderson and Eric Golub Saturday, Dec. 13. 3 p.m. No cover. The North End Taphouse, Gulfport

Hot Tonic Saturday, Dec. 13. 8 p.m. No cover; $13.39 DOS. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg

Jason St. Aubin Saturday, Dec. 13. 1 p.m. No cover. 3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg

Jingle Jazz Trio Saturday, Dec. 13. 7 p.m. No cover, but tickets required. $81.90 for VIP. Outcast Brewing Company, St. Petersburg

Justin Rice Saturday, Dec. 13. 7 p.m. No cover. 3 Daughters Brewing, Clearwater

Michael W. Smith Saturday, Dec. 13. 7 p.m. $65.75 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Nowicki, Nuffer and Richards Saturday, Dec. 13. 10 p.m. No cover. The Hub, Tampa

Nzou and The Afro Soul Saturday, Dec. 13. 7 p.m. No cover. The North End Taphouse, Gulfport

OHC w/Lars Behrenroth/Austen van der Bleek Saturday, Dec. 13. 9 p.m. $19.10 & up. Suite E Studios, St. Petersburg

Ordinary Boys (Smiths tribute) w/New Dawn Fades (Joy Division and New Order tribute) Saturday, Dec. 13. 8 p.m. $20. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa

Persephone’s Choice w/The Fraternals/Lesa Silvermore/Emily Owen Saturday, Dec. 13. 7 p.m. No cover/pay what you want for 21+, $10 for under 21. Oscura, Bradenton

The Petty Experience (Tom Petty tribute) Saturday, Dec. 13. 4:20 p.m. No cover. The Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg

Reverend Billy C. Wirtz (House party) Saturday, Dec. 13. 3 p.m. $60. Seminole Heights (address revealed after online purchase)

Sam Farmer Saturday, Dec. 13. 2 p.m. No cover. Grand Central Brewhouse, St. Petersburg

Tampa Bay Pride Band Saturday, Dec. 13. 7 p.m. No cover. Krate at The Grove, Wesley Chapel

Taylor Leopold w/Josh Magwood Band Saturday, Dec. 13. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Ruby’s Elixir, St. Petersburg

Todd Murphy Saturday, Dec. 13. 5 p.m. No cover. Biergarten at New World Brewery, Tampa

Acoustic Sunday Brunch: Beartoe Sunday, Dec. 14. 1 p.m. No cover. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa

Allman Betts Family Revival: The Allman Betts Band w/Charlie Starr/Amanda Shires/Cody Dickinson/Robert Randolph/Jimmy Hall/Sierra Green/Orbi Orbison Sunday, Dec. 14. 8 p.m. $80.25 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Bus Stop Band Sunday, Dec. 14. 2 p.m. No cover. 3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg

Christine Honenin Trio Sunday, Dec. 14. 3 p.m. No cover. COPA, St. Petersburg

Church Sessions feat. MNX w/Mikol Angelo/Xplicid Sunday, Dec. 14. 9 p.m. $5. Crowbar, Ybor City

Daniel Childs w/The Family Funk Sundays. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Ruby’s Elixir, St. Petersburg

Dominic Walker Trio Sunday, Dec. 14. 3 p.m. No cover for HC Staff and Students, $10 & up everyone else. Mainstage Theatre at Hillsborough College, Ybor City

Forrest McCurren Duo Sunday, Dec. 14. 2 p.m. No cover. Woodwright Brewing Co., Dunedin

In Good Company Sunday, Dec. 14. 12:30 p.m. $17.49. New World Brewery, Tampa

​​Jazz Night Market Every second Sunday through Dec. 14. 5 p.m. No cover. Corner Club, Seminole Heights

Josh’s Jazz Trio Sunday, Dec. 14. 2 p.m. No cover. Grand Central Brewhouse, St. Petersburg

The Music of Vince Guaraldi – A Charlie Brown Christmas: Dr. Zachary Bartholomew w/Nicole Bartholomew Sunday, Dec. 14. 7 p.m. $30 & up. Side Door Cabaret at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg

James Suggs & Mark Moultrup Sundays. 3 p.m. No cover. Hawthorne Bottle Shop, St. Petersburg

Polyessence Band Sunday, Dec. 14. 4 p.m. No cover. The North End Taphouse, Gulfport

S.G. Wood Sunday, Dec. 14. 2 p.m. No cover. Crooked Thumb Brewery, Safety Harbor

Skip Griffith Jr. & Friends Sunday, Dec. 14. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Independent Bar and Cafe, Tampa

Sunday Blues Session: Josh Nelms w/TC Carr/Lenny Austin Sunday, Dec. 14. 4 p.m. No cover. The Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg

Sunday Jazz In The Lounge: Bryan J Hughes & The Crew w/Boho Sideshow Sundays. 2 p.m. No cover before 5:30 p.m. $5 after. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Latraia Savage w/Shawn Brown Monday, Dec. 15. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Ruby’s Elixir, St. Petersburg

The Motowners Monday, Dec. 15. 7 p.m. $65 & up. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg

Peggy Morris Mondays. 6 p.m. No cover. The Fenway, Dunedin

Jamal Roberts Tuesday, Dec. 16. 7 p.m. $50 & up. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg

Ken Apperson w/Kirk Adams & Co. Tuesdays. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Ruby’s Elixir, St. Petersburg

Marty Fouts w/Alicia Crawford/L.A. Moore Tuesday, Dec. 16. 7 p.m. No cover. The Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg

Alex Malkovich Trio Wednesdays through July 22. 6 p.m. No cover. The Nash Keys Dueling Piano Bar, Clearwater

Lanny Ziegel w/Branson Welsh Wednesday, Dec. 17. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Ruby’s Elixir, St. Petersburg

Live Bluegrass Jam hosted by Fil Pate Wednesdays. 7 p.m. No cover. The Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg

Vince Converse Wednesday, Dec. 17. 6:30 p.m. No cover. The North End Taphouse, Gulfport

CageGrass: Fil Pate Trio Thursdays. 7:30 p.m. No cover. Cage Brewing, St. Petersburg

A Call For Unity: Path of Destruction w/Twisted Luck/Coldest Blood/And I Dreamt Of You/Zero Chill Thursday, Dec. 18. 6 p.m. $15. Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa

Chaunces Trio Thursdays. 7:30 p.m. No cover. Oscura, Bradenton

John Kelly Band Thursday, Dec. 18. 7:30 p.m. No cover. The Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg

Matt Stone and The TEC Band (Elvis Christmas tribute) Thursday, Dec. 18. 7 p.m. $30.58 & up. New Tampa Performing Arts Center, Tampa

NoiseMakers Holiday Show Thursday, Dec. 18. 6:30 p.m. No cover. NoiseMakers, St. Petersburg

Pet Lizard w/TV Breakup Scene/High Press/Lychee Camp Thursday, Dec. 18. 8 p.m. $12.49. Crowbar, Ybor City

Pickin’ Splinters (Bluegrass jam) Thursdays. 7 p.m. No cover. Woodwright Brewing Co., Dunedin

Stick & Ditty Thursdays. 6 p.m. No cover. Biergarten at New World Brewery, Tampa

Tony Castellano w/Hiram Hazley and Le Jazz Thursdays. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Ruby’s Elixir, St. Petersburg

Totally B Thursday, Dec. 18. 6 p.m. No cover. 3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg

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The post Tampa Bay’s best live music happening December 11-18 appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

Now that everyone has graduated college, Ax and the Hatchetmen is living up to the name of its newly-released debut album So Much To Tell You.

The Chicago-based indie-alt pop band’s easy-going sound continues to evolve on it, and the boys even took to the Weezerverse for support on the record. “Lucy” and “7×9” were both built on the foundation of Rivers Cuomo-penned home demos, which appear on editions of his massive “Alone” collection. And in the control room was Jake Sinclair, who has provided production contributions to the likes of Taylor Swift, Panic! At The Disco, and Fall Out Boy.

Before winding down the band’s first-ever headlining tour at Crowbar in Ybor City (where it opened for Easy Honey less than a year ago), frontman Axel Ellis declared that the best gig he ever saw was more recently than you would think. Read his full comment below.

I’d have to say Alabama Shakes at the Salt Shed in Chicago was one of, if not the best concert I’ve ever seen. It was earlier this year and was their first show back in seven years. The band was just wicked good, and the singer Brittany was an absolute powerhouse, the definition of a star. The intense, raw emotion she and the band conveyed was so inspiring, it just made me want to never stop giving my all in pursuing music as a full-time career. The songwriting was incredible along with the performance, the set ebbed and flowed with lovely dynamic range in all the right places.

It made me want to dive deeper into what a live show can be and how it can leave an audience feeling if done right. I left the show reeling, talking about it for days. It was an experience, not just a bunch of songs stringed together. Writing a good song is one thing, but leaving a crowd feeling empowered and loving life is a whole different ballgame. —Axel Ellis, Ax and The Hatchetmen

Tickets to see Ax and The Hatchetmen play Crowbar Ybor on Friday, Dec. 12 are sold-out, but resale tickets are available starting at $192.30.

Ax and the Hatchetmen w/John-Robert/Mossheads

Time Fri., Dec. 12, 8:30 p.m. 2025

Location Crowbar, 1812 North 17th Street, Tampa

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The post Ahead of return to Ybor City, Ax and The Hatchetmen’s Axel Ellis recalls the best gig he ever saw appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.

A song like “The Boy Is Mine” might be unlikely in 2025 (what’s the point of conflict over some dude, anyway?).

That’s not stopping its creators—R&B queens Brandy Norwood and Arnold—from hitting the road with the duet 27 years after it climbed to the top of the Billboard 100.

Fans young and old don’t have to pick a team anymore, but they should be ready for two separate headlining sets along with shared stage time that includes covers (Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” is in the setlist) and more.

Consider getting suited up for the show and get there early for sets by Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowland and “Love” hitmaker Keyshia Cole, the latter of whom just headlined the same room last July.

Tickets to see Brandy & Monica play Benchmark International Arena in Tampa  on Friday, Dec. 12 are still available and start at $94.75 & up.

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The post Tour celebrating Brandy & Monica’s 1998 hit comes to Tampa on Friday appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.