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.

In 2025, the most read stories on Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s website illustrate a readership extremely interested in police accountability, Trump’s homegrown attorney general, immigration, elections, and the environment (you guys really care about what happens as FDOT makes plans to touch up the Courtney Campbell Causeway!).

But your eyes went to more than just hard news, with stories about the SNAP shutdown, Hulk Hogan’s death, Tampa rapper Doechii, and the defunding of Creative Pinellas being widely read, too. Below is a quick and dirty recap of some of the biggest stories from the last 12 months. Buckle up for 2026.

The race for Tampa’s District 5

City Councilmember Gwendolyn Henderson’s sudden death last June shocked and saddened much of Tampa. The District 5 representative frequently stood for residents of East Tampa who have long lamented the way their neighborhoods have been treated, especially during the city’s recent years of rapid growth.

The special election for her replacement saw 13 candidates plus a write-in, including Henderson’s daughter (Ariel Amirah Danley), Crowbar owner Tom DeGeorge, former Tampa Pride head Carrie West and Pastor Elvis Pigott—who later flashed a gun at a City Council forum. The final race came down to activist Naya Young, 33, and longtime Tampa politico Thomas Scott, 72. Despite Scott vastly out-raising her, Young won by a landslide with 61% of the vote. Her win mirrored the later success of Zohran Mamdani, whose win for New York City mayor made ripples in Florida with the message that young, progressive grassroots leaders stand a chance against establishment money.

Bradley’s crash

A high speed chase that started on Interstate-275 ended with four dead and 11 injured at a gay bar in Ybor City in November. While chasing a suspect allegedly suspected of street racing that night, Florida Highway Patrol made an unsuccessful PIT (precision immobilization technique) maneuver—in which the pursuing vehicle attempts to cause the pursued vehicle to spin out of control—about 2,000 feet from Bradley’s on 7th. The deceased victims were later identified as 25-year-old Christina Richards, 41-year-old Lisa Johnson, 53-year-old Sherman Jones and 53-year-old Marlon Collins. The fallout of the FHP’s failed PIT maneuver and the trial of the driver—22-year-old Silas Sampson—are likely to develop well into 2026.

Mural combat

After Gov. Ron DeSantis lost many battles in 2024—courts blunted his “Don’t Say Gay” and “Stop WOKE” laws—he took the war to the roads. Following Trump’s takedown of D.C.’s “Black Lives Matter” street mural, the Florida Department of Transportation decided that all street murals must go. That meant no more rainbow crosswalks and pavement declarations that “Black History Matters.” So, too, went non-political murals, like USF St. Pete’s Bulls-themed crosswalk. A bright spot for some of the “woke” included the City of Tampa erasing the city’s infamous “Bock the Blub” pro-police mural.

Pastors Andy Oliver and Benedict Atherton-Zeman were arrested for blocking state workers from removing St. Pete’s “Black History Matters” mural outside the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum. The mural was later repainted overnight by an unknown artist, then re-erased by the state. Private pavement murals have since popped up around Tampa Bay. As part of her “Love Thy Neighbor” project, Michelle Sasha rallied local painters to provide free Pride and Black Lives Matter murals to local property owners. “We’re going to paint back thousands,” Sasha told CL in September. “Hopefully they’ll regret their decision, because now there’s going to be way more rainbows than they were hoping for.”

Cringe-a-mania

Tampa Bay lost one of its biggest icons when Hulk Hogan died in July. The wrestling legend, born Terry Bollea, died of a heart attack at 71-years-old in his Clearwater home. Though he was booed at his final WWE appearance in January and his newly-launched wrestling league struggled to sell tickets, he maintained a large fanbase—many of which also wanted to “Make America Great Again.” In the month leading up to his death, Hogan and his wife, Sky, battled rumors that he was dying after complications from a neck surgery. It was one of more than two dozen surgeries Hogan underwent to alleviate back and neck pain after his WWE career. Over the fall, Hogan’s family requested an investigation into whether his care teams at Tampa General and Morton Plant Hospitals committed malpractice in treatment leading up to his death. No suit has been filed yet.

The real alphabet mafia

Trump and Elon Musk’s brief fling left thousands of federal workers without jobs, and may have permanently changed the way Florida state and local governments interact. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led to DeSantis trying to create a copycat Commissioner of Government Efficiency (COGE).

That wasn’t necessary, as his newly appointed state chief financial officer, Hernando County Republican Blaise Ingoglia, quickly began audits of the state’s largest municipalities—including Tampa, Hillsborough, St. Petersburg and Pinellas—for the rebranded Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight (FAFO). FAFO reviewed spending by 11 local governments, claiming to have found more than $1.86 billion in alleged wasteful and excessive spending. Local governments have pushed back against what Ingoglia claims is wasteful, like St. Pete and Pinellas’ spending toward the St. Pete Pride parade. The fight is somehow really about property taxes, which DeSantis has said he wants a ballot initiative to substantially reduce for homestead properties. In the legislative 2026 session, Ingoglia is pushing a proposed law that would give him authority to recommend removal of any elected official for “financial abuse, malfeasance or misfeasance.”

Jolly times

David Jolly wants to be the next Dunedin native in the governor’s mansion. After representing Pinellas County as a Republican in the House of Representatives from 2014-2017, he’s now running for governor as a Democrat. Charlie Crist, who held the same congressional seat and was also a Republican when he was governor from 2007-2011, failed to beat DeSantis in the last election. Jolly faces an even redder Florida and a different GOP opponent. Eyes are on Trump-endorsed Byron Donalds and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner to see who will land on the November ballot. Lt. Governor and former Tampa Senator Jay Collins is rumored to also be vying for the seat.

There were signs

Anti-Trump “No Kings” protests brought tens of thousands of people to the streets this year, and of course, the governor took the chance to go on a right wing podcast to talk about hitting protestors with cars (Tampa police for its part, asked anyone demonstrating “to do so in a safe and responsible manner”). The resistance is alive in Florida. WMNF raised more than $280,000 during an emergency fundraiser last summer after DeSantis and Trump cuts left the community radio station with a $230,000 funding gap). One of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s photographers, Dave Decker even got swept up in it when he was arrested last month while covering an ICE protest in Miami (he spent more than a day in jail, and charges were just dropped last week).

Charlie Kirk

The brutal September murder of the right wing agitator rippled all the way to Florida where vigils brought out mourners and Jesus Christ cosplayers, while teachers and government employees saw themselves among those targeted for online comments about the killing. Florida House Rep. Berny Jacques (R-Seminole) posted to social media a letter he sent to Pinellas Superintendent Kevin Hendrick, calling on him to fire teachers who have conducted “abhorrent” behavior on their social media accounts since Kirk’s death. He cited one instructor who he said posted “good riddance” after Kirk was shot.

Clouded rainbows

The future of Tampa Pride is up in the air after a September announcement that the celebration would shutdown for a year. The board blamed anti-DEI politics and added that it wouldn’t renew the contract of its president and co-founder Carrie West. But locals from every part of the LGBTQ+ community have been coming together to see what a Pride celebration in Tampa would look like. “I don’t foresee a parade, but there are other events we can do,” former Tampa Pride board member Mark Eary told CL. “We just need to get everybody on board.”

Chronister chronicles

Hillsborough’s Sheriff Chad Chronister got the big headlines this year, after multiple high-ranking deputies resigned or got fired in the wake of an academic cheating scandal. One of his former detectives even called on Gov. Ron DeSantis to start an independent investigation. In a six-page letter, James Stahlschmidt detailed allegations of academic dishonesty, abuse of taxpayer and charity funds, retaliation, domestic violence and other forms of misconduct perpetrated by command staff at HCSO, which he claims can be “supported by internal investigations, prior disciplinary actions, civil lawsuits, public records, or statements from personnel involved.”

Chronister pushed back on the letter and Stahlschmidt’s calls for the investigation in a statement to CL, adding that he has full trust in HCSO’s Professional Standards Bureau to conduct an inquiry. The gov’ didn’t say a peep about it, and Chronister opted for an internal investigation, which ended with the sheriff saying the cheaters made choices that were “wrong” but “not malicious.” OK.

The SNAP gap

Three million Floridians rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a federal program best known as SNAP. More than a million of those people are children. When the government shutdown hit the month-long mark last October, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis responded to calls to safeguard the program for his constituents by passing the buck. Local restaurants, however, ditched politics and banded together to make sure kids could eat when benefits ended by offering free meals.

Sorry, Shilo

Shilo Sanders, son of NFL legend Deion, spent time in Bucs camp as an undrafted free agent and was ultimately cut—but not before telling fans that he loves the food at Water Street hotspot Boulon Brasserie. “If I got free food from here, that would be the best NIL deal in the world,” he said of an eclectic, hefty, order that included the restaurant’s Best of the Bay winning blue crab beignets.

Creative Pinellas

It’s an awkward moment for arts and culture in Pinellas County, punctuated with the September defunding of the county’s designated arts agency, Creative Pinellas, which saw county commissioners vote 5-2 to revoke funds despite 244 emails and more than 50 well-researched in-person pleas weren’t enough to save the nonprofit. The remaining staff will soldier on, but how the arts get funded in 2026 will be telling.

Sun rising

Last June, in front of more than 5,000 fans packed into a sold-out Riverfront Stadium at Blake High School, Tampa Bay Sun FC dominated play in the first-ever USL Super League championship match, earning a 1-0 overtime win over Ft. Lauderdale United FC. It was a shining moment, and while things aren’t as sunny at the club right now (our side is dead last, with just one win), the future of pro women’s soccer in the Bay area is still bright.

Swamp things

All eyes are on Crowbar this year (the lease is up this summer, signaling the end of a 20-year run for the famed Tampa music venue), but a special talent from 2910 E Genesee St. dominated local music headlines. Tampa rapper and Blake alum Doechii took home a 2025 Grammy award for Best Rap Album and staged one hell of a homecoming show for 6,500 fans who sold-out Yuengling Center just seven miles away from the address mentioned in “Boiled Peanuts” from the album Alligator Bites Never Heal.

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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 Tampa Bay area’s live music scene will soon get a much needed mid-size venue that can host 3,500 fans. This afternoon, Strategic Property Partners (SPP), primary owners of Water Street Tampa announced plans to build a massive complex across the street from the recently-renamed Benchmark International Arena.

The still-unnamed venue will be privately-financed, according to a press release, which added that the development will also include a 250-room hotel, 1,000 parking spaces , plus 100,000 square feet of retail, dining and entertainment.

SPP, which will partner with Vinik Sports Group (VSG) to manage the venue, expects to break ground on the project in 2027.

The project—proposed for a vacant lot between Morgan and Jefferson Streets and the Selmon Expressway—fills a void in the Bay area music scene, which does not have a venue this size.

VSG already owns or operates two arenas—Yuengling Center and Benchmark (capacities of approximately 10,000 and 20,000 respectively)—and there are several venues that can host around a couple thousand (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Jannus Live). Carol Morsani Hall at the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts holds about 2,600 seats.

The press release added that, “the venue is expected to attract more performers to downtown Tampa and give fans more opportunities to experience live music, immersive experiences, and intimate shows designed for this scale.”

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. “It strengthens tourism and creates new experiences for residents and visitors, all within steps of the Riverwalk and Convention Center.”

A rep for the proposed venue told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that Live Nation is not a partner in the financing or ownership of the venue, adding that diverse programming will be led by VSG.

Last summer, the global concert giant—which is at the center of an antitrust probe by the Department of Justice—shared plans to spend $1 billion opening or breaking ground on 18 venues across the country including a 3,500-seat concert and events venue in downtown Orlando’s Westcourt development.

Last month, the promoter, which works with Benchmark and Yuengling Center to help book shows, posted $8.5 billion in Q3 revenue—all while a report from the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) detailed how a majority of smaller mom-and-pop venues are on the verge of extinction despite collectively generating $153 billion in economic output collectively. 

In 2023, CL detailed how the Bay area music scene was alive and well, but faced significant challenges.

Tom DeGeorge, Southeast Director for NIVA told CL that he hopes new venue operators will lean into independent to help program the room, but assumes that Live Nation will run the show.

The rep for Tampa’s proposed new venue told CL that, “While the full programming strategy is still being finalized, there is an intention to work with a range of partners and promoters to ensure the venue attracts a broad mix of acts and experiences.”

NIVA’s report, DeGeorge noted, said while Florida ranked in the top three in nine of 10 categories related to independent concert venues’ effect on the local economy, including employment and tourism—”monopolization, corporate development and predatory ticketing practices” have rendered 65% of indie venues unsustainable.

“I would hope that our city leadership as well the developers in this case looks towards local, but unfortunately, based on everything I’ve seen in the way we operate, I’m not quite sure that’s something that we should count on or if there’s enough people that believe it’s worth fighting for anymore,” he added.

Once open, Tampa’s new 3,500-seat venue would join similarly-rooms in Los Angeles (Dolby Theatre), Philadelphia (Metropolitan Opera House), Boston (Roadrunner), and Chicago (Salt Shed).

UPDATED 12/18/25 9:30 a.m. Updated with comment saying Live Nation is not a financer or owner of the venue.

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The post Water Street Tampa owners want to build a 3,500-capacity venue across from Benchmark International Arena 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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Workers at downtown Clearwater’s Starbucks stood alongside supporters last Sunday as part of a nationwide strike to secure a fair union contract.

The workers, members of Starbucks Workers United, are part of action across the U.S. at about 200 locations in roughly three dozen cities. The nationwide strike started on Nov. 13.

Downtown Clearwater’s store at 433 Cleveland St. was closed last Saturday, and unlike past one-day strikes, this one is open-ended with a to-be-determined end date for the work stoppage.

As previously reported, the Clearwater workers, who first voted to unionize last summer, are picketing in solidarity with the union’s fight for higher wages and guaranteed hours.

Ethan Best, a two-year employee at the location who makes $15.80 an hour, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the company likes to tell people about offering the “best benefits,” but doesn’t mention that a worker must get 20 hours to be eligible. But multiple reports show that many Starbucks workers get stuck working 19 hours.

“I think when people hear that, they can recognize that’s not acceptable,” Best, 28, added.

An organizer with the West Central Florida Labour Council has a GoFundMe to help striking Clearwater workers endure the strikes, while official Starbucks Works United March (ie: this “Unions are hot” t-shirt) also benefit striking worker funds.

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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.

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.

Dunedin Brewery is where jam-scene supergroups play before everyone finds out about them, and this show is no exception.

After staging a two-night stand at the venue in 2022 and again just last April, Proton—the proggy, jazz and house music ensemble featuring pianist Jimmy Dunstan together with Thievery Corporation bassist Dan Africano, Dopapod drummer Neal “Fro” Evans, and guitarist Chris Michetti—is back to play the brewery on Friday and Sunday and the neighboring Moon Tower space on Saturday.

There’s no cover for Photon’s three-night stand at Dunedin Brewery and The Moon Tower in Dunedin happening Friday-Sunday, Dec. 12-14.

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The post Prog-jazz trio Photon kicks off three-night Dunedin stand on Friday appeared first on Creative Loafing Tampa.