Tampa professors will teach a class that explores the literary side of Taylor Swift

The University of South Florida (USF) is going to produce more tortured poets than usual this semester. The English department at the…

By Ray Roa

Taylor Swift plays Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on April 13, 2023.
9 slides

Photos: Billy Strings kicks off spring tour by playing to 11,000 fans in Tampa

If you’re wondering where all the Deadheads went, you should’ve come to the Yuengling Center last weekend. Last Friday and Saturday, the parking…

By Ray Roa

Billy Strings plays Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida on April 12, 2024.
5 slides

Photos: Everyone we saw when Des Rocks lit up Tampa’s New World Brewery

Des Rocs’ music blared through speaks at last weekend’s UFC 300 fight night in Nevada (Dana White, UFC president loves the band),…

By Ray Roa

Des Rocs plays New World Brewery in Tampa, Florida on April 14, 2024.
57 slides

Photos: Melissa Etheridge comes to the window at Tampa’s Hard Rock Event Center

There aren’t any actual windows at Tampa’s Hard Rock Event Center, but Melissa Etheridge proverbially went to them along with a packed…

By Ray Roa

Melissa Etheridge plays Hard Rock Event Center in Tampa, Florida on April 11, 2024.
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Tampa Pro 2024 Photos: Everyone we saw moshing along with Scowl and Heaven's Gate

Tampa Pro 2024 wrapped on Sunday, surely leaving everyone who went with a gnarly hangover after four nights of afterparties, including this…

By Ray Roa

Scowl plays Skatepark of Tampa in Tampa, Florida on April 6, 2024.
56 slides

Photos: Everyone we saw at Friday's Tampa Pro 2024 after party and art show

A big ol' crowd descended upon Skatepark of Tampa for Friday night's men's and women's vert finals, and some of the party…

By Ray Roa

Bryce Wettstein (center, back) and friends at The Bricks in Ybor City, Florida on April 5, 2024.
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Photos: All the bad kids we saw at Black Lips' explosive St. Petersburg gig

As mentioned in the title of Black Lips' 2020 album, the world is still falling apart. But the beloved Georgia-based garage-rock band…

By Josh Bradley

All the bad kids we saw at Black Lips' explosive St. Petersburg gig
40 slides

Photos: Descendents brings good good things to sold-out St. Petersburg show

Good good things happened in St. Petersburg last weekend when old-school punk band Descendents landed at Jannus Live for a sold-out Friday…

By Ray Roa

Descendents plays Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 29, 2024.
57 slides

Photos: Australian rock duo and climate advocate Lime Cordiale plays Ybor City

Australia and Florida are about 12,000 miles away, but have a lot in common when it comes to the effects of climate…

By Ray Roa

Lime Cordiale plays Crowbar in Ybor City, Florida on March 25, 2024.
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Photos: I Dont Know How But They Found Me rocked Crowbar in Ybor City

Dallon Weekes was in town on Thursday night along with his band, I Dont Know How But They Found Me (stylized in…

By Ray Roa

I Dont Know How But They Found Me plays Crowbar in Ybor City, Florida on March 21, 2024.
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Photos: Everyone we saw supporting independent music venues at Tampa’s ‘Save Born Free’ benefit show

Tampa’s shuttered Born Free Pub and Grill is still looking for a new home, but it found some sanctuary last weekend. About…

By Ray Roa

Tom DeGeorge (L) and Afzaal Deen at Crowbar in Ybor City, Florida on March 16, 2024.
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Photos: In Clearwater acoustic set, Colin Hay tells life anecdotes in between songs

"If you've come to hear the Men At Work songs and you don't hear them for awhile, don't fuckin' panic," Colin Hay…

By Josh Bradley

PHOTOS: In Clearwater, Colin Hay tells life anecdotes in between tracks during acoustic set
16 slides

Photos: Rick Steves and The Florida Orchestra bring Europe to St. Pete’s adventure-hungry Mahaffey Theater

No one can blame you for wishing you could play in The Florida Orchestra. Because who gets to back up Sting and…

By Josh Bradley

Rick Steves, Michael Francis, and The Florida Orchestra at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 16, 2024.
20 slides

Review: Smiling throughout, Burna Boy brings unbridled joy and energy to Tampa [PHOTOS]

On Monday night, Amalie Arena morphed from a sports arena to a melting pot of cultural fusion. Burna Boy's eagerly-anticipated, "I Told…

By Isaiah Stephens

Burna Boy plays Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on March 11, 2024.
24 slides

Photos: Extreme and Living Colour play St. Pete's Jannus Live

Extreme and Living Colour—two pre-Napster old-school rock acts, both still making new music—stopped into Jannus Live in St. Petersburg last Saturday.

By Ray Roa

Photos: Extreme and Living Colour play St. Pete's Jannus Live
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Photos: Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin and Pitbull were extremely sexy at Tampa’s Amalie Arena

More than 14,000 people were lucky enough to be inside Amalie Arena last Sunday night when Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin and Pitbull…

By Ray Roa

Ricky Martin plays Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on March 10, 2024.
56 slides

Everyone we saw when Emo Night Tampa took over The Hub

There’s nothing quite like a rock and roll show at The Hub, and when you combine the coziness of the downtown Tampa…

By Ray Roa

Pet Lizard plays The Hub in Tampa, Florida on March 9, 2024.
75 slides

Photos: Lauren Daigle brings arena spectacle to Tampa

Lauren Daigle has completed her rise to arena-filling songwriter. Last Friday, the 32-year-old brought her brand of crossover Christian pop to Tampa’s…

By Ray Roa

Lauren Daigle plays Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on March 1, 2024.
21 slides

Photos: Sammy Rae & The Friends, We the Commas, play St. Pete’s Jannus Live

Ahead of appearances at Bonnaroo and SummerStage NYC, indie-pop band Sammy Rae & The Friends brought San Diego family band We The…

By Ray Roa

Sammy Rae & Friends play Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 2, 2024.
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PHOTOS: Steve Ferrone, Vota salute Tom Petty in rare, St. Petersburg tribute show

If you're a child of the '80s, Steve Ferrone has probably played with at least one of your favorite bands or artists.…

By Josh Bradley

Photos: Steve Ferrone, Vota salute Tom Petty in rare, St. Pete tribute show
24 slides

Photos: Everyone we saw getting joyful with Hiss Golden Messenger in Ybor City

Lyle Lovett better watch out if he runs into Hiss Golden Messenger on this weekend’s Cayamo Cruise. “We’re gonna pants Lyle Lovett,”…

By Ray Roa

Hiss Golden Messenger plays Crowbar in Ybor City, Florida on Feb. 26, 2024.
37 slides

Photos: Everyone we saw when 'We Out Here' festival celebrated femme-centric voices in St. Pete

A full day of music took over St. Petersburg's Bayboro Brewing last Friday when organizers for We Out Here—a femme-centric festival celebrating…

By Ray Roa

Doll Parts plays Bayboro Brewing in St. Petersburg, Florida on Feb. 23, 2024.
103 slides

Photos: Rod Stewart plays Tampa's Hard Rock Event Center

That big band tour is still a pipe dream, but Rod Stewart was back in Tampa last week for a Feb. 16…

By Ray Roa

Photos: Rod Stewart plays Tampa's Hard Rock Event Center
37 slides

Review: In Tampa, Billy Joel and Sting finally bring their years-old friendship to the stage [PHOTOS]

'Twas a pretty good crowd for a Saturday. Based on his co-headlining shows with Stevie Nicks, it was inevitable that Billy Joel…

By Josh Bradley

Billy Joel and Sting
23 slides

Review: Gasparilla Music Festival stages solid, soggy, debut at Tampa's Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park [PHOTOS]

“They called us Friday and said they needed somebody to rock this shit last minute,” Big Boi told a rain-soaked Tampa audience…

By Ray Roa, Josh Bradley

Killer Mike plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on Feb. 18, 2024.
182 slides

Photos: Evan Dando and Willy Mason play Crowbar in Ybor City

The Lemonheads founder Evan Dando was in Tampa last week alongside songwriter Willy Mason for a show at Crowbar in Ybor City.

By Ray Roa

Evan Dando plays Crowbar in Ybor City, Florida on Feb. 15, 2024.
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Photos: Gladys Knight returns to Tampa Bay for Valentine’s show in St. Pete

Almost exactly one year since she played Tampa, Gladys Knight, the Empress of Soul, was back in the Bay area for a…

By Ray Roa

Gladys Knight plays Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida on Feb. 14, 2024.
25 slides

Review: Boyz II Men gives Tampa all the hits in special career-spanning Valentine’s concert [PHOTOS]

At Tampa’s Hard Rock Casino last Wednesday surviving members of Boyz II Men—Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman—brought a three-decade legacy…

By Isaiah Stephens

Boyz II Men plays Hard Rock Event Center in Tampa, Florida on Feb. 14, 2024.
19 slides

Gasparilla Music Festival debuts new venue this weekend—here are the best photos from its time at Curtis Hixon Park

Whataboutmomma won’t be the only group watching the past move into the rearview this weekend at Gasparilla Music Festival (GMF). Organizers at…

By Ray Roa

Grymes Cannon jumps rope at Gasparilla Music Festival 2016
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Whataboutmomma, a band featuring Blake High alumni, is ready for its close up at Gasparilla Music Festival

You only get one first time to do anything. Whataboutmomma and Gasparilla Music Festival (GMF) are about to experience that together in…

By Ray Roa

Whataboutmomma
25 slides