Lisa McClendon, who plays St. James Church in Tampa, Florida on May 21, June 18 and July 16, 2024. Credit: Photo via lisamcclendonmusic/Facebook

Music is a powerful force. This summer in downtown Tampa, it acts as a placemaker and teacher as part of a new live music series launching at the Encore district.

“Central Ave Live” brings close to a dozen of the Bay area’s brightest instrumentalists (keyboardist Mario Evans, drummer Natalie DePergola), vocalists (Lisa McClendon, Ashley Smith), and songwriters (Noan Partly, April Showers, Kristopher James) inside of the restored St. James Church to perform songs by legends like Ray Charles, Etta James, Tampa Red, and Billie Holiday—whose stories all have connections to Tampa and the surrounding historically-Black neighborhood once known as The Scrub.

Organized by the nonprofit Instruments 4 Life—a member of the Tampa Bay Music Coalition, and focused on empowering youth through music education in a safe space while prioritizing social emotional learning through the art of music—together with the Tampa Downtown Partnership and Tampa Housing Authority, the series also brings in an instrument petting zoo, guest speakers and more.

“We are aiming to increase awareness of Central Ave’s extensive music history and recruit children from downtown’s Encore community for our upcoming music program,” Faith Reynolds, spokesperson for Instruments 4 Life told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.

There’s no cover for the Central Ave. Live music series happening at St. James Church in Tampa on May 21, June 18 and July 16.
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This article appears in May 9-15, 2024.