George Pennington plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on April 30, 2023. Credit: Photo by Ysanne Taylor c/o Gasparilla Music Festival

The word prodigy gets tossed around quite a bit, but George Pennington almost fits the bill.

A 2018 graduate of the University of South Florida, the guitarist has had the instrument in his hand since he was 10 years old, and even did a stint with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. Pennington’s last two albums, Strength and Song and Daydream Sequence, showcased his electric and acoustic styles, respectively, and his chops once found him jamming with bassists Victor Wooten and John Ferrera at the 2020 NAMM conference. Pennington even does a mean Jim Morrison.

The music educator releases his latest LP, American Odyssey, promising some of the best musicians he’s ever worked with along with new synths, deeper lyrics, vocal harmonies and more.

Two of the Bay area’s sharpest rhythmic minds—drummer Rod Alnord and bassist Sebastian Siaca—lead Pennington’s five piece band, The Odyssey, for this intimate gig.

Tickets to see George Pennington play the Side Door Cabaret at Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg on Saturday, Aug. 16 are still available and start at $15.