APRIL
1
Swans
Since re-assembling in 2010, both of this experimental rock outfit’s full-lengths have earned spots on Pitchfork’s “Top 100 Albums of the Decade So Far 2010-2014,” including the critically acclaimed To Be Kind. State Theatre.
3
tUnE-yArDs
The latest high-quality act to require an O-town road trip is the project of New England-bred songstress Merrill Garbus, who, with help from fellow collaborator Nate Brenner, fuses worldbeat, experimental pop, R&B and freaky folk-tronica into a multi-tracked brew of ukuleles, bass grooves and idiosyncratic vocals. Beacham Theatre, Orlando.
4
The Baseball Project
The super-sideman/indie-superhero sluggerfest boasts Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows), Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate), drummer Linda Pitmon (ZuZu’s Petals) and R.E.M.’s Peter Buck and Mike Mills. Crowbar.
10
A Gershwin Celebration: Porgy & Bess in Concert
The Florida Orchestra plays a slew of time-honored favorites by Ira and George plus highlights from Porgy & Bess, with soprano Janice Chandler-Eteme, baritone Kevin Deas and the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. April 10-12, Straz, Mahaffey and Ruth Eckerd Hall.
11
Harvey
Mary Chase won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for this lighthearted story of well-meaning Elwood P. Dowd (Jimmy Stewart in the screen version) and his 6-foot-tall imaginary rabbit friend. April 11-May 3, freeFall Theatre.
15
The Who
Hard to believe The Who has been trucking for five decades. “The Who Hits 50!” marks the supposed end of the road for the hard rock behemoths, at least as far as active touring goes. (Frontman Roger Daltrey has referred to the tour as the band’s “long goodbye.”) The 20-date U.S. spring run kicks off in Tampa, and finds Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend et al delivering well-worn favorites and select deep cuts. Warm-up from Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. Amalie Arena.
22
In The Heights
If any recent musical might persuade American Stage in the Park-ers to get off their blankets and dance, this is the one. Set in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood, the show has salsa, Latin pop, and rap music. April 22-May 17, Demens Landing.
23
Kathy Griffin
Whether she’s sizing up stars on the red carpet, making Anderson Cooper’s face turn several shades of red or hosting another stand-up special, the ginger vixen has got it. Lakeland Center.
Shakespeare’s Once More Unto The Breach, Dear Friends
Celebrate the Bard’s birthday with a melange of scenes from Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Love’s Labour’s Lost. April 23-26, Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum.
24
One-Man Star Wars Trilogy
Writer/performer Charles Ross (above) felt the Force from a young age. In his manic one-man show, he plays all the characters, re-creates the effects, sings the music, flies the ships and fights both sides of the battles. Through April 26, Straz Center.
25
Janine Awai: Supersubsurface
Tampa-based Awai’s mixed media drawings and prints find inspiration in the organic systems of nature. April 25-May 22. Tempus Projects.
Thru April 26
Ezra Stoller: Photographing Modernism
Stoller, who died in 2004, elevated the photography of mid-century architecture (Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe) to an art. Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.
29
Annapurna
Emma hasn’t seen Ulysses in 20 years, but when this moving two-character play begins, she has found her ex in the sloppy trailer he’s been living — and dying — in, and she’s finally ready to sort things out. April 29-May 24, Jobsite at the Straz.
Koresh Dance Company
“The dancers of Koresh are technically superb, but even better, they are allowed to be individuals,” says Dance Magazine. The acclaimed troupe brings its prowess to North Pinellas. Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center.
30
Jerry Seinfeld
Since his hit ’90s show, Seinfeld has done pretty much whatever he wanted, including stand-up. It’ll be interesting to see if he shares personal thoughts on his recent news: an autism self-diagnosis. Through May 1, Mahaffey Theater.
Sunscreen Film Festival
St. Pete’s annual event combines homegrown independents, seminars and a few national premieres. Various St. Petersburg locations, sunscreenfilmfestival.com.
MAY
1
Ain’t Misbehavin’
Richard Maltby Jr. and Murray Horwitz’s 1978 crowd-pleaser gives us the intimitable Thomas “Fats” Waller and his peers, and songs like “Honeysuckle Rose” and “Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now.” Through May 17, Stageworks.
The Planets
The Florida Orchestra evokes Holst’s stirring interpretations of our nearby heavenly bodies. Features big screen images from the Hubble Telescope. Through May 3, Straz, Mahaffey and Ruth Eckerd Hall.
UPDATE: WMNF Tropical Heatwave
Of course there's a Tropical Heatwave this year, and of course it's going to be a cavalcade of eclectic sounds from Americana and World Beat to rock, folk and more. Tampa Bay's beloved community radio station is going for another two-nighter this year, including performances by Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Landreth Brothers, crowd-pleaser March Fourth Marching Band, locals UNRB and Luxury Mane and many TBA. Early bird tix go on sale this Sunday, Jan. 25. May 1-2, Cuban Club and various Ybor City venues.
4
Neutral Milk Hotel
Among the beloved indie rock acts spawned by the Elephant 6 collective in the early ’90s, Neutral Milk Hotel is arguably the most well-regarded and influential. The Jeff Magnum-led outfit cemented its status with the 1998 breakthrough LP In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, disbanding the following year and causing an uproar in 2013 when Magnum announced that he and the original Aeroplane lineup would reunite for their “last tour for the foreseeable future.” A potential first and last for Tampa Bay. Ruth Eckerd Hall.
7
Betrayal
Harold Pinter’s tense drama is told in reverse chronological order, and shows us the fissures in a friendship and marriage when one of the friends is sleeping with his buddy’s wife. Through May 24, Tampa Repertory Theatre.
8
Big Guava Music Festival
The biggest crowd-drawing headliner at the inaugural Big Guava was Outkast. For the second edition, organizers have downsized from three days to two and will bring in a few newly active favorites to lead the fray — post-punk revivalists The Strokes and alt-rock luminaries Pixies — and keep the buzzed-about talent high with acts ranging from NYC art rockers TV on the Radio to indie hip-hop supergroup Run the Jewels to vet roots/alt country singer-songwriter Ryan Adams. May 8-9, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre.
11
Bette Midler
A legendary live act (who can forget the mermaids in wheelchairs?), Midler tours in support of her latest album, It’s The Girls! — a tribute to girl groups from the Andrews Sisters to TLC. Amalie Arena.
This article appears in Jan 22-28, 2015.