Ray Roa

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief in August 2019. Past work can be seen at Suburban Apologist, Tampa Bay Times, Consequence of Sound and The Daily Beast. Products and media for review consideration should be sent to 204 E. Henderson Ave., Tampa, FL 33602.

rroa@cltampa.com

A medium-shot portrait of journalist Daniel Rivero. They are looking directly at the camera with a calm, composed expression. Rivero has a short, cropped haircut and a neatly trimmed beard. They are wearing a dark-navy button-down shirt. The background is a soft-focus construction site or industrial area, characterized by white, grid-like concrete blocks and steel scaffolding, creating a grounded, gritty aesthetic.

In Tampa, ‘Just Freedom’ author will discuss Florida’s long history of denying voting rights

Daniel Rivero is the next guest on WMNF’s ‘Wavemakers Live’ series happening June 25.

by Ray Roa June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

With another round of loaded elections imminent, it’ll be easy for pundits and the public at large to make like the attorney general and sidestep questions not just about restoring felons voting rights. Not with Daniel Rivero around. Late last year, the WLRN reporter and producer released “Just Freedom,” a deep dive into Florida’s long […]

Music

Tampa Bay’s best live music happening June 12-18

Including Displace’s album release, the Andy Karpay memorial, Old Mervs, Öona Dahl and more.

by Ray Roa and Josh Bradley June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

A low-angle, architectural exterior photograph of the restaurant Good Intentions in St. Petersburg, Florida. The building features a textured, white-painted brick facade, partially shaded by the large, sprawling branches of a mature oak tree in the foreground. Strands of warm-toned Edison-style string lights are draped across the front of the building. The restaurant name 'Good Intentions' is visible in a stylized, modern black font on the wall. A large, horizontal, black-framed window on the ground floor reveals the warm, glowing interior, where a person is seen sitting at a table beneath a decorative pendant light.

St. Pete vegan favorite Good Intentions to close this summer

A final day has not been set.

by Ray Roa June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

A wide, eye-level, live performance photograph of the band Fast Preacher recording at WMNF in Tampa, Florida. In the foreground, a guitarist with wavy brown hair, wearing a cream-colored button-down shirt and headphones, plays an electric guitar while facing toward the center of the room. To their left, another band member wearing a tan t-shirt plays a separate electric guitar. In the background, a third band member is seated at a piano, also wearing headphones and playing into a studio microphone. The studio features teal-colored walls, wood flooring, and an 'EXIT' sign illuminated in red above a doorway in the background.

Music

Funky, soulful, Florida expat Fast Preacher is back in Tampa on Thursday

Katara and Antro Banks open this stacked bill.

by Ray Roa June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

A close-up, outdoor portrait of rapper Milli Moon. They are looking directly at the camera with a confident, composed expression. They have long, dark-green-tinted locs styled with side-swept bangs framing their face. They are wearing a neon-green, short-sleeved shirt with a black collar and a delicate silver heart-shaped pendant necklace. A small, subtle nose stud is visible. The background is a soft-focus, nighttime outdoor setting with string lights and dark, blurred foliage, creating an intimate, moody atmosphere.

Music

Tampa’s queen of trill, Milli Moon, is part of the ‘All Black’ showcase coming to Tampa on Wednesday

Aych brings Cypher vibes to Crowbar one last time.

by Ray Roa June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

A medium-shot, indoor photograph of Bob Henriquez appearing on a radio program at WMNF in Tampa, Florida. Henriquez is positioned in front of a professional studio microphone, wearing a maroon polo shirt with a government seal embroidered on the left chest. They are wearing over-ear headphones and are speaking into the microphone, captured in a candid, focused expression. The background shows the dimly lit, wood-paneled interior of the radio studio, with an observation window visible behind them.

Hillsborough property appraiser will discuss the ‘State of the Market’ on Wednesday

Bob Henriquez brings experts to Ybor City’s Cuban Club for the fast-paced event.

by Ray Roa June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

A close-up, candid video-still portrait of chef Nicole Hoffer. They are smiling broadly and looking slightly off-camera with a joyful expression. They have blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail with loose bangs framing their face. They are wearing large, transparent-frame glasses, bright red lipstick, and a white chef's coat. A dark-blue scarf with a gold star pattern is visible around their neck. The background is softly blurred, showing a bright, neutral-toned interior kitchen environment.

Music

Nicole Hoffer plays Tuesday jazz jam at Tampa’s Black History Museum

Her sound is familiar to local jazz fans who’ve seen her at DI Coffee Bar, or alongside Mai Sweet Basil and the Rod Alnord Quartet.

by Ray Roa June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

A medium-shot portrait of the indie-rock duo Old Mervs standing against a plain, white-painted brick wall. On the left, a band member with short, dark hair and a mustache is wearing a light-blue, button-down short-sleeved shirt. On the right, a band member with shoulder-length, wavy blonde hair and a mustache is wearing a dark-red t-shirt underneath a navy blue corduroy jacket. Both are facing the camera directly, positioned in bright, natural, direct sunlight that creates soft shadows against the wall behind them.

Music

Young Australian rock duo Old Mervs lands in Tampa this weekend

Another Aussie outfit, Ra Ra Viper, opens.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

A medium-shot, live event photograph of rapper Jay-Z at Wembley Stadium in London. They are wearing a black beanie, circular wire-rimmed sunglasses, a black jacket over a high-collared light-gray windbreaker, and are flashing a peace sign with their right hand. They have long, braided hair framing their face and are smiling warmly. The background is a dense, blurred crowd of thousands of fans in the stadium stands, with many people wearing white and holding up commemorative scarves, creating a vibrant, energetic atmosphere.

Music

A Jay-Z tribute comes to Water Street Tampa on Sunday

Wild 94.1-FM’s Joey Franchize pays respects to Hov at Alter Ego.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

A medium-shot, outdoor photograph of two band members from Dogsmiles at the beach. On the left, a person with a dark beard and many arm tattoos is wearing a black head covering, white sunglasses, and green swim trunks; they are holding a blue aluminum beverage can in their right hand. On the right, a person with short brown hair is wearing yellow-tinted snorkeling goggles, a yellow bikini top, and light-blue bikini bottoms. They are standing on a white sand beach with the turquoise ocean and a clear sky in the background.

Music

Jacksonville anarcho-punk band Dogsmiles plays birthday concert in Tampa this weekend

Marinda from Tiger 54 is bringing a bunch of buds to Why Not.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

Music

Öona Dahl kicks off Serious Soul-Hallucienda residency in St. Pete

Her Saturday set is one of three big shows coming to The Nest at St. Pete Brewing.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

A medium-shot, live performance photograph of members of The Applebutter Express on stage at the Gasparilla Music Festival at Kiley Gardens in Tampa, Florida. In the foreground, a woman with long, straight light-brown hair is wearing black-rimmed sunglasses and a black long-sleeved shirt, singing passionately into a microphone. Beside them, to the left, a man with short brown hair, also wearing black-rimmed sunglasses and a black graphic t-shirt, is playing an acoustic guitar while singing into their own microphone. Both are illuminated by bright, soft outdoor light, with blurred trees and festival stage structures visible in the background.

Music

Applebutter Express headlines concert benefiting Gulfport’s Gabber newspaper

Donations will be accepted at The Blueberry Patch this weekend.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

A close-up, outdoor live-performance photograph of musician Andy Karpay playing the mandolin. Karpay, in the foreground, is wearing a brown felt cowboy hat, wire-rimmed glasses, and a long-sleeved, dark brown button-down shirt with a textured pattern. They have a graying beard and are smiling warmly at the camera while strumming the mandolin. Behind them, partially visible in the frame, another musician wearing a tan cowboy hat and a light-green long-sleeved shirt plays an acoustic guitar. The background shows an outdoor park setting with dappled sunlight through trees, and a small white banner in the distance that partially reads 'DEL'.

Music

Deviant Libation hosts bluegrass jam for Tampa mandolin player Andy Karpay

Karpay’s son, Deviant brewer Tim Ogden, has also revived a ‘NDK’ American wheat to celebrate.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 12, 2026

A wide, eye-level, live performance photograph of the band Displace performing inside the Emerald Bar in St. Petersburg, Florida. In the center, a musician is playing a saxophone into a microphone. To the left, a guitarist in a light green t-shirt is playing an electric guitar, while a bassist stands partially obscured behind them. To the right of the saxophonist, another band member plays a second saxophone, and another musician stands further to the right. The stage area is dimly lit with colorful stage lighting, and the background reveals the cozy, wood-paneled interior and classic dive-bar atmosphere of the Emerald Bar.

Music

Displace releases ‘Necessity’ at the band’s final Crowbar show

The venue is set to close before August, and Displace’s new album is the last piece of a four-part concept.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

A medium-shot, indoor portrait of musician Tim Kasher sitting at a dimly lit, high-end bar. They are wearing a charcoal-gray suit jacket over a light blue button-down shirt with a dark, patterned tie. Kasher is captured in a candid moment, looking off-camera and upward while holding a martini glass to their lips. The background is a warm, upscale bar interior, softly lit by circular wall sconces and featuring a dark, polished counter and a hint of holiday-style decorative lighting in the distance.

Music

Cursive songwriter Tim Kasher comes to Tampa on Friday

Appleseed Cast’s Christopher Crisci opens alongside Shae Krispinsky.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Paul Wilborn shares excerpt from his new novel about Tampa mobster Charlie Wall

“The Everlasting Life of Charlie Wall” was published in April by St. Petersburg Press.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

A medium-shot, stage-performance photograph of percussionist and singer Sheila E. performing live at the Gainey Vineyard in Santa Ynez, California. They are positioned behind a large, shiny Zildjian cymbal, with a microphone on a stand positioned in front of them. Their face is illuminated by warm, stage-side lighting, and they are smiling while looking off-camera to the right. The background is dark and indistinct, highlighting the subject and the reflective surface of the cymbal in the foreground.

Music

Clearwater Jazz Holiday’s 2026 lineup includes Sheila E., Chris Botti, Larkin Poe, Wood Brothers, Dumpstaphunk and more

In its 47th year, Clearwater Jazz Holiday arrives complete with free viewing areas at Coachman Park.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

A medium-shot, outdoor photograph of Andrew Joseph Jr. outside the Tampa Bay History Center in Tampa, Florida. They are looking off-camera with a contemplative, resolute expression. Joseph Jr. is wearing a tan, short-sleeved t-shirt that features a printed memorial graphic of their son, Andrew Joseph III, with the text 'JOURNEY FORWARD' and 'ANDREW JOSEPH III.' A silver chain with a large cross pendant hangs around their neck, and they are holding a black microphone in their right hand, suggesting they are addressing a crowd or event. The background features a large, vibrant, and slightly out-of-focus outdoor mural with blue and white abstract patterns.

Andrew Joseph Jr., Tampa activist and father who fought against qualified immunity, has died

A local memorial for the New Orleans native happens on Saturday.

by Ray Roa June 10, 2026June 10, 2026

A medium-shot, indoor candid photograph of two attendees enjoying hors d'oeuvres at the 'Meet the Chefs' event at The Vault in Tampa, Florida. On the left, a person with shoulder-length dark hair is wearing a deep magenta, long-sleeved wrap dress and holding a small black plate of food; they have a silver clutch bag draped over their arm. On the right, a person with long, dark wavy hair is wearing a colorful, sleeveless, floral-print dress with a low neckline and a small, bright pink handbag over their shoulder. Behind them, in the softly focused background, another guest is visible standing near a bar-height counter, and a stylized, dark-colored wall sculpture of a climbing figure is mounted on the light-colored wall.

It’s Tampa Bay Restaurant Month, and two Meet The Chefs events are coming to both sides of the Bay

Some of the area’s best cooks, chefs and culinarians will meet you at the Birchwood and The Vault this month.

by Ray Roa June 10, 2026June 11, 2026

The Tampa Bay Lightning’s big, air-conditioned beer festival returns this summer

Bolts Brew Fest comes to Benchmark International Arena in July.

by Ray Roa June 10, 2026June 10, 2026