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, 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

A wide-angle, eye-level photograph of a press conference at Tampa Police Headquarters in Tampa, Florida. From left to right: Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Police Chief Lee Bercaw, and Assistant Police Chief Brett Owen. Mayor Castor is wearing a dark blazer over a light-colored top. Chief Bercaw stands at the center podium, wearing a dark police uniform, and is speaking into a microphone. Assistant Chief Owen stands to the right, also in a dark police uniform. Behind the subjects, a large, ornate Tampa Police Department seal is mounted on the wall, flanked by an American flag on the left and the Florida state flag on the right.

Tampa Police chief Lee Bercaw to retire, Mayor Jane Castor says her successor will pick his

Asst. Chief Brett Owen will serve as acting chief, and Bercaw’s last day is Aug. 6.

by Ray Roa June 9, 2026June 9, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Photos: Red Bull cliff diving makes Florida debut in St. Pete contest

American athletes took first place as a bunch of crazies jumped into the North Yacht Basin.

by Ray Roa June 8, 2026June 9, 2026

A medium-shot, outdoor band portrait of American Football during a vibrant sunset. From left to right, the members are Steve Holmes, Mike Kinsella, Steve Lamos, and Nate Kinsella. They are standing in a horizontal line, facing the camera with neutral expressions. They are dressed in casual, dark-toned clothing against the backdrop of an open landscape under a clear, pale-blue to orange-gradient sky. A strong, warm-toned red light source is directed from the side, casting the band members in dramatic, saturated red and orange hues while creating deep shadows.

American Football, featuring the hottest dads in emo, brings world tour to Tampa this winter

The Ritz Ybor show is one of four Florida stops for the Chicago band.

by Ray Roa June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

A medium-shot, behind-the-scenes photograph of Devin Dominguez performing a site inspection at the Tampa Theatre in Tampa, Florida, on May 27, 2026. Dominguez is seen from behind, wearing a green hard hat and a beige button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves. They are reaching up with both hands, pointing toward an ornate, gilded architectural cornice featuring oval-shaped cutouts. The auditorium is filled with metal construction scaffolding, and the scene is illuminated by warm, localized work lighting against the dimly lit, expansive interior of the theater.

Arts & Entertainment

As Tampa Theatre restoration continues, the book about its 100-year history gets release date

Andy Huse’s posthumous ‘Tampa Theatre: A Century of Stories of the history of Tampa Theatre’ hits shelves Sept. 26.

by Ray Roa June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

Portrait of Tampa Bay songwriter Fessi K wearing a green and tan letterman-style varsity jacket. She has reddish-brown braided hair adorned with butterfly clips and beads, posing outdoors in front of a modern white building and a hilly landscape.

Music

Tampa Bay’s best live music happening June 4-10

Including a bunch of Crowbar concerts, the Sector.FM fundraiser and more.

by Ray Roa, Josh Bradley and J.C. Roddy June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

A medium-shot portrait of country singer-songwriter Sunny Sweeney. They have long, wavy, blonde hair with bangs framing their face and are smiling warmly while looking slightly off-camera to the right. They are wearing a black leather jacket adorned with prominent metallic studs along the lapels and sleeves. The background is a clean, minimalist, light gray studio backdrop that keeps the focus entirely on the subject.

Music

Country songwriter and Sirius XM DJ Sunny Sweeney brings a ‘Rhinestone Requiem’ to Tampa

Willie’s Roadhouse comes to the Skipperdome on June 11.

by Ray Roa June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

A tight, medium-shot portrait of singer-songwriter Steve Earle. They are facing the camera with a steady, intense expression. They have thinning gray hair, circular wire-rimmed glasses, and a long, pointed gray beard. They are wearing a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt with a subtle, small-scale patterned print. The subject is lit from the side by strong, warm light that highlights the texture of their face and beard, casting the opposite side of their face into shadow. The background is a dark, out-of-focus brick wall.

Music

Fresh off Steve Buscemi collaboration, ‘City of Immigrants’ songwriter Steve Earle returns to Clearwater

He’s at Capitol Theatre on June 11.

by Ray Roa June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

A medium-shot live concert photograph of mike mantione performing with the band Five Eight at Crowbar in Ybor City. Decker is centered, intensely focused, and playing an electric guitar. They are wearing a dark t-shirt with a graphic of a horned character and the text 'AMYL AND THE S...' partially visible. The stage is bathed in a dramatic, saturated green wash of light that highlights the condensation on the performer's forehead and hair. The background is dark and shadowy, with glimpses of stage equipment and venue wall texture visible in the periphery.

Music

American power-pop giant Five Eight returns to Ybor City with new LP in tow

The June 11 gig is the band’s final Crowbar concert.

by Ray Roa June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

A medium-shot, low-light indoor photograph of attendees mingling during the No Clubs Presents 'Scene & Heard' event at Crowbar in Ybor City. In the foreground, two people are engaged in conversation. The person on the left has short, reddish-brown hair and glasses, and is wearing a gray graphic t-shirt and light blue jeans while holding a clear plastic cup. The person on the right has short dark hair and is wearing a black leather jacket. In the softly focused background, several other attendees are standing and talking. The dimly lit venue features warm overhead pendant lighting and walls densely covered with music posters and band stickers.

Music

Tampa music industry panel will discuss DIY approach to making your own space in 2026 events landscape

The no-cover discussion and networking session is part of No Clubs Presents’ Scene & Heard series.

by Ray Roa June 3, 2026June 9, 2026

A medium-shot outdoor portrait photograph of singer-songwriter Josh Rouse. They have short, swept-back graying dark hair and are wearing a light blue, short-sleeved button-down shirt featuring a tropical palm tree pattern. They are looking directly at the camera with a soft, relaxed smile. The background is softly out of focus, showing dark green foliage and hints of bright pink flowers under soft, natural lighting.

Music

Globetrotting indie-folk songwriter Josh Rouse plays intimate St. Pete concert at Kerouac house

Ella Jet opens on Saturday.

by Ray Roa June 3, 2026June 5, 2026

A top-down portrait photograph of two members of the Tampa band Pet Lizard lying in green grass surrounded by scattered colorful flowers. The member in the upper half of the frame is positioned upside down relative to the camera; they have a reddish-brown beard and are wearing a light blue and white vertically striped button-down shirt. The member in the lower half is right-side up, has dark hair, and is wearing a light, horizontally striped t-shirt. They are holding a pink and white daisy gently in front of their face, and the wooden body of an electric guitar is visible resting across their lap. Bright yellow, pink, magenta, and blue flowers dot the grass around their heads, creating a soft, artistic aesthetic.

Music

Emo Night Tampa’s no-cover 11th anniversary concert is also its last at Crowbar

The Saturday show is also Emo Night Tampa’s last show until Halloween.

by Ray Roa June 3, 2026June 3, 2026

A medium-shot live concert photograph of musician G. Love performing on stage. They are wearing a black tracksuit jacket with prominent white stripes down the sleeves, dark sunglasses, and a dark fedora-style hat. They are actively playing a black electric guitar with gold hardware while simultaneously utilizing a silver harmonica secured around their neck by a metal holder. Their head is tilted slightly upward toward a microphone as they perform. The background is a dark, shadowy stage environment punctuated by two bright, multi-bulb blue stage lights.

Music

Fresh off getting scammed over Bitcoin, Philly songwriter G. Love returns to Tampa Bay

Donavon Frankenreiter is back in town this weekend alongside Mr. Love.

by Ray Roa June 3, 2026June 3, 2026

A medium-shot portrait of artist Jesi Cason posing in front of a gallery wall covered with a grid of vibrant, colorful, and moodily lit photographic prints at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts in Ybor City. Cason is looking directly at the camera with a soft, contemplative expression, resting their chin on their hand. They have bright, two-toned orange and blonde hair, and are wearing a simple black tank top. Their arms are heavily covered in intricate, dark-ink tattoos. The background is a dense collage of small, square-formatted portraits, each bathed in saturated, neon-like stage colors—including deep blues, bright greens, and intense reds—that contrast sharply with Cason’s own monochrome attire.

Arts & Entertainment

Photographer Jesi Cason showcases ‘Alt Tampa’ at exhibition closing on June 14

Saint Petersburg Month of Photography’s Photo Laureate speaks to art lovers during a gallery talk on May 31.

by Ray Roa May 30, 2026May 30, 2026

A wide-angle, fish-eye live concert photograph of guitarist and vocalist Dave Decker performing with the band Big Sad at Microgroove in Tampa. Decker is centered, playing an orange-brown Gibson SG electric guitar while singing into a microphone. They are wearing a black t-shirt featuring a graphic of a large cat's face with the word 'IDLES' printed above it. The band is set up in a small, industrial-style room with exposed ceiling joists and red-painted wall accents in the background. Other band members are visible on the periphery, and a small, vintage-style amplifier sits on the floor to the right.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa photographer, musician, Dave Decker is guest at next installment of ‘Salud and Happy Days’ improv show

Expect big laughs when the Big Sad frontman teams up with Commodore comedians.

by Ray Roa May 29, 2026June 1, 2026

Music

Young The Giant cancels Tuesday Tampa show, and will play St. Pete instead

The California rock band now plays Jannus Live on June 3.

by Ray Roa May 29, 2026May 29, 2026

An eye-level exterior photograph of the Gen X Tavern storefront in downtown Tampa. The facade features a modern, neutral-toned building with a prominent, rectangular sign reading 'GEN X TAVERN' in clean, dark, sans-serif lettering. Below the sign is a large, glass-paneled entrance with several posters and menu displays visible inside the windows. The building's exterior is characterized by light gray architectural paneling and clean, industrial lines.

Soho Sushi will open ‘Nagi’ Japanese restaurant and lounge inside Tampa’s former Gen X Tavern

Gen X Tavern will have its last day on July 4, and Nagi hopes to open this fall.

by Ray Roa May 29, 2026May 29, 2026

An architectural rendering of the proposed Live Nation music venue in Ybor City at twilight. The multi-story building features a classic red-brick exterior with industrial-style windows. A long, illuminated marquee sign projects horizontally from the center of the facade, casting light onto the glass-walled entrance lobby below. Vertical LED light strips are integrated into the brickwork along the left side of the structure. The building is situated on a street corner with wet, reflective pavement, and the text 'MUSIC VENUE' is subtly overlaid in the upper left corner against a cloudy, dusk-colored sky.

Music

Citing grand oak, Tampa officials delay development of controversial Live Nation venue in Ybor City

The Barrio Latino Commission will return on July 28 to discuss the tree and other issues.

by Leif Helland and Ray Roa May 28, 2026May 28, 2026

A clean, minimalist interior photograph of the sushi bar at the Tampa restaurant Koya. The composition focuses on the warm, light-colored wooden counter, which is angled sharply in the foreground, creating a clean geometric line across the frame. Two small, rectangular dark slate plates sit neatly on the counter, ready for service. In the background, the scene is dimly lit and softly out of focus, revealing shelves filled with various bottles and containers, suggesting an authentic, focused preparation space. A small, round wooden bowl is placed near the edge of the counter, adding a soft, organic texture to the sleek, modern design.

Tampa Bay restaurants earn no new Michelin stars at 2026 award ceremony

Tampa restaurants Ebbe, Kosen, Koya and Rocca kept their one-star ratings.

by Colin Wolf and Ray Roa May 28, 2026May 28, 2026