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 close-up photograph of a Pale-throated sloth hanging upside down from a tree branch in a lush tropical forest. The sloth has thick, textured brown-and-grey fur and a characteristic rounded face with dark markings around its eyes and a gentle expression. It is holding onto a branch with its long, curved claws while munching on vibrant green leaves. The background is a soft, out-of-focus blur of green foliage and sunlight, highlighting the sloth's slow, deliberate movements.

At ‘Sloth World’ in Florida, 31 wild sloths died in a company-owned warehouse

The animals, highly susceptible to illness when removed from their habitat, have been kept in a warehouse. More than 31 have died.

By Katie Surma, Kiley PriceApril 24, 2026April 24, 2026

Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes wearing sunglasses and a black "How we Love is who we are" shirt, posing energetically with bandmates Zac Cockrell and Steve Johnson in a dimly lit room.

Music

Tampa Bay’s best live music happening April 23-30

Including Alabama Shakes, Hanson, BTS, Monufest and more.

by Ray Roa, Josh Bradley and J.C. Roddy April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

Music

Former Stanley Turrentine guitarist Dave Stryker plays New Tampa jazz night on Saturday

He’s joined this weekend by Florida all-stars of the genre.

by Ray Roa April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

Four members of the American band Boá posing in a white studio; featuring a woman in a white top and long skirt, a keyboardist in a blue jersey, and two guitarists.

Music, Show Previews, Tampa Bay Journalism Project

This weekend’s Tampa Black Heritage Festival includes a set from Boá

The jazzy pop band features a Blake High School alum.

by Ray Roa April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

A dynamic live concert photograph of Martin Johnson, lead singer of Boys Like Girls, performing on stage. Johnson is captured in a high-energy moment, singing into a microphone with their mouth open. They have shaggy dark hair and are wearing a black leather motorcycle jacket over a white unbuttoned shirt and dark pants. The stage is bathed in dramatic red and orange lighting, with a drum kit and amplifiers visible in the blurred background. The atmosphere is intense and cinematic.

Music

Photos: Boys Like Girls, IDKHOW play Tampa’s Hard Rock Center

Gainesville’s Arrows In Action opened.

by Ray Roa and Dave Decker April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

A clear, daytime photograph of a historic blue Craftsman-style bungalow in Old Seminole Heights. The home features a prominent front porch with white tapered columns resting on red brick piers. The exterior is painted a deep navy blue with crisp white trim around the windows and eaves. A lush green lawn in the foreground is accented by tropical plants, including a large silver saw palmetto and a palm tree. A small white flag hangs near the front entrance under a grey shingled roof.

Arts & Entertainment

Old Seminole Heights annual home tour happens on Sunday

The self-guided event features 11 stops, including seven homes.

by Ray Roa April 22, 2026April 22, 2026

A dynamic, low-angle live performance photo of the punk band The Tim Version on a small stage. In the center, a guitarist with a shaved head and glasses wears a blue 'SHIT DO' t-shirt and play a red Gibson SG electric guitar. To the right, another band member’s tattooed arm is thrust toward the camera, holding a small plastic cup of amber liquid in a 'cheers' gesture. The stage is bathed in warm red light, with a red velvet curtain in the background and a drum kit partially visible. The atmosphere is intimate and high-energy.

Music

Legendary Tampa punk band The Tim Version is playing one last Crowbar show this weekend

It also plays Monufest in New Port Richey and does Fest in Gainesville this fall.

by Ray Roa April 21, 2026April 23, 2026

A professional horizontal studio portrait of the band Hanson. On the left, Isaac Hanson wears a brown corduroy jacket over a dark shirt, holding an acoustic guitar. In the center and slightly behind, Zac Hanson rests their arms on their brothers' shoulders, wearing a blue and tan plaid shirt. On the right, Taylor Hanson wears a black shirt with a bright red bandana tied around their neck. The brothers are posed closely together against a solid brown background, looking directly at the camera with warm expressions.

Music

Hanson has been added to Busch Gardens’ Food, Wine & Garden Festival concert lineup

Isaac, Taylor, and Zac play the party on Saturday.

by Ray Roa April 21, 2026April 21, 2026

A close-up group portrait of the four members of the Brazilian band Boogarins against a plain off-white wall. The band members are huddled closely together, looking directly at the camera with serious but calm expressions. From left to right: a man with a short afro and beard; a man with shorter hair and a mustache in the back; a man with long, wavy brown hair in the center foreground; and a man with a large, voluminous afro on the right. They are all wearing dark clothing, and the lighting is warm and soft, casting gentle shadows against the corner of the wall.

Music

Brazilian psych-rock giant Boogarins returns to Tampa Bay this weekend

Timothy Eerie plays support at Bayboro Brewing Co.

by Ray Roa April 21, 2026April 21, 2026

Music

Eight things to know about WMNF Tropical Heatwave, coming to Ybor City this weekend

The party returns to Cuban Club on Saturday.

by Ray Roa April 21, 2026April 22, 2026

A wide-angle outdoor photograph of the 2019 Green Thumb Festival in St. Petersburg. A sun-dappled dirt path is lined with large, leafy oak trees providing shade for a dense crowd of people walking between white vendor tents. The tents are filled with various plants and garden supplies. The lighting is bright and warm, with natural shadows from the canopy falling across the festival attendees.

Arts & Entertainment

St. Pete’s busy Earth Day weekend includes Green Thumb Festival and youth farm day

There’s no-cover for either event.

by Ray Roa April 20, 2026April 20, 2026

A high-energy photograph of competitive eaters Nick Wehry (left) and Miki Sudo (right) at J.C. Newman Cigar Co. Wehry, who has a blonde mohawk and is wearing a black 'CIGAR CITY' t-shirt, is captured mid-bite as they devour a Cuban sandwich. Sudo, also wearing a black 'CIGAR CITY' t-shirt, is laughing and holding up half of a sandwich. A long wooden table in the foreground is covered with dozens of prepared Cuban sandwiches on white plates, and a sign for 'J.C. NEWMAN CIGAR CO.' is visible on the wall behind them.

Arts & Entertainment

J.C. Newman Founder’s Day Cuban sandwich eating competition brings Nathan’s champ Miki Sudo to Ybor City

Saturday’s no-cover event includes museum tours, kid-friendly activities and more.

by Ray Roa April 20, 2026April 21, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay Sun FC has released its Pride Night warm up jersey

The USL Super League champs have had a rough season, but come home this weekend.

by Ray Roa April 20, 2026April 24, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Real life ‘Hot Wheels’ cars come to Pinellas Park this weekend

The company’s Formula 1 car, a ride from the ‘Fast & Furious’ movies, and the ‘Bone Shaker’ Skeletor car will be on display, too.

by Ray Roa April 20, 2026April 20, 2026

A promotional studio portrait of country music artist Thomas Rhett. They have dark curly hair and a full beard, looking directly at the camera with a calm expression. They are wearing a shiny dark red satin bomber jacket with white striped ribbing at the collar and a white undershirt with a silver pendant necklace. The background is a simple, neutral-toned fabric, and the lighting is bright and warm, creating soft shadows.

Music

Tampa Pig Jig, a big ass concert and BBQ to fight rare kidney disease, announces Thomas Rhett as 2026 headliner

The announcement comes a week after the FDA approved the first-ever treatment for FSGS.

by Ray Roa April 20, 2026April 20, 2026

"A crowded outdoor festival scene at Armature Works in Tampa during the Premier League Mornings Live event. A large stage in the center features a prominent orange banner reading 'TAMPA BAY' and large shield-shaped signs on either side for 'Premier League Mornings Live.' A dense, diverse crowd of fans, many wearing colorful soccer jerseys and hats, fill the foreground, facing the stage under a clear blue sky. The atmosphere is bright and energetic.

Arts & Entertainment

Photos: Everyone we saw when ‘Premier League Mornings Live’ took over Tampa last weekend

And not one Arsenal fan choked on a hot dog.

by Ray Roa April 20, 2026April 20, 2026

A wide-angle stage shot of the band Goose performing in a concert hall. In the foreground, lead guitarist Rick Mitarotonda, wearing a blue shirt and sunglasses, plays his signature hollow-body guitar. To his right, Peter Anspach plays a keyboard while a second guitarist and drummer are visible in the background. The stage is bathed in vibrant purple and blue light, with bright beams cutting through a light haze.

Music

Tampa Bay’s best live music happening April 16-23

Including Goose, Bill Murray, Tampa Jazz Club’s Mile Davis show, and more.

by Ray Roa, Josh Bradley and Laura Troyer April 16, 2026April 16, 2026

A black-and-white, low-angle photograph of Miles Davis performing on stage at the North Sea Jazz Festival. He is seen from the chest up, wearing a white cap and a light-colored vest, looking down as he holds his trumpet. In the background, a stage banner partially reads "ZZ FESTIV" under bright concert spotlights that create a dramatic lens flare.

Music

USF jazz professors will play Miles Davis’ ‘Birth of the Cool’ this weekend in Ybor City

The nontet is lead by Director of Jazz Studies, Tom Brantley.

by Ray Roa April 16, 2026April 16, 2026

https://www.cltampa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Haslams-Books-cityofstpeteFlickr-scaled.png

St. Pete man wants to buy long-shuttered Haslam’s bookstore, and he’s selling 500,000 t-shirts to do it

‘I have this gut feeling that they are looking for a ‘Mr. Right’ to re-open the bookstore.’

by Colin Wolf and Ray Roa April 16, 2026April 16, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Donations will be tripled during Jobsite Theater’s ‘Hedwig’ concert fundraiser in Tampa

You will be harrased for contributions on Sunday.

by Ray Roa April 16, 2026April 16, 2026