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.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Locally-based doc has big ambitions, big financial goals to fulfill in waning hours of crowdfunding campaign
Even the best Kickstarters don’t get backed the first time around.
Posted inMusic
An Earful (Local Edition): Tortuga Festival lineup, an Alexander & the Grapes Xmas tune, and Benjamin Booker makes Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Albums list
Pop country on the beach, McCartney Covers, and Benjamin Booker tops Jack White
Posted inMusic
Benjamin Booker named in Rolling Stone’s “Hot List,” announces December 5 show at Hogan’s Beach
Benny Books meets the Hulkster thanks to 97X
Posted inMusic
Charles Bradley, SPoT’s 22-year anniversary & Jackson Browne lead latest round of Bay area concert announcements
LVLS, Wale, and Hundred Waters are also coming to make your wallet cry
Posted inMusic
An Earful (Local Edition): WMNF nixes news for music, Merchandise play French TV, and Tampa musicians invade the SoHo restaurant scene
Local music on air, in France, and in the kitchen.
Posted inFood & Drink
Pedal-powered, pressure-brewed, nitro-tapped iced coffee? You betcha
A sneak peek of Commune + Co.’s new coffee trike happens Sunday at Cigar City.
Posted inMusic
An Earful (Local Edition): Big Guava downsizes, Coastline brings Flaming Lips & Future Islands to Vinoy Park, and Gatsby streams new LP
Festusiasts, hip hop heads: listen up.
Posted inMusic
Parquet Courts [Parkay Quarts] stream new album, announce January 31 show at American Legion Post 111 (UPDATE: Ticket Info!)
You read that right, the Legion.
Posted inMusic
An Earful (Local Edition): Fistful joins New Granada Records, Crowbar toasts to 8 years, and the ‘Analogue Queue’ wants into your record collection.
Warm and fuzzy local music news for a chilly morning
Posted inArts & Entertainment
The Hub wins over Haley Joel Osment, gets Sex Ed director drunk
“The mixed drinks are not very mixed — it’s more like 90/10 liquor to mixer.”
Posted inMusic
CL On Seventh Avenue: Tweets and ‘grams from Big Pre-Fest in Little Ybor
Pray for our livers.
Posted inMusic
An Earful: First Aid Kit’s new video, Blood Orange on Kimmel, and Prince takes over SNL
Because watching music videos beats the cubicle
Posted inMusic
A Local Earful: Florida music’s tinseltown connections, plus another music festival in the new Water Works Park
The Sunshine State is going Hollywood and Tampa’s newest park is getting a work out.
Posted inMusic
Astronautalis and Why? announce December 20 stop at Orpheum in Ybor City
Florida hip hop acts Samurai Shotgun and Bleubird play support.
Posted inMusic
Don’t Stop St. Pete brings nearly 50 bands to seven downtown venues this Saturday
The Antiwarpt spin-off returns for a second go-round with Ex Cult & others.
Posted inMusic
An Earful: Merchandise drop new video, Benjamin Booker wows Jools Holland, The Who come to Tampa and James Blake doesn’t
The Internet was good this weekend; videos included.