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 inMusic
Pentagram String Band brings Satanic bluegrass to St. Pete on Sunday
Don’t worry this is not what happens when Mumford & Sons discovers the Ouija board.
Posted inMusic
WMNF’s new Monday morning show host is playing Rock the Park Tampa in March
Ken Apperson, a songwriter recently retired from the ‘Live Music Showcase.’
Posted inMusic
CAMPground26 festival brings out-of-the-box composition to Tampa
The three-day festival kicks off in Ybor City, with stops in Seminole Heights, West and EastTampa.
Posted inMusic
Analog-loving New Orleans Americana band The Deslondes plays Tampa on Monday
Only fools will miss Sabine McCalla in the opening slot.
Posted inMusic
Sun-Ray Cinema is the best place to see a movie in Tampa—and it does concerts now, too
‘After The Movies Presents’ goes down in the lobby.
Posted inMusic
Rogerthomas releases ‘Foreveryung,’ a joyous celebration of rhythm, at St. Pete show
Luke Schneider—the Nashville-based pedal steel player who’s collaborated with Margo Price, Orville Peck, S.G. Goodman, and William Tyler—is the icing on the cake.
Posted inMusic
Punk Black Tampa hosts its final Crowbar throwdown this weekend
Fessi K is in the lineup along with Pilot Jonezz, He.Kindly and more.
Posted inMusic
Gasparilla Festival of the Arts is back in Tampa, complete with two days of music
Wulfgang Amadeus is part of a healthy bill of homegrown musicians playing the concert starge.
Posted inNews & Views
Clearwater’s no-cover Sea-Blues festival returns this weekend
Milovan Dudic reps for the hometown alongside headliners like North Mississippi Allstars.
Posted inNews & Views
Op-ed: the The ‘Parents Over Platforms Act’ sounds good until you read what it actually does
‘Black and brown communities are already dealing with over-surveillance and data collection that gets weaponized against us.’
Posted inMusic
Reunion for Masquerade’s legendary late-’90s hip-hop night happens Friday in Tampa
There’s no cover, but early arrival is suggested.
Posted inMusic
Florida Strawberry Festival’s 11 days of concerts kicks off Thursday in Plant City
Alabama is on a lineup that traverses pop, R&B, rock, and country.
Posted inMusic
Detroit’s DJ Holographic to play techno and disco in St. Pete on Friday
She’s on the lineup for the Motor City’s 2026 Movement festival.
Posted inMusic
Daikaiju stages Magnanimous Brewing debut this weekend
The Alabama instrumental-rock outfit boasts a fiery stage show.
Posted inNews & Views
Councilwoman Lynn Hurtak files paperwork to join Tampa mayoral race
She’s the first elected official to enter the race.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘Premier League Mornings Live’ will broadcast from Tampa this spring
Rebecca Lowe & the crew are coming to Armature Works.
Posted inMusic
Gasparilla Music Festival 2026: GZA, Drive-By Truckers, Jai Wolf and East Nash Grass among nearly 40 new bands on lineup
Some of Tampa Bay’s best emergent local bands are also on the bill.