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 live performance by The Applebutter Express on an outdoor festival stage. On the left, Kyle Biss wears glasses and a black t-shirt while playing an acoustic-electric ukulele. To his right, Shannon Biss stands with long blonde hair and sunglasses, smiling as she sings into a microphone. The metal scaffolding of the stage and a clear sky are visible in the background.

Music

Hernando’s Fox Fam Jam music festival kicks off Friday

The lineup is a mix of the state’s most revered jam, bluegrass, funk, electro and psych-rock bands.

by Ray Roa April 8, 2026April 8, 2026

A group of musicians singing together on the dimly lit stage of the Ryman Auditorium during a John Prine tribute. In the center, a woman in a bright orange suit stands with crutches, flanked by other performers including a woman in a red dress and several men in casual stage attire. They are all smiling and singing toward a microphone against a dark, textured backdrop.

Music

‘I think we would have considered ourselves Gulfportian’: John Prine’s wife Fiona discusses Tampa Bay roots ahead of weekend tribute concerts

The Prine family’s Hello In There Foundation is also screening ‘How Lucky Can One Man Get’ in St. Pete Beach.

by Ray Roa April 8, 2026April 9, 2026

Creative Loafing Tampa Bay readers respond to Bondi getting fired, ‘Hunky Jesus’ party, and more

‘Well i guess the new owners of cl are same as the old owners. No hope for it being a decent rag anymore.’

by Ray Roa April 7, 2026April 7, 2026

A low-angle close-up of country music legend Willie Nelson performing at a microphone. He is wearing his signature black cowboy hat and has his long grey hair in braids. A colorful, multi-strand beaded guitar strap is visible over his black t-shirt against a bright, slightly overexposed sky.

Music

Willie Nelson is coming to Clearwater this summer

He’ll be 93 years old by the time he lands at the BayCare Sound.

by Ray Roa April 7, 2026April 7, 2026

A group of contestants poses poolside at the Wet Spot during the Hunky Jesus contest. In the center, a person in "Foxy Mary" drag wears a white lace veil and dress with blue-and-white face makeup, holding their hands in prayer. They are flanked by several "Hunky Jesus" contestants in swimwear, some shirtless and showing tattoos, under a bright blue sky with palm trees in the background.

Arts & Entertainment

He was rizzin’: Photos from the ‘Hunky Jesus & Foxy Mary’ contest at St. Pete’s Wet Spot pool bar

Talk about a res-erection.

by Ray Roa and Dave Decker April 6, 2026April 6, 2026

Music

Photos: Legendary Miami punk band Quit reunites with friends at Crowbar in Ybor City

An all-star lineup opened the show.

by Ray Roa and Dave Decker April 6, 2026April 6, 2026

South Tampa Argentinian steakhouse Renzo’s is moving to a new location just two miles away

Owners said they’ll be open by May after rising rents forced a relocation.

by Ray Roa April 6, 2026April 6, 2026

A gallery visitor seen from behind, wearing over-ear headphones and watching a video installation on a flat-screen monitor. The screen displays a grainy image of a small building at night. A yellow and white striped fabric draped with a gold chain hangs behind the monitor on the white gallery wall.

Arts & Entertainment

‘Nothing To See Here’: Tempus Projects opens two new art shows in Ybor City [PHOTOS]

by Ray Roa and Dave Decker April 3, 2026April 3, 2026

A wide-angle fisheye portrait of the band JER and their touring members standing on a brick sidewalk in front of a bright yellow wall with a large blue and white mural. In the center, Jeremy Hunter wears a blue bucket hat and sunglasses, making a peace sign, surrounded by five band members in casual streetwear.

Music

Tampa Bay’s best live music happening April 2-9

Including Jer, Billy Strings, Tampa Bay Blues Festival and more.

by Ray Roa and Josh Bradley April 2, 2026April 3, 2026

Members of the Miami pop-punk band QUIT leaning against a railing and laughing together at night. They are dressed in casual t-shirts, including a "Radon" band shirt and an "Axe and the Day" shirt, while holding beer bottles.

Music

Legendary ’80s Miami skate-punk band tops stacked Tampa concert happening Friday

Members of Drag The River, Descendents, and Pohgoh are on the bill, too.

by Ray Roa April 2, 2026April 2, 2026

Musician Jackie Venson stands in front of a white brick wall, holding a black electric guitar. She is wearing a white short-sleeved button-down shirt with a tan tie and dark trousers, looking at the camera with a confident expression. Her signature voluminous dark hair is a focal point of the portrait.

Music

Tampa Bay Blues Festival kicks off 30th anniversary with intimate theater show

Before the Vinoy Park takeover, Jackie Venson and GA-20 play St. Pete on April 9.

by Ray Roa April 2, 2026April 2, 2026

The four members of the surf rock band The Surfrajettes standing in front of a vintage white ice cream truck. They are wearing matching teal and white striped shirts, white mini skirts, and white go-go boots. Three members hold guitars and a bass, while the fourth holds drumsticks, all posing against the colorful "Banana Boat Shake" graphics of the truck.

Music

Throwback pop band The Surfrajettes plays Ybor City on April 9

The ‘jettes are popular for a Britney Spears cover, but the rest of the Canadian instrumental quartet’s catalog is just as spin-worthy

by Ray Roa April 2, 2026April 2, 2026

A high-angle fisheye lens photo of the band JER and their touring members standing in a cramped stairwell covered in colorful punk and ska gig posters. The members look up at the camera with various expressions, including Jeremy Hunter in a bright green shirt, blue bucket hat, and sunglasses, while the walls around them are a collage of concert flyers.

Music

Jer, one Florida’s best ska bands, plays Tampa this month

Ska Tune Network IRL.

by Ray Roa April 2, 2026April 3, 2026

Singer-songwriter Donavon Frankenreiter sits playing an acoustic guitar in front of a dense wall of bright orange flowers. He is wearing a wide-brimmed cream hat with a decorative band, tinted sunglasses, a denim jacket over an orange shirt, and has a prominent handlebar mustache.

Music

Surfer-songwriter Donavon Frankenreiter plays emergent Ybor City live music venue Zodiac this month

Live music has a rich history at 1507 E 7th Ave.

by Ray Roa April 2, 2026April 2, 2026

St. Petersburg songwriter Sam Farmer smiling broadly and wearing round glasses and a "Have Gun, Will Travel" trucker hat. He has a long brown beard and is wearing a blue t-shirt, standing in a grassy outdoor field with event tents and blue sky in the background.

Music

Sam Farmer, Roc Helton will play John Prine songs in St. Pete on Tuesday

by Ray Roa April 2, 2026April 2, 2026

DJ and producer Rikinish smiling in a black baseball cap, holding a "Stay Tuned" cassette tape and a Lucky Records tote bag. He is standing in front of a shelf filled with vinyl records and CDs, including a copy of Frank Ocean’s "Blonde."

Music

USF hosts ‘Arthouse XXVI’ open studios and concert on Friday

Rikinish, a DJ from Hyogo prefecture rounds it out in support of a new album, ‘House Pigeon Vol. 2.’

by Ray Roa April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

The four members of the Illinois indie-rock band Clementine sitting on a curb together. They are laughing and smiling amidst fallen autumn leaves in front of a brick building with a black awning. The band members are dressed in casual sweaters, denim, and beanies.

Music

On Friday, indie-pop band Clementine plays comedy venue concert in Tampa

Co-founder Kelly Buttermore recently told CL that the Commodore has started hosting concerts.

by Ray Roa April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

Members of the St. Petersburg punk band Lot Lizards performing live. In the foreground, the bassist wears a "Fuck ICE" t-shirt and plays a sticker-covered bass guitar, while the drummer plays in the background. The scene features a gritty, outdoor concert vibe with graffiti visible on the walls.

Music

Lot Lizards headline Friday concert benefiting Tampa Bay trans community

A donation will be collected at Deviant Libation.

by Ray Roa April 1, 2026April 2, 2026

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Tampa chef Bryce Bonsack is a James Beard award finalist for ‘Best Chef’ in the South

His nomination ends a recent Bay area drought in the coveted American culinary prize.

by Ray Roa April 1, 2026April 1, 2026

Nate Siegel, founder of Cheeky’s, and Chef Julie Sainte Michelle Feliciano, founder of Lucky Tigre, sitting at a wooden outdoor table during a pop-up event. Nate wears a "Cheeky’s St. Pete" hat, while Julie is seated next to a spread of Filipino cuisine, including lumpia and colorful tropical cocktails.

West Tampa and the beach collide when Cheeky’s and Lucky Tigre collab this month

There are two seatings for a kamayan seafood boil.

by Ray Roa March 31, 2026April 1, 2026