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.

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.

Food & Drink

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

American diver Kaylea Arnett performing a tuck-position dive from a 21-meter platform cantilevered off the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. Below, a massive crowd watches from the pier and spectator boats in the harbor during the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series finale.

Arts & Entertainment

Red Bull’s cliff diving series comes to the St. Pete Pier this summer

Red Bull says that athletes typically dive into water that is 3-5 meters in depth (about 10-16 feet).

by Ray Roa March 31, 2026May 29, 2026

Three women smiling and holding themed green drink containers at the Taco, Tequila, and Tiki Takedown at Hotel Flor in Tampa. They are standing in a crowded event space with a "Top Shelf" branded banner in the background.

Food & Drink

Photos: Everyone we saw getting tipsy for Tequila & Tiki Takedown at Tampa’s Hotel Flor

The event formerly known as Margarite Wars happened last Friday.

by Ray Roa and Nick Cardello March 30, 2026March 30, 2026

A protester in Downtown Tampa holds a sign featuring a stylized image of a man in a "Vote for Pedro" shirt, edited to say "Vote for Ped*o," during a "No Kings" rally on March 28, 2026. Tall city buildings and a crowd of demonstrators are visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

News & Views

‘Vote For Pedo’: At least 2,000 ‘No Kings’ protestors come to downtown Tampa

Many signs centered on Donald Trump’s appearances in the Epstein files.

by Ray Roa and Dave Decker March 30, 2026March 30, 2026

Brian Nathan, a U.S. Navy veteran from Tampa, walks in a parade.

News & Views

No recount after Hillsborough Democrat flips Florida Senate seat, says division of elections

Brian Nathan beat Republican Josie Tomkow by 405 votes.

by Ray Roa March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Music

Jazz trio Arenas, Lasky & Nash Project bring new album to Tampa this weekend

Expect to hear a lot of Bachy’s material along with original work from the revered local musicians.

by Ray Roa March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Music

Food Not Bombs hosts a food drive and benefit show in Tampa this weekend

The event benefits both a local community fridge and the Food Not Bombs chapter in Gaza.

by Ray Roa March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Music

Floating Boy, Deep Bite and more lead another stacked Emo Night Tampa

Homegrown grunge-rock trio Hovercar are also in the mix.

by Ray Roa March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

A warm, interior portrait of rockabilly artist Shaun Young. They are sitting in a cozy room, smiling broadly at the camera while holding a vintage-style sunburst hollow-body electric guitar. They are wearing a black t-shirt and a classic tan fedora. Behind them to the right, a second acoustic guitar rests in a red armchair in front of a brick fireplace. The room is filled with musical instruments, including a piano and a wooden bookshelf, creating an intimate, home-studio atmosphere.

Music

High Noon’s Shaun Young coming to Tampa for this weekend’s Rockabilly Battle Royale

The get together is a full on revival of the storied American sound.

by Ray Roa March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

A professional studio portrait of DJ Emmpowerr against a dark grey background. The artist has bright copper-orange curly hair and is wearing a black-and-white horizontally striped long-sleeve shirt. They are holding a black Hercules DJ controller close to their chest with both hands, looking at the camera with a soft smile. The lighting is focused on the artist, creating a high-contrast, intimate feel.

Music

‘Rentfest’ house concert brings together an eclectic bill of Florida artists

There will be more than a dozen bands on two stages.

by Ray Roa March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Music

Los Angeles power-pop band Redd Kross plays Tampa’s Orpheum

Conan Neutron and the Secret Friends and Barely Pink are also on the bill.

by Ray Roa March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

A stylized group portrait of the four-member rock band Florida. On the far left, frontman Billy Summer stands with arms crossed, wearing a tan trucker jacket, a red patterned headband, and large aviator sunglasses with a red-and-white frame. To their right, three other band members pose against a deep red velvet stage curtain. The second member has long dark hair and dark glasses; the third wears a black hat and coat with a floral shirt; and the fourth, on the far right, wears a white fedora-style hat and a dark jacket. The lighting is dramatic, casting a moody glow over the group.

Music

Tampa’s Rock The Park brings Florida, Jacob Marcello and more to Curtis Hixon

Plus, Bill. finally gets to bring a loud, unforgiving debut LP, Wimmer, to the Curt.

by Ray Roa March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Music

Tampa Bay’s best live music happening March 27-April 2

by Ray Roa and Josh Bradley March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

Investigative journalist Amy Goodman crouches in the street to interview a protester during a rally in Milwaukee. Goodman, wearing a navy blue long-sleeve shirt and a black baseball cap, holds a microphone up toward a person in a black t-shirt and jeans who is shouting through a blue megaphone. In the background, a diverse crowd of protesters holds signs, including one that reads 'No Justice, No Peace.' Other members of the media, including a camera operator in a lime green shirt, are visible in the busy urban setting.

News & Views

Amy Goodman is bringing ‘Democracy Now!’ documentary to Tampa this summer

The new, approximately 100-minute, film explores the life and career of Goodman, her countless stints on the frontlines of history, and a tenacious pursuit of truth-telling still unrivaled in mainstream journalism.

by Ray Roa March 26, 2026March 27, 2026