Music News Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

Music

Photos: Evanescence and friends bring Tampa to life

50,000 tears were cried.

by Caitlin Carter and Josh Bradley June 18, 2026June 18, 2026

Longtime ride-or-dies, and fans that couldn’t get enough of Amy Lee’s powerhouse vocals while opening for My Chemical Romance’s Raymond James Stadium concert last September convened at the still-roofless Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre last Friday. The femme-power had a strong presence all night too, with both Canadian prog-metal quartet Spiritbox and British rap-rock duo Nova […]

Music

Photos: Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson make country cool again in Tampa

Hillbilly blood.

by Caesar Carbajal and Josh Bradley June 18, 2026June 18, 2026

An architectural rendering of the proposed Live Nation music venue in Ybor City at twilight. The multi-story building features a classic red-brick exterior with industrial-style windows. A long, illuminated marquee sign projects horizontally from the center of the facade, casting light onto the glass-walled entrance lobby below. Vertical LED light strips are integrated into the brickwork along the left side of the structure. The building is situated on a street corner with wet, reflective pavement, and the text 'MUSIC VENUE' is subtly overlaid in the upper left corner against a cloudy, dusk-colored sky.

Music

Citing grand oak, Tampa officials delay development of controversial Live Nation venue in Ybor City

The Barrio Latino Commission will return on July 28 to discuss the tree and other issues.

by Leif Helland and Ray Roa May 28, 2026May 28, 2026

A medium, eye-level indoor photograph of Tom DeGeorge testifying at a witness table during a congressional hearing. They have a short, neatly trimmed graying beard and are wearing a dark suit jacket over a black collared shirt. They are leaning forward with a serious expression, speaking directly into a black gooseneck microphone. On the polished wooden table in front of them rests a white printed nameplate and a stack of printed documents. In the softly blurred background, the formal, dark wood-paneled walls and the elevated dais of the House Committee on the Judiciary room are visible under bright, even interior lighting.

Music

In fiery testimony, Tampa venue owner Tom DeGeorge calls Live Nation ‘the hogs at the top’

Last month, a federal jury said that the promotions company and its subsidiary Ticketmaster operate a monopoly.

by Ray Roa May 20, 2026May 20, 2026

A dynamic, wide-angle live concert photograph taken from the stage behind the band Rohna, looking out into a packed, enthusiastic audience at Crowbar. In the center foreground, a band member with long brown hair, wearing an open gray short-sleeve shirt over a white t-shirt, is playing a black electric guitar or bass. Behind them, another member wearing a green t-shirt has both arms raised high toward the crowd. To the far left, a drummer is partially visible playing a drum kit in front of a massive, brightly lit LED screen displaying a vibrant, colorful psychedelic pattern. In the bottom right foreground, a keyboard rests on a stand. The dense crowd is pressed against the stage, cheering, smiling, and raising their hands under dim overhead venue lighting.

Music

Photos: Everyone having the time of their lives when Rohna played its final ‘Indie Night’ at Crowbar

Now, the series will look for a new home as it seeks to re-create the vibe in the wake of the Ybor City venue’s imminent closure this summer.

by Ray Roa and Dave Decker May 18, 2026May 18, 2026

A dark, high-contrast live concert photograph of punk singer-songwriter Laura Jane Grace performing on stage. Captured from the waist up, they stand in front of a microphone stand with their wet hair completely obscuring their face. They are wearing a black harness-style top over a white shirt with a blue graphic, and their heavily tattooed arms are illuminated by cool blue stage lighting. Directly behind their head, a brilliant red-orange stage light shines directly into the camera lens, creating a striking halo and starburst effect against the pitch-black background.

Music

Photos: Laura Jane Grace plays Ybor City’s Zodiac nightclub

Black Guy Fawkes and Lung opened the show.

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

A direct-flash, nighttime photograph of four smiling concertgoers posing together during Static Fest at The Moontower. From left to right: an individual with a mustache wearing a black graphic t-shirt that reads 'PUNK SAVES'; a person with dark hair and red bangs wearing a black top; an individual with glasses wearing a reddish-brown t-shirt that reads 'LET'S SETTLE THIS LIKE ADULTS'; and a person wearing a black-and-white zebra-striped short-sleeve button-down shirt. Behind the group, the venue's industrial background is visible, featuring a corrugated metal roll-up door on the left and a brick wall on the right.

Music

Photos: Everyone we saw when Static Fest sold out The Moon Tower at Dunedin Brewery

Wes Hoffman & Friends were joined by a host of homegrown punk bands.

by Ray Roa and Ryan Metcalf May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

A vibrant, medium shot of musician Steven Van Zandt standing behind a bar, serving drinks to a crowd. He is wearing their signature purple head wrap, tinted round glasses, and a multi-colored, crushed purple velvet jacket. Van Zandt holds a bottle of liquor in one hand and a short glass in the other, pointing enthusiastically out toward the viewer. The background features a brightly lit, fully stocked liquor shelf and the blurred faces of smiling patrons watching the event.

Music

Q&A: At Hard Rock Tampa, Steven Van Zandt explains why he couldn’t make ‘Sun City’ today [PHOTOS]

Springsteen’s 75-year-old right hand man was launching his new Malvado Maple Mezcal.

by Josh Bradley May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

A live concert photograph of Brittany Howard, lead vocalist and guitarist for Alabama Shakes, performing on stage. Howard is captured from the chest up, singing passionately into a black microphone while playing a teal electric guitar with a yellow headstock. They have short dark hair, are wearing clear round glasses, and are dressed in a distinctive, voluminous light blue jacket covered in thick fringe. The stage behind them is illuminated by moody purple and green lighting, highlighting soft, cloud-like scenic props.

Music

Review: At Clearwater show, Alabama Shakes remind fans the band is always evolving

The April 30 performance blended early hits, deep emotion, and new songs into a set driven by memory and momentum.

by J.C. Roddy and Sandra Dohnert May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

A dynamic, close-up shot of William Beckett, lead singer of The Academy Is..., performing live on stage. He is captured in a moment of high energy, leaning into a microphone held in his right hand while flashing a peace sign with his left. He has mid-length, wavy brown hair falling over his face and is wearing a dark button-down shirt featuring a bold, pink floral pattern. The lighting is warm and golden, highlighting a tattoo on his left wrist and a delicate silver necklace. The background features the blurred architectural details of a concert venue ceiling and stage lights.

Music

Photos: The Academy Is brings stacked, mid-aughts emo gig to Ybor City

Hard hearts were crashing in a crowded room.

by Caitlin Carter and Josh Bradley April 27, 2026April 27, 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

Music

Florida among states to win in fight against Live Nation-Ticketmaster

A Live Nation rep said, ‘The jury’s verdict is not the last word on this matter.’

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix April 17, 2026April 17, 2026

Music

Billy Strings was shredding at Skate Park of Tampa this week

Billy Strings? More like Billy Shreds.

by Colin Wolf April 9, 2026April 9, 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

A high-energy live concert photograph of the band Poison The Well performing at Crowbar in Tampa on March 23, 2026. Vocalist Jeffrey Moreira, with a beard and wearing a black t-shirt, shouts into a microphone on the left. Beside them, a guitarist in a white t-shirt plays a light-colored electric guitar with an intense, open-mouthed expression. Several fans' arms are raised in the foreground, reaching toward the stage under blue and white stage lights.

Music

Photos: Poison The Well brings comeback tour to Crowbar in Ybor City

Tampa band Contention opened.

by Ray Roa, Kirsten Clauser and Dave Decker March 24, 2026March 24, 2026

Music

Photos: Everyone we saw during 98RockFest at Clearwater’s BayCare Sound

Three Days Grace, I Prevail, and more took downtown Clearwater by storm.

by Caitlin Carter March 23, 2026March 23, 2026

High-angle aerial view of the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa. The iconic white tensile fabric roof covers the stage and seated pavilion, surrounded by green lawns and the sprawling parking areas of the Florida State Fairgrounds under a clear blue sky.

Music

‘Robbing them blind baby’: Evidence from Live Nation-Ticketmaster trial shows Tampa fans as the butt of a joke

The comments over exorbitant parking prices comes as Florida and other states continue to fight the concert giant.

by Ray Roa March 18, 2026March 18, 2026

Songwriter Betty Dawl performing as Eemmyy at Crowbar in Ybor City; she wears a ruffled pink top and sings into a microphone during a Women's Day concert.

Music

Photos: Ybor City packs Crowbar for International Women’s Day concert

Eemmyy curated a show that included Ari Chi, Shevonne, and more.

by Ray Roa March 9, 2026March 9, 2026

Music

Photos: Andrea Bocelli showcases his timeless-as-ever voice in Tampa

Oh mi amor.

by Ryan Kern March 3, 2026March 3, 2026

Music

Photos: Everyone we saw at Punk Black Tampa 2026

It was the festival’s last time at Crowbar, ahead of the venue’s closing this summer.

by Ray Roa and Ryan Metcalf March 2, 2026March 3, 2026