Show Previews Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

Josh Groban stands against a light gray concrete wall, facing the camera with a relaxed, thoughtful expression. His dark wavy hair and neatly trimmed beard frame his face, and he wears a dark suede jacket over a black shirt. Soft, even lighting and the minimalist background create a warm, understated portrait.

Music

Q&A: Before Tampa show, Josh Groban talks new album and ‘Sweeney Todd’

Attend the tale.

by Josh Bradley June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

In terms of his stage life, just before Christmas last year, Mr. “You Raise Me Up” took to “The Jennifer Hudson Show” to help announce a limited, co-headlining tour with the EGOT host of the talk show. And based on how well his baritone and Hudson’s soprano blended together on “Unchained Melody”—which also appears on Cinematic—you’d think that this summer tour was ages in the making.

A stark, flash-lit nighttime portrait captures indie-rock outfit The Runarounds huddled close against an pitch-black backdrop of tangled branches, channeling raw, basement-show energy.

Music

Before St. Pete show, The Runarounds’ Zendé Murdock recalls an album that changed his life

Funny how the universe works.

by Josh Bradley June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

Music

Tampa Bay’s best live music happening June 12-18

Including Displace’s album release, the Andy Karpay memorial, Old Mervs, Öona Dahl and more.

by Ray Roa and Josh Bradley June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

A wide, eye-level, live performance photograph of the band Fast Preacher recording at WMNF in Tampa, Florida. In the foreground, a guitarist with wavy brown hair, wearing a cream-colored button-down shirt and headphones, plays an electric guitar while facing toward the center of the room. To their left, another band member wearing a tan t-shirt plays a separate electric guitar. In the background, a third band member is seated at a piano, also wearing headphones and playing into a studio microphone. The studio features teal-colored walls, wood flooring, and an 'EXIT' sign illuminated in red above a doorway in the background.

Music

Funky, soulful, Florida expat Fast Preacher is back in Tampa on Thursday

Katara and Antro Banks open this stacked bill.

by Ray Roa June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

A close-up, outdoor portrait of rapper Milli Moon. They are looking directly at the camera with a confident, composed expression. They have long, dark-green-tinted locs styled with side-swept bangs framing their face. They are wearing a neon-green, short-sleeved shirt with a black collar and a delicate silver heart-shaped pendant necklace. A small, subtle nose stud is visible. The background is a soft-focus, nighttime outdoor setting with string lights and dark, blurred foliage, creating an intimate, moody atmosphere.

Music

Tampa’s queen of trill, Milli Moon, is part of the ‘All Black’ showcase coming to Tampa on Wednesday

Aych brings Cypher vibes to Crowbar one last time.

by Ray Roa June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

A close-up, candid video-still portrait of chef Nicole Hoffer. They are smiling broadly and looking slightly off-camera with a joyful expression. They have blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail with loose bangs framing their face. They are wearing large, transparent-frame glasses, bright red lipstick, and a white chef's coat. A dark-blue scarf with a gold star pattern is visible around their neck. The background is softly blurred, showing a bright, neutral-toned interior kitchen environment.

Music

Nicole Hoffer plays Tuesday jazz jam at Tampa’s Black History Museum

Her sound is familiar to local jazz fans who’ve seen her at DI Coffee Bar, or alongside Mai Sweet Basil and the Rod Alnord Quartet.

by Ray Roa June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

A medium-shot portrait of the indie-rock duo Old Mervs standing against a plain, white-painted brick wall. On the left, a band member with short, dark hair and a mustache is wearing a light-blue, button-down short-sleeved shirt. On the right, a band member with shoulder-length, wavy blonde hair and a mustache is wearing a dark-red t-shirt underneath a navy blue corduroy jacket. Both are facing the camera directly, positioned in bright, natural, direct sunlight that creates soft shadows against the wall behind them.

Music

Young Australian rock duo Old Mervs lands in Tampa this weekend

Another Aussie outfit, Ra Ra Viper, opens.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

A medium-shot, live event photograph of rapper Jay-Z at Wembley Stadium in London. They are wearing a black beanie, circular wire-rimmed sunglasses, a black jacket over a high-collared light-gray windbreaker, and are flashing a peace sign with their right hand. They have long, braided hair framing their face and are smiling warmly. The background is a dense, blurred crowd of thousands of fans in the stadium stands, with many people wearing white and holding up commemorative scarves, creating a vibrant, energetic atmosphere.

Music

A Jay-Z tribute comes to Water Street Tampa on Sunday

Wild 94.1-FM’s Joey Franchize pays respects to Hov at Alter Ego.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

A medium-shot, outdoor photograph of two band members from Dogsmiles at the beach. On the left, a person with a dark beard and many arm tattoos is wearing a black head covering, white sunglasses, and green swim trunks; they are holding a blue aluminum beverage can in their right hand. On the right, a person with short brown hair is wearing yellow-tinted snorkeling goggles, a yellow bikini top, and light-blue bikini bottoms. They are standing on a white sand beach with the turquoise ocean and a clear sky in the background.

Music

Jacksonville anarcho-punk band Dogsmiles plays birthday concert in Tampa this weekend

Marinda from Tiger 54 is bringing a bunch of buds to Why Not.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

Music

Öona Dahl kicks off Serious Soul-Hallucienda residency in St. Pete

Her Saturday set is one of three big shows coming to The Nest at St. Pete Brewing.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

A medium-shot, live performance photograph of members of The Applebutter Express on stage at the Gasparilla Music Festival at Kiley Gardens in Tampa, Florida. In the foreground, a woman with long, straight light-brown hair is wearing black-rimmed sunglasses and a black long-sleeved shirt, singing passionately into a microphone. Beside them, to the left, a man with short brown hair, also wearing black-rimmed sunglasses and a black graphic t-shirt, is playing an acoustic guitar while singing into their own microphone. Both are illuminated by bright, soft outdoor light, with blurred trees and festival stage structures visible in the background.

Music

Applebutter Express headlines concert benefiting Gulfport’s Gabber newspaper

Donations will be accepted at The Blueberry Patch this weekend.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

A close-up, outdoor live-performance photograph of musician Andy Karpay playing the mandolin. Karpay, in the foreground, is wearing a brown felt cowboy hat, wire-rimmed glasses, and a long-sleeved, dark brown button-down shirt with a textured pattern. They have a graying beard and are smiling warmly at the camera while strumming the mandolin. Behind them, partially visible in the frame, another musician wearing a tan cowboy hat and a light-green long-sleeved shirt plays an acoustic guitar. The background shows an outdoor park setting with dappled sunlight through trees, and a small white banner in the distance that partially reads 'DEL'.

Music

Deviant Libation hosts bluegrass jam for Tampa mandolin player Andy Karpay

Karpay’s son, Deviant brewer Tim Ogden, has also revived a ‘NDK’ American wheat to celebrate.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 12, 2026

A wide, eye-level, live performance photograph of the band Displace performing inside the Emerald Bar in St. Petersburg, Florida. In the center, a musician is playing a saxophone into a microphone. To the left, a guitarist in a light green t-shirt is playing an electric guitar, while a bassist stands partially obscured behind them. To the right of the saxophonist, another band member plays a second saxophone, and another musician stands further to the right. The stage area is dimly lit with colorful stage lighting, and the background reveals the cozy, wood-paneled interior and classic dive-bar atmosphere of the Emerald Bar.

Music

Displace releases ‘Necessity’ at the band’s final Crowbar show

The venue is set to close before August, and Displace’s new album is the last piece of a four-part concept.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

A medium-shot, indoor portrait of musician Tim Kasher sitting at a dimly lit, high-end bar. They are wearing a charcoal-gray suit jacket over a light blue button-down shirt with a dark, patterned tie. Kasher is captured in a candid moment, looking off-camera and upward while holding a martini glass to their lips. The background is a warm, upscale bar interior, softly lit by circular wall sconces and featuring a dark, polished counter and a hint of holiday-style decorative lighting in the distance.

Music

Cursive songwriter Tim Kasher comes to Tampa on Friday

Appleseed Cast’s Christopher Crisci opens alongside Shae Krispinsky.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

A medium-shot, stage-performance photograph of percussionist and singer Sheila E. performing live at the Gainey Vineyard in Santa Ynez, California. They are positioned behind a large, shiny Zildjian cymbal, with a microphone on a stand positioned in front of them. Their face is illuminated by warm, stage-side lighting, and they are smiling while looking off-camera to the right. The background is dark and indistinct, highlighting the subject and the reflective surface of the cymbal in the foreground.

Music

Clearwater Jazz Holiday’s 2026 lineup includes Sheila E., Chris Botti, Larkin Poe, Wood Brothers, Dumpstaphunk and more

In its 47th year, Clearwater Jazz Holiday arrives complete with free viewing areas at Coachman Park.

by Ray Roa June 11, 2026June 11, 2026

Daniel Caesar posing in a black jacket and jeans.

Music

Daniel Caesar brings first headline arena tour to Tampa next month

Faye Webster opens the ‘Son of Spergy’ tour at Benchmark on July 23.

by Alisha Durosier June 8, 2026June 8, 2026

Music

Snail Mail and Soccer Mommy bring co-headlining tour to Tampa this fall

Refill your SSRI.

by Selene San Felice June 5, 2026June 5, 2026

Portrait of Tampa Bay songwriter Fessi K wearing a green and tan letterman-style varsity jacket. She has reddish-brown braided hair adorned with butterfly clips and beads, posing outdoors in front of a modern white building and a hilly landscape.

Music

Tampa Bay’s best live music happening June 4-10

Including a bunch of Crowbar concerts, the Sector.FM fundraiser and more.

by Ray Roa, Josh Bradley and J.C. Roddy June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

Studio portrait of singer Kali Uchis looking upward with a dramatic gaze. She is styled with vibrant blue eyeliner, a dark hair updo, and chunky silver jewelry, holding her hands under her chin against a neutral background.

Music

Colombian-American R&B star Kali Uchis brings fempower tour to Tampa this month

The show with Mariah The Scientist and Laila is ‘worth the wait.’

by Josh Bradley June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

A medium-shot portrait of country singer-songwriter Sunny Sweeney. They have long, wavy, blonde hair with bangs framing their face and are smiling warmly while looking slightly off-camera to the right. They are wearing a black leather jacket adorned with prominent metallic studs along the lapels and sleeves. The background is a clean, minimalist, light gray studio backdrop that keeps the focus entirely on the subject.

Music

Country songwriter and Sirius XM DJ Sunny Sweeney brings a ‘Rhinestone Requiem’ to Tampa

Willie’s Roadhouse comes to the Skipperdome on June 11.

by Ray Roa June 4, 2026June 4, 2026