Show Previews Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

Four people pose for a group portrait in front of a white draped backdrop. One person stands in the center back wearing a green bandeau top and a matching wrap, while three others are seated in front of them: one on the left in a tan textured suit, one in the center foreground on a red plastic crate wearing a white tank top and green trousers, and one on the right in a brown button-down set. They are positioned on a brown rug, and a potted palm tree is visible on the far left.

Music

Tampa Bay’s best live music happening May 8-14

Including Chuwi, Tunnel Vision, Sulynn Hago and more.

by Ray Roa and Josh Bradley May 8, 2026May 8, 2026

Tampa Bay’s live music is here, and it has tunnel vision thanks Chemical Lex and friends who’re launching a new club night in St. Petersburg this weekend. That gig is just part of a packed listing of Tampa Bay’s best live music happening May 8-14, including shows from Kid Cudi, Chuwi, Sulynn Hago and more. […]

A wide-angle establishing photograph of a large crowd attending an outdoor concert at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park. In the foreground, dozens of attendees are relaxed in colorful folding lawn chairs, predominantly blue, spread across a massive grassy field. The crowd faces a large, distant stage structure set up for the performance. The scene is illuminated by late afternoon sunlight, which casts long, prominent shadows from the chairs across the grass. In the background, trees and the tops of Tampa's downtown skyline are visible against a clear, cloudless sky.

Music

The Florida Orchestra’s free Mother’s Day concert is back in Tampa

Bring canned foods, dry good, breakfast items and other donations for the Feeding Tampa Bay collection.

by Ray Roa May 8, 2026May 8, 2026

A moody studio portrait of musician Sulynn Hago sitting casually on the floor against a seamless grey backdrop. They are holding a dark electric guitar across their lap. They have dark, textured hair and are wearing yellow-tinted glasses, a black suit jacket over a dark shirt, black trousers, and white sneakers. With their legs splayed out comfortably, they rest one hand near their chin, looking thoughtfully off-camera to the left. The lighting is soft and dramatic, creating a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.

Music, Show Previews, Tampa Bay Journalism Project

Sulynn Hago, one of Tampa’s best guitar players, comes home for Thursday concert

Her band includes TGH’s Chief of Emergency Medicine at Tampa General Hospital, Jason Wilson.

by Ray Roa May 8, 2026May 8, 2026

A vibrant promotional portrait of the artist Young & Sick seated in a dark blue chair against a digital backdrop of outer space filled with stars and purple nebulae. They have short brown hair and light stubble, and are looking thoughtfully off-camera to the right. They are wearing a brightly colored, heavy knit cardigan featuring bold stripes of blue, yellow, red, and purple with thick fringes, layered over a white t-shirt with black line-art graphics. Their outfit is completed with black pants patterned with abstract white shapes. The bright, even lighting highlights the rich textures and eclectic mix of patterns against the moody cosmic background.

Music

Young & Sick among bands coming to Ybor City for last-ever ‘Hot Dog Party’

Legendary Tampa concert venue Crowbar will close before August.

by Ray Roa May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

A wide live concert photograph of Laura Jane Grace & The Mississippi Medicals performing on a dimly lit stage. In the center foreground, Laura Jane Grace, featuring dark curly hair and heavily tattooed arms, smiles widely while playing a black electric guitar and wearing a black tank top. The scene is illuminated by striking white beams from above and warm orange stage lights, with a packed crowd visible in the background.

Music

Tampa Bay’s best live music happening May 1-7

Including Laura Jane Grace, Tampa Riverfest, and more.

by Ray Roa May 1, 2026May 4, 2026

A dynamic, live concert photograph of punk singer-songwriter Laura Jane Grace performing on stage. Grace is captured from the waist up, singing passionately into a microphone stand with their mouth wide open. They have curly dark hair, heavily tattooed arms, and are wearing a black graphic tank top.

Music

Laura Jane Grace returns to Ybor City for Tuesday concert

UPDATE: This show has been moved to Ybor City.

by Ray Roa May 1, 2026May 4, 2026

A close-up studio portrait of the singer-songwriter Steve Forbert against a plain, light-colored background. They are wearing a classic black leather jacket, with one hand resting gently across their chest. Wisps of white hair are partially visible against the bright backdrop. The lighting is soft and even, highlighting the texture of the leather and their relaxed, contemplative posture.

Music

‘Romeo’s Tune’ songwriter Steve Forbert plays sold-out St. Pete show this weekend

You cannot win.

by Ray Roa May 1, 2026May 2, 2026

A horizontal promotional photograph of the four-piece pop-punk band Wes Hoffman and Friends standing together in front of a red brick wall. The band members are huddled in a tight, affectionate embrace, smiling and laughing at the camera. From (L-R): a man with short blonde hair and a beard reaching his arm across the group; a man with a dark beard wearing a backward baseball cap; a man with a reddish beard, arm tattoos, and a dark baseball cap; and a bald man with a beard on the far right. All four are wearing casual dark t-shirts, projecting a friendly, high-energy camaraderie.

Music

Static Fest brings St. Louis punk bands to Dunedin on Saturday

Nearly a dozen acts are on the bill coming to The Moontower.

by Ray Roa April 30, 2026April 30, 2026

Sixpence None the Richer performing onstage

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa’s Riverfest brings Sixpence None the Richer, a water ski show and more this weekend

The eclectic two day celebration marks 10 years of Tampa’s modern Riverwalk.

by Kailey Aiken April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

A high-angle, wide-lens screengrab from the music video 'Home Run' by Credible. In the foreground, a young person with a goatee wearing a dark hoodie looks up at the camera, reaching one hand out toward the lens. Behind them, a young person wearing a black crop top and light blue denim shorts stands on an outdoor metal staircase, resting her hands behind her head. The subjects are enclosed by chain-link fencing, and the entire scene is bathed in warm, dramatic golden-hour sunlight that casts harsh, geometric shadows across the grated walkway.

Music

Tampa rapper Credible plays ‘Halfway to Halloween’ concert this weekend

Yes, there will be candy.

by Ray Roa April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

A heavily stylized, motion-blurred promotional photograph of the electronic pop duo Purity Ring. The image features a lo-fi, digital glitch aesthetic with horizontal static lines resembling VHS tracking. On the left, Corin Roddick is illuminated by cool, cyan-blue lighting, looking directly at the camera through the haze. On the right, vocalist Megan James is partially obscured in shadow, with warm red lighting hitting her chest and dark hair. The overall atmosphere is moody, ethereal, and cyber-inspired.

Music

Electro-pop duo Purity Ring plays St. Pete this weekend

A new, hazy, glitchy single, ‘Lemonlime,’ closes the door on the band’s 2025 self-titled record.

by Ray Roa April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

A wide daytime group photograph of roughly 30 attendees of a Tampa DSA walking tour gathered in Ybor City's Parque Amigos de José Martí. The diverse group is casually dressed, with a few individuals on the edges wearing bright yellow safety vests, posing and smiling together. Behind them stands a white statue of José Martí on a pedestal. The group is flanked by a United States flag on a flagpole to the left and a Cuban flag to the right. In the foreground, a distinct red and white striped brick pathway leads directly up to the group, surrounded by green grass and shaded by mature trees in the background.

Music

May Day concert hopes to close gap in Tampa DSA medical debt fundraiser

The socialists are just $1,500 away from canceling $1 million in debt for working class people.

by Ray Roa April 28, 2026April 28, 2026

A wide-angle fisheye photograph of a group of four friends laughing and posing at a Dyke Nite party in Tampa. The group is diverse in style, featuring vibrant outfits including a lime-green animal print shirt and a sheer black mesh top. They are throwing peace signs and hand gestures toward the camera under dim, red-tinted club lighting. The background shows a crowded, high-energy dance floor at an indoor venue like Crowbar in Ybor City.

Music

Dyke Night goes goth in Ybor City this weekend

New Age Tension, DJ Maus, plus Sector.FM’s DJ Taína and DJ Spur are on the bill.

by Ray Roa April 28, 2026April 28, 2026

Music

May 5 concert will benefit Tampa Bay Immigrant Solidarity Network

Earthgirl and comedic theater band PB&TAT are on the lineup.

by Ray Roa April 27, 2026April 27, 2026

Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes wearing sunglasses and a black "How we Love is who we are" shirt, posing energetically with bandmates Zac Cockrell and Steve Johnson in a dimly lit room.

Music

Tampa Bay’s best live music happening April 23-30

Including Alabama Shakes, Hanson, BTS, Monufest and more.

by Ray Roa, Josh Bradley and J.C. Roddy April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

Music

Former Stanley Turrentine guitarist Dave Stryker plays New Tampa jazz night on Saturday

He’s joined this weekend by Florida all-stars of the genre.

by Ray Roa April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

A photo of The Maine performing live. Lead singer John O'Callaghan stands center, wearing sunglasses and a black jacket, singing. The drummer, Pat Kirch, is visible in the background seated at his kit. The stage backdrop is a translucent banner featuring a large electric guitar silhouette.

Music

Alt-rock outfit The Maine headlines St. Pete concert on Tuesday

The diet soda society returns.

by Josh Bradley April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

Four members of the American band Boá posing in a white studio; featuring a woman in a white top and long skirt, a keyboardist in a blue jersey, and two guitarists.

Music, Show Previews, Tampa Bay Journalism Project

This weekend’s Tampa Black Heritage Festival includes a set from Boá

The jazzy pop band features a Blake High School alum.

by Ray Roa April 23, 2026April 23, 2026

A dynamic, low-angle live performance photo of the punk band The Tim Version on a small stage. In the center, a guitarist with a shaved head and glasses wears a blue 'SHIT DO' t-shirt and play a red Gibson SG electric guitar. To the right, another band member’s tattooed arm is thrust toward the camera, holding a small plastic cup of amber liquid in a 'cheers' gesture. The stage is bathed in warm red light, with a red velvet curtain in the background and a drum kit partially visible. The atmosphere is intimate and high-energy.

Music

Legendary Tampa punk band The Tim Version is playing one last Crowbar show this weekend

It also plays Monufest in New Port Richey and does Fest in Gainesville this fall.

by Ray Roa April 21, 2026April 23, 2026

A professional horizontal studio portrait of the band Hanson. On the left, Isaac Hanson wears a brown corduroy jacket over a dark shirt, holding an acoustic guitar. In the center and slightly behind, Zac Hanson rests their arms on their brothers' shoulders, wearing a blue and tan plaid shirt. On the right, Taylor Hanson wears a black shirt with a bright red bandana tied around their neck. The brothers are posed closely together against a solid brown background, looking directly at the camera with warm expressions.

Music

Hanson has been added to Busch Gardens’ Food, Wine & Garden Festival concert lineup

Isaac, Taylor, and Zac play the party on Saturday.

by Ray Roa April 21, 2026April 21, 2026