Tampa Bay Journalism Project Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

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

Tampa Bay’s best things to do this week include Red Bull cliff diving, ‘Love Island’ watch parties and more

Plus, Amy Goodman’s “Democracy Now” screening and “Salud and Happy Days” improv featuring Dave Decker.

by CL Staff June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

There’s a ton of stuff to do in Tampa Bay this week, including Redbull cliff diving, St. Pete Opera’s summer production of “La Boheme,” photographer Jesi Cason’s “Alt Tampa” exhibition, journalist Amy Goodman’s “Democracy Now” screening, and “Salud and Happy Days” improv featuring Dave Decker.

A medium-shot, eye-level photograph of New Zealand soccer defender Tim Payne captured during a training session. They have short dark hair and are wearing a black, sleeveless athletic training top. They are shown mid-air in a dynamic, athletic pose, striking a soccer ball with the instep of their right foot. The ball is positioned centrally in the frame, directly in front of their chest. The background is a soft, out-of-focus view of green trees and a pale, overcast sky, suggesting an outdoor sports complex.

Arts & Entertainment

Tim Payne, the World Cup’s fasting rising social media star, hits the field in Tampa this weekend

Despite England v. New Zealand’s star power, tickets are not selling for the match on Saturday.

by Liam Oliver June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

Comedian OmgItsWicks holds a flip phone with a perplexed expression against a bright blue sky

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay’s best stand up comedy gigs for June 2026

Including Omgitswicks, Godfrey and more.

by Michael Murillo June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

An eye-level exterior photograph of a multi-story, modern mixed-use apartment building in downtown Tampa, Florida, located at 105 W Tyler Street. The ground floor features large, floor-to-ceiling glass windows and a storefront entrance currently under construction, with dark-framed panes and visible interior framing. The building's exterior is light-colored concrete with industrial-style balconies above. A black trash receptacle stands on the sidewalk in the foreground, with trees and a clear blue sky in the background.

New Mexican restaurant La Victoria opening in downtown Tampa this fall

It’s a block away from another forthcoming Mexican restaurant, Matilde.

by Leif Helland June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

An architectural, low-angle shot of the iconic, bright blue sign of the Beach Theatre in St. Pete Beach, Florida. The vertical portion of the sign prominently displays the word 'THEATRE' in bold, white, capital letters. Beneath it, a horizontal marquee reads 'BEACH' in similar white, block lettering. The sign is set against a soft, pale, overcast sky, with the top of a palm tree visible in the upper-left corner and a dark, traditional-style street lamp visible on the left side of the frame.

Arts & Entertainment

Pulitzer-nominated play about the US Constitution comes to St. Pete Beach this summer

‘What The Constitution Means To Me’ opens just in time for America’s 250th birthday.

by Leif Helland June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

A medium-shot, action-oriented photograph of St. Petersburg Opera conductor Mark Sforzini leading an orchestra. They are wearing a formal white button-down shirt with a crisp navy blue vest and a matching bowtie. Their arms are raised, with their left hand holding a baton poised in the air and their right hand gesturing precisely to the ensemble. Their expression is one of intense focus and passion, looking slightly upward and to the right. The background is softly out of focus, revealing the rich, dark wood architecture of a performance venue and theatrical blue stage lighting.

Arts & Entertainment

To close 20th anniversary season, St. Pete Opera stages summer production of ‘La Boheme’

It runs at Palladium Theater from June 5-12.

by Marty Clear June 4, 2026June 4, 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

A tight, medium-shot portrait of singer-songwriter Steve Earle. They are facing the camera with a steady, intense expression. They have thinning gray hair, circular wire-rimmed glasses, and a long, pointed gray beard. They are wearing a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt with a subtle, small-scale patterned print. The subject is lit from the side by strong, warm light that highlights the texture of their face and beard, casting the opposite side of their face into shadow. The background is a dark, out-of-focus brick wall.

Music

Fresh off Steve Buscemi collaboration, ‘City of Immigrants’ songwriter Steve Earle returns to Clearwater

He’s at Capitol Theatre on June 11.

by Ray Roa June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

A medium-shot live concert photograph of mike mantione performing with the band Five Eight at Crowbar in Ybor City. Decker is centered, intensely focused, and playing an electric guitar. They are wearing a dark t-shirt with a graphic of a horned character and the text 'AMYL AND THE S...' partially visible. The stage is bathed in a dramatic, saturated green wash of light that highlights the condensation on the performer's forehead and hair. The background is dark and shadowy, with glimpses of stage equipment and venue wall texture visible in the periphery.

Music

American power-pop giant Five Eight returns to Ybor City with new LP in tow

The June 11 gig is the band’s final Crowbar concert.

by Ray Roa June 4, 2026June 4, 2026

A medium-shot, low-light indoor photograph of attendees mingling during the No Clubs Presents 'Scene & Heard' event at Crowbar in Ybor City. In the foreground, two people are engaged in conversation. The person on the left has short, reddish-brown hair and glasses, and is wearing a gray graphic t-shirt and light blue jeans while holding a clear plastic cup. The person on the right has short dark hair and is wearing a black leather jacket. In the softly focused background, several other attendees are standing and talking. The dimly lit venue features warm overhead pendant lighting and walls densely covered with music posters and band stickers.

Music

Tampa music industry panel will discuss DIY approach to making your own space 2026 events landscape

The no-cover discussion and networking session is part of No Clubs Presents’ Scene & Heard series.

by Ray Roa June 3, 2026June 3, 2026

Drag queen Discord Addams poses in a plaid punk look for her 'RuPual's Drag Race' werk room entrance

Arts & Entertainment

Post-‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ St. Pete’s Discord Addams wants to lead the punk revolution

The St. Pete drag queen caught up with CL before her ‘Emo Fest’ tour and headlining St. Pete Pride.

by Selene San Felice June 3, 2026June 3, 2026

A medium-shot outdoor portrait photograph of singer-songwriter Josh Rouse. They have short, swept-back graying dark hair and are wearing a light blue, short-sleeved button-down shirt featuring a tropical palm tree pattern. They are looking directly at the camera with a soft, relaxed smile. The background is softly out of focus, showing dark green foliage and hints of bright pink flowers under soft, natural lighting.

Music

Globetrotting indie-folk songwriter Josh Rouse plays intimate St. Pete concert at Kerouac house

Ella Jet opens on Saturday.

by Ray Roa June 3, 2026June 3, 2026

A top-down portrait photograph of two members of the Tampa band Pet Lizard lying in green grass surrounded by scattered colorful flowers. The member in the upper half of the frame is positioned upside down relative to the camera; they have a reddish-brown beard and are wearing a light blue and white vertically striped button-down shirt. The member in the lower half is right-side up, has dark hair, and is wearing a light, horizontally striped t-shirt. They are holding a pink and white daisy gently in front of their face, and the wooden body of an electric guitar is visible resting across their lap. Bright yellow, pink, magenta, and blue flowers dot the grass around their heads, creating a soft, artistic aesthetic.

Music

Emo Night Tampa’s no-cover 11th anniversary concert is also its last at Crowbar

The Saturday show is also Emo Night Tampa’s last show until Halloween.

by Ray Roa June 3, 2026June 3, 2026

A medium-shot live concert photograph of musician G. Love performing on stage. They are wearing a black tracksuit jacket with prominent white stripes down the sleeves, dark sunglasses, and a dark fedora-style hat. They are actively playing a black electric guitar with gold hardware while simultaneously utilizing a silver harmonica secured around their neck by a metal holder. Their head is tilted slightly upward toward a microphone as they perform. The background is a dark, shadowy stage environment punctuated by two bright, multi-bulb blue stage lights.

Music

Fresh off getting scammed over Bitcoin, Philly songwriter G. Love returns to Tampa Bay

Donavon Frankenreiter is back in town this weekend alongside Mr. Love.

by Ray Roa June 3, 2026June 3, 2026

A close-up, slightly high-angle shot of Stewart Copeland, the drummer of The Police. He has white hair, is wearing black-rimmed glasses, and smiles warmly at the camera. He is wearing a grey t-shirt under an olive green jacket, seated in his home studio. To his left sits a full Tama drum kit with a reddish-brown sunburst finish. To his right, a busy wooden desk is filled with papers, a pair of reading glasses, a vintage green stapler, and a bag of Trader Joe's Olive & Herbs Mixed Nuts. The background features a large, floor-to-ceiling wooden bookshelf packed with books, instruments, and music memorabilia.

Music

Interview: Ahead of Clearwater appearance, The Police’s Stewart Copeland talks jazz and making music with animal sounds

Bombs away.

by Josh Bradley June 1, 2026June 1, 2026

A side-by-side split photograph featuring musicians Ziggy Marley and Warren Haynes. In the left panel, Ziggy Marley is performing live on stage, bathed in bright blue lighting. They have long dreadlocks and are wearing a brown, short-sleeved patterned shirt, passionately singing into a red microphone with their head tilted back while playing a sunburst electric guitar. In the right panel, Warren Haynes of Gov't Mule is seated indoors against a textured, softly lit pink and purple wall. They have long blonde hair and are wearing a black long-sleeved top and dark jeans, looking down intently at the frets of a light-colored electric guitar as they play.

Music

Gov’t Mule and Ziggy Marley bring ‘Dreaming the Same Dream’ tour—and Yola—to Clearwater this fall

Despite varying sounds and intensities, the two acts have long shared a similar message.

By J.C. Roddy/Cigar City SoundsJune 1, 2026June 1, 2026

A bright, eye-level photograph of Kenya and St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch smiling together at St. Pete Pride 2024. On the left, Kenya is wearing a dark, team-style baseball jersey with 'TEAM PRIDE' printed in yellow across the chest. They have warm, auburn-tinted locs and are waving to the crowd with their right hand. On the right, Mayor Welch is wearing a bright purple t-shirt with the text 'WE ARE St. Pete' printed in white, a matching purple-and-white St. Petersburg city baseball cap, and a gold-toned beaded necklace. Mayor Welch is holding a long string of colorful Mardi Gras-style beads in their hands. Both are captured against a clear, sunny sky, with the blurred faces of parade attendees visible in the foreground.

Ken Welch, and his opponents in St. Pete mayoral race, weigh in on Florida’s anti-DEI law

‘They can’t tell you what celebration to go to.’

by Jasmin Parrado June 1, 2026June 1, 2026

A medium-shot portrait of artist Jesi Cason posing in front of a gallery wall covered with a grid of vibrant, colorful, and moodily lit photographic prints at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts in Ybor City. Cason is looking directly at the camera with a soft, contemplative expression, resting their chin on their hand. They have bright, two-toned orange and blonde hair, and are wearing a simple black tank top. Their arms are heavily covered in intricate, dark-ink tattoos. The background is a dense collage of small, square-formatted portraits, each bathed in saturated, neon-like stage colors—including deep blues, bright greens, and intense reds—that contrast sharply with Cason’s own monochrome attire.

Arts & Entertainment

Photographer Jesi Cason showcases ‘Alt Tampa’ at exhibition closing on June 14

Saint Petersburg Month of Photography’s Photo Laureate speaks to art lovers during a gallery talk on May 31.

by Ray Roa May 30, 2026May 30, 2026