Last summer, Clearwater Jazz Holiday fans learned that the 2020 iteration of the fall festival was canceled due to the coronavirus. The 2021 version of the city’s marquee music festival, however, is 100% on for October 14-17 at a still undisclosed location since Coachman Park is undergoing renovations. Still, organizers never let off the gas pedal when it came to engaging supporters.
When asked about potential venues for the festival, Clearwater Jazz Holiday Executive Director Steve Weinberger told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, “We’ll know better and be able to comment later this spring,” adding that he’s been staying busy programming music to keep local artists and stage crew working.
To do that, the Jazz Holiday re-imagined the festivities—and kept money coming in to support the nonprofit mission of boosting music education in local schools—by staging a series of small-scale in-person events and concerts. Those “Wanderlust” events kicked off last month and are are scheduled through mid-December.
On April 9, Tampa-based outfit Acme Jazz Garage plays a sold-out show on the Evy’s Bistro rooftop, which can accommodate about 80 people, situated at first-come, first-served four-person hightops that put the performers at eye level with the audience. Other performers on the rooftop—located at 635 S Gulfview Blvd. in Clearwater Beach— include rock band Greg Billings (playing acoustic on May 14), Hot Tonic Orchestra (June 11), Brandon Robertson Trio with Dan Miller (Aug. 13), Jeremy Carter Rubber Band and James Suggs Quartet (Sept. 10) and Joe Marcinek (Nov. 12).
The Jazz Holiday Young Lions ensemble—joined by guests like LaRue Nickelson, Alex Malkovich and Carter—plays support at bistro dates on April 9 and June 11.
And if you want even more room to spread out, head downstairs where Jazz Holiday stages Wunderlust’s “Winter’s Beach Club Music Series” gigs right on Clearwater Beach (also 655 S Gulfview Blvd., part of the Ascend Hotel Collection) where seats are arranged on the sand, in groups of two or four with food and beverage delivered directly to patrons.
Music at the beach series includes “Bayou Americana” outfit Honey Island Swamp Band (playing two sets on April 15), the Moonflower Santana tribute (May 20), funky bar band favorite Black Honkeys (July 15) and Reverend Barry & the Funk (Aug. 19). Openers for those dates include an all-star “Go Go Beach Jam” and past CL 30-under-30 saxophonist Kyle Schroeder.
Masks are encouraged at all Wunderlust shows, which have other COVID-19 safety precautions including hand sanitizer and socially-distant seating and signage encouraging people to follow the rules.
Tickets for the bistro rooftop shows and $60 and $120 for tables of two or four. On the beach—where attendees may also bring their own blankets—tickets are $50 and $100 for pods or two or four people, including one chair and side table for each person.
More details are at clearwaterjazz.com/wanderlust.
Clearwater Jazz Wanderlust concert series
Evy’s Bistro
- April 9 Acme Jazz Garage w/CJH Young Lions Presents: Jazz Guitar Through The Ages Featuring Larue Nickelson And Alex Malkovich (sold out)
- May 14 Greg Billings & Tony Wagner (acoustic) w/Rob Stoney & Angelo Colura
- June 11 Hot Tonic Orchestra w/CJH Young Lions Presents: Tenor Madness Featuring Jeremy Carter And Alex Malkovich
- Aug. 13 Brandon Robertson Trio feat. Dan Miller w/CJH Presents: Young Lions – The Next Generation
- Sept 10 Jeremy Carter Rubber Band w/Monk Funk: The James Suggs Quartet Plays The Music Of Thelonious Monk
- Nov. 12 Joe Marcinek Band (sold out)
Winter’s Beach Club Music Series
- April 15 Honey Island Swamp Band
- May 20 Moonflower “The Spirit Of Santana” w/Go Go Beach Jam feat. Mark Feinman, Alejandro Arenas, John O’leary, Jeremy Carter & Rochelle Siddiq
- July 15 The Black Honkeys w/Sax & Beats feat. Kyle Schroeder
- August 19 Reverend Barry & The Funk w/Kid Royal Band
See a list of Tampa “Safe & Sound” live music venues here.
Support local journalism in these crazy days. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you up to the minute news on how Coronavirus is affecting Tampa and surrounding areas. Please consider making a one time or monthly donation to help support our staff. Every little bit helps.
Follow @cl_tampabay on Twitter and subscribe to our newsletter.
This article appears in Apr 1-7, 2021.