Tonight in live music; Diplo on the beach, Gringo Star, Collie Buddz & more

Diplo Wesley Pentz has come a long way since his days at the University of Central Florida. The 37-year-old better known as Diplo is now considered an EDM gatekeeper who can not only keep guys like Justin Bieber from evaporating into insignificance, but relaunch them into international stardom despite their shortcomings. His travel book “128 Beats Per Minute” is almost a decade old, but it’s a timeless, inspiring look into his global, endless search for new sounds. Haters may see a minstrel leading EDM-bros on a beach if they come to this, but they should know that near every strain of popular music wouldn’t be the same had Pentz never arrived on the scene. (Beach Bar, Tampa) INFO

Gringo Star w/FayRoy/The Jackettes Community radio station WMNF plucks Atlanta psych-rock out of the sweaty clubs we’re used to seeing them in and sticks ‘em underneath Tampa’s iconic Skipperdome for a set in support of their brand new LP, The Sides and In Between, where Nicholas and Peter Furgiuele have all but perfected their addicting take on 60s pop harmonies plus the kind of fuzzy, jangle guitar rock we’d expect to hear coming out of our teenage neighbor’s garage. We’re sorry to have to type this next sentence, but just so there isn’t any confusion, this show is not an appearance by a Spanish-language Beatles tribute and it’s certainly not a booking featuring the Fab Four drummer. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa) INFO

St. Petersburg College Madrigalians w/Sine Nomine A madrigal is a form of chamber music arranged for voice. You’d have to go back to the 14th century to find a time when it was revolutionary, but the style endures thanks to its countless devotees and folks like Saint Petersburg College professor Dr. Vernon Taranto, who leads the college’s Madrigalians through this exploration of folk yarns and fairy tales beloved by American children way back in the day. This is another free show, but donations are being accepted. Howie Day, in his awkward days, can be seen below attempting to give contemporary context to the art form. (St. Petersburg College Music Center, St. Petersburg) INFO

East Meets West: A Cross-Cultural Experience Part II The University of South Florida taps students, professors and visiting scholar Zhan Jingyi to utilize traditionally Eastern instruments like the guzheng (sort of like a Chinese sit-down harp), pipa and lute along with Western ones like piano and flute as they all work through Korean art songs, Chinese traditionals, and works by award-winning Chih Chun Lee. This event is free. (University of South Florida Barness Recital Hall, Tampa) INFO

Acme Jazz Garage If you simply want some chimichangas with your jazz-fusion, then head to Seminole Heights, where Ella’s stages their famous Soul Food Sundays and Tampa’s own Acme Jazz Garage play tunes to sooth your full belly. (Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe, Tampa) INFO

ALSO PLAYING

Rise Up Sunday Sessions: Collie Buddz w/The Movement/Sam The Jungle Man/more (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) INFO

Summer Cicada/Outside Atlas,/Marie Spear (The Bunker, Tampa) INFO

Heatstroke 2 w/Bay Sir/Jbolts/Ccapöne/Palm Pact/more (Venture Compound, St. Petersburg) INFO

Jeffrey Osborne w/Gerald Albright (Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg) INFO

Yovannis Roque (Sun City Center Community Hall, Sun City Center) INFO

Herman's Hermits (Lakeland Center, Lakeland) INFO

See more events at CL's events page.

This article appears in Oct 20-27, 2016.