Downtown Tampa’s free ‘Summer Series’ concerts kick off Friday

In case you missed it, it’s dangerously hot out there. And while many of us will seek refuge indoors this summer, some still manage to find our way outside (sadly, others don’t have a choice). Tampeños who brave the climes, at least, will have a good soundtrack if they find their way to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park this month.

Last week, the Tampa Downtown Partnership and Brokenmold Entertainment finalized the lineup for their Summer Series, which is basically a month-long pop up underneath a big ass, 10,000-square-foot tent meant to keep park goers out of the sun (and sometimes the rain) as they enjoy local green spaces.

Outdoor games and activities will be available seven days a week, with pop up bars, food stands, and local makers markets happening Friday-Sunday. There’ll also be throwback movies on Fridays, wellness activities on Saturdays and Funday Sundays.

Best of all is the series’ concert lineup, which kicks off this weekend with Friday and Saturday night concerts (8:30 p.m.-10 p.m.) and a Sunday matinee show (1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.).

Kicking it off July 7 is Bay area Americana royalty Have Gun, Will Travel whose 2009 song “Salad Days” is perfect for the summer. Saturday finds party-ready Josh Gluck & The Family Tree playing Wild Cherry-flavored alt-blues, jazz, rock and R&B-soul, while In The Pocket closes the weekend out with its a set of laid back jazz.

The rest of the shows, all happening Friday-Sunday, feature a lineup of what’s truly some of the best in local reggae (Tribal Style), jazz (Jackson Harpe Quartet, Rod Alnord Trio), songwriting (Noan Partly, Lauris Vidal), hip-hop (Perception), rock and soul (Speak Easy), rock and roll (The Dirty Janes) and Americana (series-closers Adam Randall, fiddler Nick Ewing, and guitarist J.T. Brown).

Downtown Tampa’s Summer Series kicks off Friday, July 7 and runs weekends through July 30 at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. There’s no cover for the series, and for more information visit tampasdowntown.com.

Tampa Downtown Partnership Summer Series at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park

• July 7: The Burke Bros
• July 8: Josh Gluck & The Family Tree
• July 9: In The Pocket
• July 14: Speak Easy
• July 15: Tribal Style
• July 16: Jackson Harpe Quartet
• July 21: Perception
• July 22: The Dirty Janes
• July 23: Lauris Vidal
• July 28: Noan Partly
• July 29: Rod Alnord Trio
• July 30: Adam Randall, Nick Ewing, J.T. Brown

See Josh Bradley’s weekly new concert roundup listing below. L8 Night Flights: 5th Anniversary Party Friday, July 7. 7 p.m. $20 & up. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Vavo Friday, July 7. 12 p.m. No cover. Wtr Pool, Tampa

T.R.U.E (album release) w/Zeta the Babe/Syd Live Saturday, July 8. 7 p.m. $10. The Portico, Tampa

Cochren and Co. Thursday, July 13. 8 p.m. $20 & up. The Attic at Rock Brothers Brewing, Ybor City

Lo Monaco w/Zach Maberry Friday, July 14. 8 p.m. $12. The Attic at Rock Brothers Brewing, Ybor City

Summer Series: Speak Easy Friday, July 14. 8:30 p.m. No cover. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa

HeyeYella w/DJ DFaz/DJ Donnie Luv/Dennis Amadeus/G’on Git (expanded)/Nico Sweet/Alec Burnright Saturday, July 15. 10 p.m. No cover. The Bends, St. Petersburg

The Fuss single release party w/The George/Fever Head (live debut) Saturday, July 15. 8:45 p.m. $11. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Summer Series: Tribal Style Saturday, July 15. 8:30 p.m. No cover. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa

Burn Forever w/Corium/Our Final Feud/Not Promised Tomorrow Sunday, July 16. 6 p.m. $12. Orpheum, Tampa

Summer Series: Jackson Harpe Quartet Sunday, July 16. 1 p.m. No cover. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa

Backtrack Blues Band (album release) Friday, July 21. 8 p.m. $20 & up. Side Door at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg

Summer Series: Perception Friday, July 21. 8:30 p.m. No cover. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa

Jeremy Carter and James Suggs Saturday, July 22. 8 p.m. $25 & up. Side Door at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg

Summer Series: The Dirty Janes Saturday, July 22. 8:30 p.m. No cover. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa

Summer Series: Lauris Vidal Sunday, July 23. 1 p.m. No cover. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa

Summer Series: Noan Partly Friday, July 28. 8:30 p.m. No cover. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa

Summer Series: Rod Alnord Trio Saturday, July 29. 8:30 p.m. No cover. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa

Summer Series: Adam Randall, Nick Ewing, J.T. Brown  Sunday, July 30. 1 p.m. No cover. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa

Grrrl’s Night Tampa: Operation Acoustic Kitty w/Spoiled Rat/Peace Cult/Hovercar Friday, Aug. 4. 6 p.m. $12. Crowbar, Ybor City

Denny Laine Saturday, Aug. 5. 8 p.m. $50. The Attic at Rock Brothers Brewing, Ybor City

Al Downing Birthday Celebration Sunday, Aug. 6. 2 p.m. $10 & up, no cover for children 12 and under. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg

Midnight Tyrannosaurus w/Jiqui/Sisto/Inaktivity/Mother Lotus Friday, Sept. 1. 10 p.m. $15 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City

No Bragging Rights w/Mugshot/Mouth Of War/Downswing/Chasing Airplanes Thursday, Sept. 14. 7 p.m. $20. Crowbar, Ybor City

The Copper Piano: Dueling Pianos Show Sunday, Sept. 24. 2 p.m. $14.50 & up. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo

Your Neighbors Sunday, Sept. 24. 8 p.m. $15. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Brett Scallions w/Jason Bieler Friday, Sept. 29. 8 p.m. $19.50 & up. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo

Ty Dolla $ign w/Symba/Leon Thomas Friday, Sept. 29. 7 p.m. $30.50. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Toad the Wet Sprocket w/The Verve Pipe Monday, Oct. 2. 8 p.m. $49.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

Morrissey Tuesday, Oct. 10. 8:30 p.m. $73 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg

Noah Kahan w/Samia Tuesday, Oct. 10. 8 p.m. $40.50 & up. Yuengling Center, Tampa

Willy Chirino Sunday, Oct. 15. 8 p.m. $67.99 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa

Baroness w/Jesus Piece/Escuela Grind Tuesday, Oct. 17. 6 p.m. $29.50 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City

Sunny Day Real Estate Tuesday, Oct. 31. 7 p.m. $30.50. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Lake Street Dive w/Monica Martin Wednesday, Nov. 1. 7:30 p.m. $49.25 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

KennyHoopla w/Groupthink Thursday, Nov. 2. 7 p.m. $26. Orpheum, Tampa

Marcus King w/Joshua Ray Walker Tuesday, Nov. 7. 6 p.m. $28.50. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Ben Rector w/Jordy Searcy Saturday, Nov. 18. 8 p.m. $38.25 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Doja Cat w/Doechii Friday, Nov. 24. 7:30 p.m. $45.75 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa

Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience Thursday, Nov. 30. 8 p.m. $35 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Randy Rainbow Friday, Dec. 1. 7:30 p.m. $43 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg

Three Dog Night w/Firefall Sunday, Dec. 10. 7 p.m. $42.75 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Adventure Club w/Ryan Nevis/Friendzone Friday, Dec. 22. 10 p.m. $25 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City

UPDATED 07/05/23 11:25 a.m. Updated with more planned activities.

Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Or sign up for our RSS Feed

This article appears in Jun 29 – Jul 5, 2023.