Fil Pate playing Gasparilla Music Festival at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in Tampa, Florida on Feb. 17, 2024. Credit: Photo by Juliahna Halye c/o Gasparilla Music Festival

Fil Pate is a pro on electric and acoustic guitar, and even mandolin, and he can play around the genres with each of them.

While his music centers around Americana—including the blues and bluegrass—his trio dips into jazz that swings or is straight ahead, and even fusion or soul. He considers himself lucky to play alongside some of the best pianists, drummers and cellists in the Bay area—but also hits stages accompanied by just a loop pedal.

The trio is one of the local bands helping bring Clearwater Jazz Holiday back to its no-cover roots this fall.

Pate—who has jammed with guitar gods like Isaiah Sharkey—told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay he also relishes the freedom to travel further into Zydeco, Celtic, Caribbean and reggae.

“My hope is that I can continue to connect with hundreds of listeners each week in Tampa Bay with traditional, classical, original and progressive instrumental music,” he added.

Fil Pate plays multiple times weekly on both sides of Tampa Bay.