Country music always feels best at country bars, and that’s exactly what’s happening this spring when one of the genre’s hottest songwriters comes to the Bay area.
In 2023, Rolling Stone called Daniel Donato “Nashville’s new guitar hero,” and over the summer lauded how a new album channeled other guitar greats and Gram Parsons.
The 30-year-old kicks off a spring tour this month, and while he plays Florida’s Outlaw Country Cruise in March, landlubbers can catch a ride with Donato when he plays four Florida shows in April.
The venue—Cowboys Dance Hall located at 1233 88th St. in Largo—is a no-frills, gigantic country line dancing bar open late six days a week, with daily lessons (and Kuya Kevin’s Filipino food truck parked outside).
Jersey-born, Nashville-living Donato, for his part, will please not just fans of the Flying Burrito Brothers, but those who like to take mushrooms and listen to My Morning Jacket or Hiss Golden Messenger, too. He released his Starlight EP in 2019 and live tests everything before putting it on records like last year’s Horizons, a barn-burning outing featuring pedal steel ace (and shoe fiend) Brett Resnick who’s played for Kelsey Waldon and Kacey Musgraves.
See Josh Bradley’s latest roundup of the best new concerts coming to Tampa Bay below.
Broadway Rave Friday, Jan. 16. 8 p.m. $22.46 & up. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg
Al Di Meola Saturday, Jan. 17. 8 p.m. $64 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Daniela Soledade and The Amazon Soul Band Friday, Jan. 23. 7 p.m. $22.52. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg
Pushman w/Karl Louis (opening for Bolo) Saturday, Jan. 24. 10 p.m. $25.96 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
Rick Monroe & The Hitmen Sunday, Jan. 25. 7 p.m. $18.30. Brass Mug, Tampa
Meg Smith (opening for Ellise) Monday, Feb. 2. 8 p.m. $28.04. Crowbar, Ybor City
The Wood Brothers Wednesday, Feb. 4. 8 p.m. $44.50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Blues Is Alright Tour: King George w/Sir Charles Jones/West Love/Pokey Bear/Ronnie Bell Saturday, Feb. 14. 7 p.m. $80.95 & up. Yuengling Center, Tampa
Markus Schulz Saturday, Feb. 28. 10 p.m. $20.77 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
AlexSucks Thursday, March 5. 7 p.m. $20.70. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg
Aly & AJ Friday, March 13. 7 p.m. $42.55 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Worry Club w/Bike Routes/Bugsy Friday, March 20. 8 p.m. $28.03. Crowbar, Ybor City
Midnight Til Morning Saturday, March 21. 8 p.m. $43 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Dwight Yoakam w/Flatland Cavalry/Chayce Beckham Saturday, April 11. 7 p.m. $54.50 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater
The Academy Is Saturday, April 18. 6 p.m. $51.25. The Ritz, Ybor City
Two Feet Wednesday, April 22. 7 p.m. $47.07 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
SatchVai w/Animals As Leaders Friday, April 24. 7 p.m. $48.50 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater
The Maine w/Grayscale/Nightly/Moody Joody Tuesday, April 28. 5:30 p.m. $49.75. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Alabama Shakes w/Lamont Landers Thursday, April 30. 7:15 p.m. $75 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater
Triumph w/April Wine Sunday, May 24. 8 p.m. $68.20 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
Toto w/Christopher Cross/The Romantics Saturday, Aug. 1. 6:45 p.m. $35 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
Avenged Sevenfold w/Good Charlotte Tuesday, Aug. 18. 6 p.m. $54.50 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
Goo Goo Dolls w/Neon Trees Monday, Aug. 24. 7:30 p.m. $40.50 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
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This article appears in Dec. 25 – 31, 2025.