You don’t get many opportunities to see Kool & the Gang founding member Robert Bell count you into a new year, then lead the band into a brassy “Auld Lang Syne” before diving into “Jungle Boogie,” “Get Down On It” and “Celebration.” But that’s what happened last Sunday when Tampa Edition (stylized “EDITION”) hosted the classic funk group as part of an exclusive party complete with oyster shucking, onsite cigar rolling, Ketel One ice luges, espresso martinis on tap, plus sets from DJ Ku, DJ Casper and more.

Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
DJ Ku, who plays Supernatural Food & Wine in Tampa, Florida on March 2, 2025. Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern
Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern

Additional Slideshows

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...