✔️ = Critic's Pick
✔️ John Prine w/Amanda Shires John Prine is included in our Books Issue section highlighting Florida authors (Prine, 71, is a part-time Gulfport resident and author of a new book that we reviewed here), and at this gig the American songwriting treasure has included Amanda Shires, who is supporting her own new album (My Piece of Land, released in September). Shires — a Texas-native now living in Nashville — has played and collaborated with Prine dozens of times, so expect to see something special when the two come together for what could be one of the year’s best shows. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) INFO
READ MORE
Books Issue 2017: John Prine’s Beyond Words journeys beyond the songs, lets fans into his heart
✔️ Holly Hunt w/Junior Bruce/Beerwolf/El Coyote “All three bands fucking shredded! If you missed this one, well, you’re a dumbass.” That’s how Planet Retro Records owner Rob Sexton described an October 26 show headlined by Miami metal duo Holly Hunt. If you are one of those dumbasses that wasn’t at the shop, then Fubar is giving you a chance to redeem yourself when the band returns with Deland-based sludge outfit Junior Bruce in tow. (Fubar, St. Petersburg) INFO
Green Grass and Yuletide Jam w/The Outlaws/Artimus Pyle Band The Allman Brothers, Skynyrd and Marshall Tucker Band dominated the golden days of Southern rock, but Tampa’s very own Outlaws made quite a splash by utilizing Eagles-esque harmonies and an Allman-style guitar attack on songs like “There Goes Another Love Song,” which cracked the Top 40 in 1975. This is pretty much a hometown show for the band (which has gone through its fair share of lineup changes), so expect all your old friends to be there. (Capitol Theatre, Clearwater) INFO
READ MORE
Before Clearwater show, Amanda Shires tells CL how she really feels about her tourmate John Prine
The Last Drake Night: A Toys For Tots Fundraiser w/DJ Big Kris Kringle/DJ Dreidel All things, even The Bends’ too-good Drake tribute nights, must come to and end. If you’ve never been, then go from zero to 100 and catch up with your new friends who’ll be decked out in holiday sweaters for this last installment. An unwrapped new toy will get you entry, a holiday Dreezy mask and a free “Worst Behavior” shot. (The Bends, St. Petersburg) INFO
✔️ Harley Flanagan He may have founded (and been the fuel behind) legendary NYC hardcore band Cro-Mags, but these days you’re more likely to find punk-rock lifer Harley Flanagan in a gi executing armbars until his jiu-jitsu sparring partner submits. The 50-year-old seventh-grade dropout gives in to his fans’ needs to see him perform for this show, however, which is a pretty cool holiday present to anyone who grew up on the then-revolutionary blend of hardcore and heavy metal Cro-Mags brought to life on a classic 1986 album The Age of Quarrel. (Orpheum, Ybor City) INFO
Gunpowder Gray w/SHOT & Secret Xmas Guest The whole "secret guest" things has us intrigued, and some good, old straight ahead rock and roll in the vein of Motörhead, GG Allin or Thin Lizzy (thanks, Gunpowder Gray) seals the deal. (VFW Post 424 Seminole Heights, Tampa) INFO
Art Raffle: Goddess Edition w/Ari Chi Downtown Tampa's Attic Café fixes its gaze on a collection of goddesses for this femme-centric art raffle ($5 gets you a ticket that could win art from some of the visual artists showing at the event) that also features tarot readings, live pop, hip-hop and R&B plus one of the most underrated views in town. (Attic Café, Tampa) INFO
READ MORE
UPDATE: Purity Ring will open for Katy Perry on December 15 at Tampa's Amalie Arena
Katy Perry w/Purity Ring In May, 32-year-old church girl turned pop star Katy Perry announced that she would support a new LP (Witness) on a North American tour that included Tampa’s Amalie Arena. Three months later, the 33-year-old who last played the room in 2014 really made the gig interesting by announcing that Purity Ring would open the show. By our count, this performance will be the Canadian electro duo’s first appearance in the area since a 2015 stop at The Ritz less than two miles away. (Amalie Arena, Tampa) INFO
Ben Haggard Two bouts with pneumonia eventually took Merle Haggard’s life in April of last year, but the country music legend is probably resting easy knowing that his youngest son, Ben, is out on the road honoring his legacy while also forging a sound of his own. Ben played in Dad’s band by the time he was 15 years old — and Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson were regular guests at home — so don’t expect this to be a pure tribute act rolling into town. Bonus points since big bro Noel Haggard is in the band, too. (Jaeb Theater at David A. Straz Center for Performing Arts, Tampa) INFO
The Florida Orchestra presents Holiday Pops The Florida Orchestra — which just raised $1.5 million for itself at a gala concert featuring Sting — is turning its efforts toward helping the needy by collecting canned goods and unwrapped new toys at this benefit for Tampa Bay Harvest and Toys For Tots. Camille Zamora will belt out carols as William Waldrop guest conducts this Tampa show and four more performances happening on Saturday and Sunday in St. Pete (Mahaffey Theater) and Clearwater (Ruth Eckerd Hall), respectively. More information is available at floridaorchestra.org. (Ferguson Hall at David A. Straz Center for Performing Arts, Tampa) INFO
✔️ Punk Funk Disco Holiday Market w/Tortilla Punx/Scott Imrich/Mes McDonald/Wally Clark/Gabe Echazabal/DJ Silence That’s Hot Soup — a collective wholly devoted to all things comic books — is putting its moniker where its mouth is by teaming up with a slew of selectors (including CL contributors Brian Mahar — DJ-ing as Tortilla Punx — and senior music correspondent Gabe Echazabal) and Tampa Bay Brewing Co. to feed the needy at this pop-up market featuring more than a dozen vendors. The night’s cover gets you a cup of soup made by TBBC, which is also donating product to Metropolitan Ministries. (Crowbar, Ybor City) INFO
Hip-Hop Happy Hour w/DJ I Am/DJ Spo-D/Infinite Skillz The folks behind outdoor, family-friendly DJ and hip-hop series Park Jam has a fun Saturday coming up (read below), but the crew is taking to this hip St. Pete watering hole for a happy hour headlined by DJ Spo-D. (Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe, St. Petersburg) INFO
ALSO PLAYING
Singer-songwriter
Andy Gray (The Blue Note, Tampa) INFO
Danielle Mohr (Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe, Tampa) INFO
Shawn Smith (The Attic at Rock Brothers Brewing, Ybor City) POSTPONED
Funk/Blues
Ugly Sweater Party w/Reverend Barry & the Funk (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa) INFO
Sarah Mac Band Christmas (Hideaway Café, St. Petersburg) INFO
Galbraith Group (Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin) INFO
Chorale/Classical
VOICExperience Foundation, performing "A Night Before Christmas" w/Constantine Grame/Palm Harbor University Men’s Chorus (Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, Tarpon Springs) INFO
Hernando Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert (Central High School, Brooksville) INFO
Vincent Demor Accordion Concert (St. Petersburg College Gibbs Campus, St. Petersburg) INFO
Country
Thousand Horses Christmas Concert (The Stockyard, Holiday) INFO
Jazz
Jazz with Jim Holiday Party (Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa) INFO
A Very Swell Noel w/Michael Raabe/Sara DelBeato (American Stage Theatre Company at Raymond James Theater, St. Petersburg) INFO
Rock
The Rustbelt (Pinellas Ale Works, St. Petersburg) INFO
Hungover w/Keep Flying/Tacet/Mourning Breath/Culver Creek (The Noise Box, Brandon) INFO
Mr Handsome w/Tres Chingones/Free Life/Garden Club (Brass Mug, Tampa) INFO
Cover/Tribute
Edge of Red (Buckets Tavern & Tap, Tampa) INFO
DJ/EDM
Reggae & Stout Release w/DJ Bobby Zion (Crooked Thumb Brewery, Safety Harbor) INFO
Joyryde (The Ritz, Ybor City) INFO
This article appears in Dec 14-21, 2017.