The Tampa Bay Lightning has always done a great job incorporating local flavor into its fan entertainment, so it makes complete sense that the musical offerings for this weekend's All-Star Game activities would lean hard on Bay area artists.
Today, the NHL announced another round of musical additions, and leading the pack is Tampa songwriter Joshua Cruz, who has been tapped to join Flo Rida for in-arena performances during Saturday's Skills Competition. Cruz and his ensemble — The Experience — will be the in-house band on Saturday, according to a press release, and tasked with entertaining fans throughout the game.
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Cruz — who put out one of CL's favorite local albums of 2017 — joins another group of locals (UNRB, Ella Jet, Dean Johanesen, Tribal Style, Cliff Brown, and Have Gun, Will Travel) that was added to the entertainment for festivities at Cotanchobee Park (on the southeastern end of Amalie Arena, near the Tampa Bay History Center).
"I am beyond excited, humbled and honored to be apart of this event playing," Cruz, 26, told CL in a message. "I feel this is a great start to what will be a great year for my musical endeavors. Mark my words, in five years or less I will be back to play this arena but for my own show."
OVER THE MOON
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Also added to the musical offerings are a trio of national artists. Country singer Chase Rice who'll perform during player intros for the All-Star Game on Sunday, January 28, and another country boy — Brett Young — who will handle the "Star-Spangled Banner." Canadian Country Music Association Female Singer of the Year nominee Lindsay Ell will perform the Canadian national anthem.
This is all on top of Kid Rock's intermission performance on Sunday and a free Friday night concert at downtown Tampa's Curtis Hixon Park with Moon Taxi plus Fitz and the Tantrums.
It's a lot to piece together, so have a look at the NHL All-Star Game music offerings below. Listen to Cruz's Black is Classier here.
NHL ALL-STAR GAME MUSIC SCHEDULE
*times subject to change
Friday, January 26
- UNRB (Cotanchobee Park, FREE) — 7 p.m.
- Fitz and the Tantrums w/Moon Taxi (Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, FREE) — 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 27
- Ella Jet (Cotanchobee Park, FREE) — 12 p.m.
- Dean Johanesen (Cotanchobee Park, FREE) — 1:30 p.m.
- Tribal Style (Cotanchobee Park, FREE) — 5 p.m.
- Flo Rida w/Joshua Cruz & the Experience (Amalie Arena, ticket required) — 7 p.m.
Sunday, January 28
- Cliff Brown (Cotanchobee Park, FREE) — 12 p.m.
- Have Gun, Will Travel (Cotanchobee Park, FREE) — 2 p.m.
- Chase Rice w/Brett Young/Lindsay Ell (Amalie Arena, player introductions and national anthems)
- Kid Rock (Amalie Arena, ticket required) — Second intermission, first match is 3:30 p.m.
This article appears in Jan 18-25, 2018.