Johnny Champagne, who plays Vibes of the Bat at Crowbar in Ybor City, Florida on Sept. 30, 2023. Credit: Photo c/o Symphonic Distrubution

In the absence of Summer Jam, Vibes of the Bay has emerged as the preeminent local music festival for discovering your new favorite band. At the end of this month, the party returns after a three-year hiatus, and its organizer Symphonic Distribution just finalized the 2023 lineup.

The poster includes several emcees whose names and faces have regularly found their way into Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s coverage (what’s up Sam E Hues, Perception, Vern Sr., Nico Sweet and Pusha Preme), but also includes a true representation of the best the local scene has to offer.

Also included in the 2023 Vibes of the Bay lineup is Rolling Loud alum Barely Legal Collective, emerging producer, songwriter, rapper and music educator Johnny Champagne, heart-hitting emo favorite Pet Lizard, rock and roll star Shevonne, plus bright young songwriters Sundé and Biishop the Artist, along with spoken work favorite Dennis Amadeus. T. Couture, a producer and DJ is also on the bill.

If you register in advance, there’s no cover for Symphonic Distribution’s Vibes of the Bay happening Saturday, Sept. 30 at Crowbar in Ybor City where admission will be $10 at the door.
In an email, Symphonic’s Vice President of Corporate Marketing, Janette Berrios said that having to put Vibes on hiatus was difficult, but that she is looking forward to the revival of what “always feels like a big musical family coming together under one roof.”

The pandemic, she pointed out, might have spurred the strong 2023 lineup.

“Tampa Bay’s music scene has evolved and grown tremendously since our last festival. I feel like the pandemic gave artists the time to create more, focus on themselves, and what they really want. Many established acts like Pusha Preme and Perception came back with a force, and I love to see a new generation of artists emerging, like Barely Legal Collective, SUNDÉ and T. Couture,” Berrios added. “We wanted to make sure our return was memorable and painted a picture of the incredible talent that has flourished during our hiatus.”

In all 17, acts will play two stages alongside live painting from Selena Ferrer and a vendor market curated by Indie Flea. See the full lineup below.

Vibes of the Bay 2023 lineup
Alan Shi
Barely Legal Collective
Biishop the Artist
Bomba Body Dance & Drum
DJ Mila Killa
Galo
Johnny Champagne
Madwoman
Nico Sweet
Perception
Pet Lizard
Pusha Preme
Sam Hues
Shevonne & the Force
SUNDÉ
T.Couture
Vern Sr
Selena Ferrer (Live Painting)
Dennis Amadeus (Spoken Word Poetry)

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