A quick breakdown of shows happening on this Sat., Jan. 16.
Sunshine Music Festival Originally launched in 2013 by the Tedeschi Trucks Band (that collab between husband-and-wife blues-and-roots maestros Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks), the two-city Sunshine Music & Blues Festival has not only become the group's signature event but marks the first festie of the year here in sunny FLA. Joining the 12-piece TTB for the fourth annual edition are folkie duo The Indigo Girls; New Orleans funk, soul and R&B rockers Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue; roots rock supergroup Hard Working Americans – featuring singer-songwriter Todd Snider, bassist Dave Schools (Widespread Panic), guitarist Neal Casal (Chris Robinson Brotherhood), keysman Chad Staehly (Great American Taxi) and Duane Trucks; and West Cost jazz-funk-jam staples, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. Also performing at the two-stage fest: Jerry Douglas Band, Jorma Kaukonen, Bobby Lee Rodgers, Joanne Shaw Taylor and The Revivalists. (Vinoy Waterfront Park, St. Petersburg)
Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival Music Fest Amid the highlights of the 10-day TBBHF is the weekend music fest. On Saturday, the lineup for the 16th annual festival is led by Jonathan Butler, who’s been fusing the sounds of gospel music with R&B and jazz since his debut in the mid-1980s. R&B songstress and soulful rhyme-slinger Angie Stone – who holds down headlining duties on Sunday – came out of 1970s-era hip hop trio The Sequence, though she’s much better known for solo output that includes charters like 2002’s "I Wanna Thank Ya" featuring Snoop Dogg. (Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa)
Paul Anka He’s been crooning smooth pop odes for more than six decades and through a few notable comebacks, and though his recording output has slowed down a bit, Paul Anka shows no signs of stopping the tour any time soon. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
Reverend Horton Heat with Nashville Pussy, Unknown Hinson, Igor & the Red Elvises This bill is composed of pretty much every psycho-billy act with merit, chops and musical significance as headed up by the howling honky tonk fiery and ballsy twang-kicking drive of Reverend Horton Heat. Nashville Pussy brings the cowpunk grit and crunch, Unknown Hinson delivers on the weird, and Igor & the Red Elvises do their usual Russia-branded surf-billy fusion. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
‘90s Throwback Party with The Cheaters The local femme-driven supergroup playing pop songs with rock bite deliver a ‘90s-driven setlist (from a recent Facebook update: “Will it be ‘Creep’ by Radiohead? Or TLC's ‘Creep’??”) A Lip Sync Battle kicks off the festivities from 8 to 9 p.m. with a $50 bar tab prize for the No. 1 faker. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
The Surfrider Foundation 2016 Kick Off Party The Surfrider Foundation is an activist network/grassroots nonprofit that’s been dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches since 2007. This party – featuring sets of island-swaying sounds by local acts Badda Skat, Oceanstone and Treehouse – launches the Suncoast chapter’s “Rise Above Plastics” campaign to educate the public to the dangers of single-use plastics. And in case you were wondering, bevvies at the kick-off will be served minus plastic straws. (The Bends, St. Petersburg)
Psycho Realms Benefit WMNF’s metal, hardcore and industrial music program runs its own fundraising drive with a crushing bill of bands led by the death-y shredding of Dark Disciple and also featuring sets by Abortion Twins, Contorted and Mad Splatter. (Brass Mug, Tampa)
La Lucha Plays the ‘80s Look, it’s another throwback show! This one turns to the ‘80s for inspiration and finds worldly jazz trio La Lucha (joined by rich throaty singer-songwriter Jun) cycling through grooving re-imaginings of odes by Hall & Oates, Madonna, Prince and Billy Joel, among others. Multi-instrumentalist Rebecca Zapen joined by pianist Jeremy Douglass open. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)
Peter Yarrow Folkie troubadour Yarrow came up in the 1960s as a member of Peter, Paul and Mary – he co-wrote "Puff, the Magic Dragon" – and while he’s not so active making music at present, he continues to tour on the strength of his early material with that seminal band. (Largo Cultural Center, Largo)
Meatspace with Bloodbath And Beyond, Drastic Fall, The Dood, Atom N Evol, Almost Something Meatspace is the new groove metal project from Neurotica formers Shawn Bowen (vocals/guitar) and G.J. Gosman joined by guitarist Brian Desiderio and bassist Arnas Gineitas; this date marks the quartet’s live debut. (Local 662, St. Petersburg)
ALSO TONIGHT
Lauren Mitchell Band w/Billy Seward The Hideaway Café & Recording Studio, St. Petersburg
SHREDTVT Mixtape Release Party w/Ness Lee/Joe Stu/B. RUSS/King Ratliff/Rival/Infinite Skillz/The Real Clash/AM I AM/Citizen Prophet/QueenOfEx/Mickey Fubar, St. Petersburg
Vocalosity Ferguson Hall at Straz Center for Performing Arts, Tampa
2nd Annual Grandiversary Block Party! w/Meg Shannon Music/Moon Flag/Mave's Arcade/The Sticky Keys/Jeff Brawer Grand Central District, St. Petersburg
Gibtown Bike Fest w/Molly Hatchet Gibtown Bike Fest Festival Grounds, Riverview
Edgar Allan Poe Birthday Bash 4 w/Direwood/Laghima/LILITH/Shifted Grimm/DJ Dr. Grim/DEA and Saint/Whitey Alabastard Venture Compound, St. Petersburg
Car Bomb Driver/Kevin K Band/The Works The Amsterdam, St. Petersburg
Winter Jam w/For King & Country/Matthew West/Crowder/RED/Sidewalk Prophets/NewSong/KB Tedashii Trip Lee/Lauren Daigle Amalie Arena, Tampa
John Clark/Robin Rogers/Steve Vaclavik Beer and Brownies, Tampa
This article appears in Jan 14-20, 2016.