The following is a quick breakdown of shows this weekend’s worthiest live music offerings from Thursday through Sunday. For a more comprehensive schedule, check out our Upcoming Concerts page
THURSDAY, APRIL 22
Amy London and Roni Ben-hur: Happy Birthday Ella and Duke As part of its Side Door Cabaret series, Palladium welcomes two NYC jazz performers – singer London and Israeli-born guitarist Ben-hur – for a pair of concerts honoring the musical collaborations of Ella Fitzgergald and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. April 22-23, 7:30 p.m. Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri., Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, $20 in advance/$25 dos (per show).
Blind Boys of Alabama [pictured left] w/Bird Street Players The longtime Southern musical ensemble of blind, foot-stomping, soul-stirring gospel singers returns for another goosebump-inducing show. The Blind Boys have put out more than 60 records since 1948, and the current tour supports the sextet’s 2009 release, Duets, which, as the title implies, features the “boys” performing duets with a range of artists – soulful reggae vocalist Toots Hibbert, bluesy singer-songwriter Ben Harper, Southern rock goddess Bonnie Raitt, and even rock n’ roll vet Lou Reed, among others. 8 p.m., Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa, $25.
Auto?Automatic?? / Alisas Punch / Florida Night Heat Brokenmold Entertainment presents a trio of trios – Tampa’s own instrumental experimental rock three-piece Auto?Automatic?? and funk rock power trio Florida Night Heat are joined by Orlando’s raw blues rock threesome Alias Punch. 9 p.m., New World Brewery, Ybor City, $7.
This article appears in Apr 21-27, 2010.