Ana Popovic plays Tampa Bay Bluesfest at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg, Florida on April 7, 2017. Credit: Tracy May

Tommy Castro & the Painkillers kick things off with a party at the Palladium on Thursday night, but the 27th Tampa Bay Blues festival really gets going on Friday with the one-two punch of headliner Robert Cray and supporting act Ana Popovic.

Tower of Power and Tab Benoit anchor Saturday’s lineup before Sunday welcomes The Fabulous Thunderbirds to close it out. All told more than a dozen artists will take the stage at what’s easily one of Tampa Bay’s most laid back and well-oiled music festivals.

Tickets to the Tampa Bay Blues Festival happening Friday-Sunday, April 14-16 at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg are still available and start at $70.

This article appears in Apr 13-19, 2023.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...