Irma Thomas, who plays Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida on November 21, 2017. Credit: Rick Olivier

Irma Thomas, who plays Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida on November 21, 2017. Credit: Rick Olivier

✔️  The Blind Boys of Alabama w/Irma Thomas/The Preservation Legacy Quintet It’s been about seven decades since gospel group the Blind Boys of Alabama released its first single, but now the group led by Jimmy Carter is Almost Home, according to its new album, which uses song to tell the story of the lives of Carter and now-retired co-founding member Clarence Fountain. Crescent City legends Irma Thomas and The Preservation Hall Legacy Quintet round out this very southern, hall-of-fame-worthy bill. Read our interview with Carter here. Read Eric Snider's 2009 story on Thomas here. (Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg) INFO

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A little bit of Home: Blind Boys of Alabama's Jimmy Carter talks missing Clarence, wanting more and never giving up

Helios Jazz Orchestra w/Kirsten Joyer The worlds of the Show Biz Kids (a Steely Dan tribute band that doesn’t suck) and the 18-piece Helios Jazz Orchestra collide when Biz singer Kirsten Joyer joins the ensemble to lay down a sultry vocal that can cross octaves and genres with ease. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg) INFO

ALSO PLAYING

Cormac Kavanagh (C.1949 Florida Beer Garden, Tampa) INFO

The Guitar Night w/Justino Lee Walker/LaRue Nickelson (Hideaway Café, St. Petersburg) INFO

Domenic Haynes (Ringside Café, St. Petersburg) INFO

Florida Folk Night (Old Key West Bar & Grill, St. Petersburg) INFO

Flavor Savor Thnxgivin Edition w/Mic Deluxx/DJ Qeys/Wally Clark (Crowbar, Ybor City) INFO

This article appears in Nov 16-23, 2017.

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...