The Dags Album Release w/The Tattered Saints I once asked about primary physicians and Hub co-owner joked to use whiskey for internal issues (heartache, loss, depression) and gin for external problems (cuts, burns, rash). Dags frontman swears by the gin method, and all the madness comes together on Thursday night when his band finally releases Villains, a long mulled over 10-track collection of barroom rock led by new single “Alternative Lifestyle,” which harkens back to this millenia’s early aughts when we were all a little younger and ready to turn happy hour into a full on bender. (The Hub, Tampa) INFO
6th Annual Listening Room Festival w/The Currys/Teneia/Mark Croft/Flagship Romance/Daniel Champagne/Christie Lenée/more We took a tiny peek at the Listening Room Festival Kickoff in last week’s issue, and will now dive in as the celebration of small, intimate and overlooked concert spaces really gets going. Thursday’s shows include a St. Pete office performance by Wisconsin songwriter Mark Croft plus house concerts in The ‘Burg, Tampa, Brandon and Clearwater. A workshop and tour of St. Pete’s arts district is on the slate for Saturday before a Sunday brunch shuts things down. The big shebang is on Friday, April 21 though as all parties involved will coalesce at the Palladium Theatre for a six act showcase with The Currys, Teneia, Mark Croft, Flagship Romance, Daniel Champagne, and Christie Lenée. More information is available via listeningroomfestival.com.
Teneia Look at Teneia. To us, that’s the American dream. The Arizona husband and wife duo dropped everything to tour the country in support of music that’s grown out of Tenia Sanders’ old solo material and into a full-fledged, bluesy co-op where Ben Eichelberger helps wifey spread a message of love and equality. (St. Pete Artworks, St. Petersburg) INFO
Olivia Newton-John It’s been three years since Olivia Newton-John played two sold out shows at The Cap (and almost four decades since the four-time Grammy award winner charmed us in Grease), but the Australian bubblegum goddess is back for a spring night affair that will crisscross the country, pop and goody two-shoed show tunes that have moved more than 100 million albums during the course of her career. This is a show from a timeless artist, and you’ll have to wait until next time if you don’t already have a ticket since the concert sold out eons ago. (Capitol Theatre, Clearwater) SOLD OUT
Marsha Ambrosius and Eric Benét Floetry alum Marsha Ambrosius joins soul crooner Eric Benét (does anyone remember Gerard?), and they’ll collaborate for a show that will look back on Benét’s 20-year-career while also showcasing the talent that’s earned Ambrosius six Grammy nominations and a place on the list of BMI’s most successful songwriters (Ferguson Hall at the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa) CANCELLED
Art & Soul One Year Anniversary w/Aych/Ameen Spade/Kristen Warren/Samira Obeid/Shauny Rox/Venus Bleu/Queen Of Ex/King Knoxygen Hip-hop monthlies are alive and well in Tampa Bay, and this one celebrates a year by throwing themselves into the basement of Iberian Rooster where Ameed Spade will spit abstract rhymes alongside R&B and jazz singers Shauny Rox and Kristen Warren plus a pair of the Bay area’s most revered names in rap (Aych and Queen of Ex). Poet Samira Obeid is also on this bill which features live art by Zulu Painter. (SubCentral at Iberian Rooster, St. Petersburg) INFO
Classical/Chorale
Florida Orchestra Coffee Concerts: French Bonbons (Mahaffey Theatre, St. Petersburg) INFO
St. Petersburg Opera: Evenings/Mornings With the Maestro (Music Gallery, Pinellas Park) INFO
USF Wind Ensemble: A Glorious Day (Concert Hall at University of South Florida, Tampa) INFO
Hip-Hop/Rock/Folk/DJs
Black&Tenn 420 Party (Mermaid Tavern, St. Petersburg) INFO
Cellular Chaos w/Fun Hater/Breathe Dissent/Matt Flynn/Jack Bob Jim (Sawgrass Gallery & Teahouse, St. Petersburg) INFO
Drake Night w/Big Chris/Sweet Baby Angel (The Bends, St. Petersburg) INFO
Jarren Benton w/Yung Simmie/LB Legalize/Yung $Smurf/Cashy Kesh (Orpheum, Ybor City) INFO
Ella Jet Band (The Ale & the Witch, St. Petersburg) INFO
Daniel Champagne (House Show, Tampa) INFO
This article appears in Apr 20-27, 2017.