Secret Walls w/DJ Fader Last year’s Secret Walls event was one of the coolest fusions of music and street art in the Bay area, and it’s exciting to see the event cross the bridge so that Tampa people allergic to the Howard Franklin can get a taste of this fast-paced art battle where teams use only black markers and acrylic paint to turn white canvases into highly-coveted pieces of art. (David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa) INFO
Herb Alpert w/Lani Hall Herb Alpert fans are busy nerding out over two dozen newly remastered classic albums by the Grammy-nominated trumpeter, but this is a chance to see him alongside Lani Hall who you might recognize from all your steamy nights playing “Mas Que Nada” on your record player. (Capitol Theatre, Clearwater) INFO
Shonen Knife w/Empire Cinema Ramen worship at the hands of a sweet ass Japanese punk pop trio touring in support of their 20th LP, last year’s Adventure. Read more about show, and score a ramen recipe here. (The Orpheum, Ybor City) INFO
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Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers w/Joe Walsh Another one of our must-see Spring shows is here, and we’re glad that this homestate act (rise up Gainesville!) isn’t backing down from their 40th anniversary as a band. There are certain songs (“American Girl,” “Freefallin’”) that Tom Petty admits he’s gotta play live, and while fans probably won’t hear anything off Wildflowers (his 1994 solo LP), they probably shouldn’t take this show for granted. Despite being prone to boredom when he’s off the road, Petty, 66, has expressed a desire to spend more time with his grandchildren, and he’s unsure how much more touring the Heartbreakers can actually take. (Amalie Arena, Tampa) INFO
The Whiskey Gentry w/The Tattered Saints/Beartoe Rowdy Atlanta Americana hellbringers Whiskey Gentry (named for a line in Hunter S. Thompson's "Decadent and Depraved") comes to its second home, Tampa, where a sweaty collection of fans will help them celebrate a brand new LP, Dead Ringer. Read our profile on the band here. (Crowbar, Ybor City) INFO
Wørsen w/Tyrants of Hell/SHOT/Vacuous Depths This donation-based show brings Jacksonville noise/black metal trio Wørsen to the American Legion in Seminole Heights for a set in support of a neck-thrashing December 2016 cassette, Grand Scheme. Tampa’s own Tyrants of Hell and SHOT play support. (American Legion Post 111, Tampa) INFO
Folk/Singer-Songwriter
Benjamin Road (Hideaway Café, St. Petersburg) INFO
Living Room Sessions w/Shae Krispinsky (House Show, Pasadena) INFO
EDM/DJ
Breathe Carolina (The Ritz, Ybor City) INFO
Castle Goes Rogue w/Emperor Tom Gold/Mark Paradise/KC Killjoy/more (The Castle, Ybor City) INFO
Emo Night Tampa: May Episode w/Oprah Spinfrey/Mes McDonald (First Chance Last Chance, Ybor City) INFO
Rock
A Lot Like Birds w/Household/Hearts Like Lions/Owel (The Local 662, St. Petersburg) INFO
Untoten Krieg w/Grasping at the Shadow/Murderide/more (Brass Mug, Tampa) INFO
Blind Tiger w/Lipschitz/Stove/Flux Hymns/DARE (Lucky You Tattoo, Seminole) INFO
Bad Ass Beerfest w/King of Denmark/Radarmen/Band of Sorrows (Tampa Bay Brewing Co., Oldsmar) INFO
The Mud Flappers w/Savants of Soul (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa) INFO
Gitt Fest w/Jbrisko/Misfitt Marz/Kid Grand/Screen the Billionair/more (Sawgrass Gallery & Teahouse, St. Petersburg) INFO
Classical/Chorale/Jazz
Lumina Youth Choirs Spring Sing (Ferguson Hall at the David A. Straz Center For Performing Arts, Tampa) INFO
Palm Harbor Community Chorus (Palm Harbor Library, Palm Harbor) INFO
Tom Baptist (The Hangar, St. Petersburg) INFO
The Qol Quartet (First United Methodist Church of Clearwater, Clearwater) INFO
Phil Provenzano and the Jazz Xperience (Firehouse Cultural Center, Ruskin) INFO
First Saturday Jazz w/ Tom Kersey & KELP (Independent Bar and Cafe, Tampa) INFO
Hip-Hop
The Elements Monthly Hip Hop (Fubar, St. Petersburg) INFO
This article appears in May 4-11, 2017.