\\<\/iframe\>

✔️ = Critic's Pick

✔️ Big Sam’s Funky Nation w/The Reality/C-Rena In some circles, Big Sam’s Funky Nation is the best representation of the current state of New Orleans’ music scene. The group’s sound — a fusion of everything from funk, jazz, brass bands, bounce, rap, R&B, and even rock and roll – is quintessentially Crescent City, and delivered by a live show that has made the NOLA-delic outfit notorious at festivals like Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Vooodoo Fest and Jazz Fest. Led by Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s Big Sam, the Funky Nation has also played backup for bands like Dave Matthews and Widepread Panic, so we expect every kind of music fan to get sweaty at this one. “We play music for everybody,” Big Sam has said. “It’s not just funk; that’s the foundation, but the music goes from funk to rock to wild jazz. It’s music about love and partying. Everyone can get down with that.” (Crowbar, Ybor City) INFO

Sunset Music Festival Pre-Party w/DV3/Christian Alexander/Winta/Lizzy Jane/Pixelsaur/Tr33klibr/Heist/Heavyset Parents: your kids are going to Sunset Music Festival this weekend, and about a thousand of them will get the party started with this pre-party at Ybor EDM stronghold The Ritz. Buried within Friday’s lineup of local producers is Lizzy Jame, a Tampa-raised, now Orlando-based composer, whose musical background is rooted in singing, piano and bass (the instrument, not the wubby frequency). She brings those sensibilities and her eclectic taste to the stage, where fans can expect to hear a futuristic mix of dark house, trap and dubstep. Free guest list registration is available until 11 p.m. on day of show, and more information is available on theritzybor.com. (The Ritz, Ybor City) INFO

INTERVIEW
Sunset Music Festival snowbird Ekali talks Tampa debut, dogs, collabs and more

Solardo w/Latmun One of two big DJ shows on Friday night happens at The Kennedy, where tech house will be the order of the day. The Manchester production duo Mark Richards & James Eliot — aka Solardo — rolls into town riding high after being named DJ mag’s Best Duo of 2017, and it’ll be joined by DC10 and Manchester Warehouse Project regular Joe Bradley (aka Latum) at this party, which the venue is calling ?NQA (“No Questions Asked”). (The Kennedy, Tampa) INFO

✔️ LTJ Bukem w/Delano/Subpirate/Hellman/Boomerang/MC Vast1/MC Allterrain By our count, it’s been at least two years since Danny Williamson (aka LTJ Bukem) has played in the area. He’s heading to a more intimate space for this set (The Attic in Ybor vs. downtown Tampa’s District 3, where he played in 2016), but Bukem is an icon of the drum & bass scene, so you can expect a steady thump to emanate from inside this sure-to-sell-out show where Turbo Tuesday founder Subpirate plays support. (The Attic at Rock Brothers Brewing, Ybor City) INFO

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
Elizabeth A. Baker is ready to challenge listeners on new album, Quadrivium

✔️ Elizabeth A. Baker Quadrivium Album Release Celebration Expect St. Petersburg composer Baker to have her eyes and ears on you, the audience, if you make it to this release show for her Aerocade Music solo debut, Quadrivium. Baker — who has melded the worlds of solo piano, electro, New Age and experimental music — tends to adapt her sets to how observers react, so no two shows are ever even remotely the same. Read our profile on Baker here. (First Unity Spiritual Campus, St. Petersburg) INFO

Blestian w/Judy Jean Americana meets experimental music when St. Pete folk-blues duo Judy Jean shares a bill with fellow ‘Burg outfit Blestian, which melds trippy beats into its own special brand of electro-rock. There is no cover or this one, which’ll also feature a succulent pop-up if you’re into that kind of thing. (Cage Brewing, St. Petersburg) INFO

WMNF US Too Kickoff Just about three dozen local acts are set to help the Bay area community radio station celebrate the anniversary of Steve Wozniak’s epic early-‘80s Southern California parties dubbed the US Festival. Music from artists who appeared on US bills — think everything from Flock of Seagulls, Ozzy Osbourne, and Waylon Jennings to Eddie Money, Santana and Tom Petty — will be played as part of this two-day party that takes place at Skipper’s on Friday and then St. Pete’s Jannus Live on Saturday. Visit wmnf.org to see the full lineup of bands. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa) INFO

Florida Orchestra Pops: Patriotic Salute Love the fuck out of classical American composers? Sure you do. Put on on some red, white and blue and then find one of these two Florida Orchestra performances that’ll pay tribute to folks like Philip Sousa and John Williams. (David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa) INFO

\\<\/iframe\>

ALSO PLAYING

Singer-songwriter

Jeff Black (Hideaway Café, St. Petersburg) INFO

Sebastian Tenorio (c. 1949 Florida Beer Garden, Tampa) INFO

Rob Stoney (Living Room on Main, Dunedin) INFO

Fourth Friday w/Michael Ross/Fred Johnson (David A. Straz Center For the Performing Arts, Tampa) INFO

Tribute/Cover

Meltdown Cadillac (Smokin’ 19, St. Petersburg) INFO

Stereo FM (3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg) INFO

4X (Two Buks, Clearwater) INFO

Apt 9 (Buckets Grill & Tap, Tampa) INFO