Joanne Rivera Credit: Photo by Andrea Homans via andreahomans/Facebook

Regulars at the since-moved Ybor City location of nearly 30-year-old bar and music venue New World Brewery know how good it feels to see Joanne Rivera on the clock. The beloved bartender and friend is funny as hell, and one of the best pals someone can have.

While Rivera’s long since left for Colorado, her friends and New World family are coming together this weekend to help raise money for her fight with stage three ovarian cancer.

“She’s been experiencing a very rare neurological side effect to the cancer, which has induced intense non-stop vertigo and nausea,” Rivera’s nephew, Ferriss Thomsen, wrote in a GoFundMe hinting at the long road ahead.

This concert features a who’S who of the homegrown punk and rock scene plus psychedelic surf-rock outfit Moonthing raising more money for the cause.

Donations are encouraged during the Jojo fundraiser concert happening Sunday, March 23 at New World Brewery in Tampa.

Readers are invited to submit their own events to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s things to do calendar.

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UPDATE 03/22/25 8:34 a.m. Ferriss Thomsen is Rivera’s nephew, not son.