Alessia Cara w/Ruth B/Nathan Sykes There’s a reason why Alessia Cara has over 13 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and it’s not just because of her overplayed hit “Here” on mainstream radio. Canadian-born, Cara — who is only 20 years old — broke into the music scene during a gap year from college by uploading acoustic covers and her own tracks to YouTube; her poetic flow caught the eyes and ears of Def Jam Records, and she is now rapidly becoming one of the most recognizable voices in the industry. Just one year after signing to Def Jam, she opened for Coldplay during its Head Full of Dreams world tour and is now headlining her first major U.S. tour. Some Tampa Bay area fans may have caught her making a cameo at Taylor Swift's Halloween night stop at Raymond James Stadium last year. Cara's lyrics may capture the true wallflower spirit, but she is proving to be anything but. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) INFO - Kelly Smith
Dave Rudolph Band w/La Lucha These days, most music fans take at least 30-seconds to at least watch the drummer, but Dave Rudolph (who currently plays with Tampa Jazz vocalist Valerie Gillespie) is putting himself front and center for this one. Get there early to see CL favorite La Lucha. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg) INFO
Pennywise w/Unwritten law/Runaway Kids After a turbulent history that saw bass player Jason Thirsk die in 1996, legendary punk band Pennywise is somehow still managing to put on shows, and they’ll be gracing Florida with a career-spanning set of fan favorites and deep cuts. Considering this is one of the ugliest election seasons to date, it will be interesting to see if Pennywise returns to its angry anti-political roots by amping up the energy. (The Ritz, Ybor City) INFO — Kelly Smith
B Boys w/Sleeping Pills/Dawns Fresh off a new EP — No Worry No Mind, released in March — Brooklyn trio Bboys (who recently toured with Parquet Courts) bring a danceable brand of hyper-kinetic indie rock to one of Tampa’s most famous dives for a show where their punky new wave should cut through the smoky air pleasantly (The Hub, Tampa) INFO
Machine Gun Kelly w/Mod Sun MGK is back in Florida to spit some serious shit off of his dark autobiographical album General Admission. With lead track “Spotlight” opening the album with guitar riffs that scream nostalgia, the 26-year-old with a penchant for getting arrested in the Bay area immediately heads straight to his demons and pulls each and every one to the surface. Be ready for one of the most relatable rap shows you’ll ever experience; most of the Texas emcees lyrics shed light on outspoken societal issues, including everything from families stricken with poverty and hunger to broken homes and bullying. This show is guaranteed to be an emotional rollercoaster, but at least those in attendance will endure it together. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) INFO — Kelly Smith
Bruce Katz Band He’s taught at the Berklee College of Music, been nominated for the Blues Foundation of Memphis’ coveted "Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year" award, and stands as one of the best Hammon B-3 players in the area. He plays an intimate show at this St. Pete watering hole tucked into a shopping plaza. (The Ale & The Witch, St. Petersburg) INFO
Florida Orchestra Coffee Concert: A Patriotic Salute Stuart Malina conducts and Trevor Pettiford provides words as members of The Florida Orchestra work though a selection of patriotic tunes from Richard Rogers, Aaron Coplan and George Gershwin. Free coffee and doughnuts are a good reason to get out for this early one, which kicks off at 11 a.m. (Mahaffey Theatre, St. Petersburg) INFO
Big Pre-Fest in Little Ybor The second day of a big ol’ punk rock take over of four Ybor City venues features sets from St. Pere lupine rockers Wolf-Face, Virginia troubadour Tim Barry, Jeff Brawer fronted Old Vices and a “hometown set” from long-running Manitoba punk-activists Propagandhi who now feature a Tampa native — Sulynn Hago — on guitar. Extensive details and previews are at here and updated schedules are at thefestfl.com/prefest. Watch Sulynn's audition video below. INFO
Symphonic Chats with the Maestro Classical music can be intimidating to casual music fans, and as the season rolls on, St. Petersburg Opera’s Mark Sforzini offers a program built out to help enhance folks’ understanding of symphonic music. There will be a preview of upcoming Tampa Bay Symphony concerts as well as live performances. (Opera Central, Preis Hall, St. Petersburg) INFO
ALSO PLAYING
Sully Erna (Capitol Theatre, Clearwater) INFO
DJ Knox (The Bends, St. Petersburg) INFO
