For many, Tampa music venue Skipper’s Smokehouse is religion

It can be hard for a newcomer to get acquainted with their local live music venue, and in the new issue of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay on stands now, we mention must-visit rooms of every size from small to gigantic, but also visited enchanting, quintessentially-Tampeño concert space like Skipper’s Smokehouse.

The scene: After keeling over in the first year of the pandemic, 40-years-running Bay area live music staple Skipper’s Smokehouse—located 910 Skipper Rd.—came back to life less than a year later under the same ownership which couldn’t let the cathedral of live music disappear (the oak canopy is known as the “Skipperdome”).

The restaurant still serves dinner-worthy Floribbean fare (and has been lauded by the Food Network) while beers at the oyster bar rank as an important rite of passage for any self-respecting Tampeño. College kids and hippies alike frequent the 700-capacity space for nighttime shows while daywalkers include families and folks who accidentally drive up on the joint that’s played host to bands well before they make it big (read: The Black Keys, Avett Brothers, and Mofro).

Sound: Blues, rock, jam bands and tribute shows

The scoop: The Skipperdome is religion for some people. There only a few, more special, concert experiences than the one that Skipper’s and its well-worn stage, picnic tables and “dance floor” provide. You don’t forget your first time there, and you’ll probably make lifelong friends if you become a regular.

Similar venues: Unique as Skipper’s is, Tampa Bay offers other charming, only-in-the-Bay concert experiences (hell, Orpheum’s new spot across the street is an essential venue on its own). Safety Harbor Art and Music Center is a whimsical stop, and New World Brewery’s biergarten and music hall are now reliable for almost daily live music. Clearwater’s historic Capitol Theatre offers a similar capacity and high quality touring acts, and so does St. Pete’s recently-revamped Floridian Social (which used to be the State Theatre).

Upcoming shows at Skipper’s Smokehouse include Kat Riggins, Orquestra Indinidad, and the It’s Too Hot Music Festival. Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

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This article appears in Jul 20-26, 2023.