Maxwell plays Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida on September 1, 2017.
To an entire generation, Maxwell has been a torchbearer for modern R&B, and this fall the 50-year-old songwriter brings his legacy—and the future of the genre—to Tampa.
His “Serenade” tour kicks off in Florida at the Hard Rock Hollywood and includes just one other Florida show a day later in the Bay area. Openers on the run include R&B powerhouse and Grammy-winning songwriter Jazmine Sullivan (one of Time’s most influential people of 2022), plus Indiana-born singer-songwriter October London.
Maxwell emerged from a short period of inactivity after the pandemic and has hinted at the release of his much-anticipated Night album, which will arrive nearly 30-years after an mindblowing debut record, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite featuring the breakout single “Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder).” He cemented a place in music history shortly after that outing, after releasing an MTV Unplugged album featuring covers of Kate Bush (“This Woman’s Work”) and Nine Inch Nails (“Closer”).
See Josh Bradley’s latest roundup of new concerts coming to Tampa Bay below. Sting w/The Florida Orchestra Friday, May 10. 8 p.m. $100 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg
The Lemon Twigs Sunday, May 12. 5:30 p.m. $22. Crowbar, Ybor City
Chat Pile w/Portrayal of Guilt/Nightosphere Thursday, May 16. 7 p.m. $20. Crowbar, Ybor City
Grateful Shred w/Circles Around the Sun Thursday, May 16. 7:30 p.m. $29.50. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Uptown Music Festival: DW3 w/José Valentino & Charlton Singleton/Kayla Waters/Rob Zinn/Tim George/Eric Darius/Alex Harris/Adam Hawley/Paula Atherton/Tim George Saturday-Sunday, May 25-26. 4 p.m. $90 & up. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa
Joyner Lucas Tuesday, May 28th. 8 p.m. $35 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Emo Nite Tampa Saturday, June 1. 9 p.m. $17.50 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
Roar w/TBA Monday, June 3. 7 p.m. $20. Crowbar, Ybor City
Hunxho Thursday, June 6th. 8 p.m. $25 & up. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Messer Chups w/Little Sheeba/more TBA Thursday, June 13. 7 p.m. $20. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa
Rachel Bochner (opening for Xana) Saturday, June 15. 8 p.m. $20 & up. Crowbar, Ybor City
AJ Mitchell Sunday, June 16. 6 p.m. $19.99. Crowbar, Ybor City
Abducted By The 80’s: Wang Chung w/Men Without Hats/The Motels/Naked Eyes Saturday, June 22. 8 p.m. $40 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
Little Big Sunday, June 23. 6:30 p.m. $19.50 & up. The Ritz, Ybor City
Barbie the Movie: In Concert Tuesday, July 2. 8 p.m. $35.30 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
A.C.E. Wednesday, July 3. 7:30 p.m. $49.50 & up. Ferguson Hall at Straz Center For the Performing Arts, Tampa
Kid Cudi w/Pusha T/Earthgang Saturday, July 6. 7 p.m. $46.20 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa
GZA and Kota The Friend Friday, July 19. 7 p.m. Prices TBA. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-A-Whirl Band Sunday, July 21. 7:30 p.m. $39 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Halestorm w/I Prevail/Hollywood Undead/Fit For a King Thursday, Aug. 1. 6 p.m. $35.05 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
Aurelio Voltaire Friday, Aug. 9. 7 p.m. $20. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa
S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival: Slash w/ZZ Ward/Robert Randolph/more Saturday, Aug. 10. 6:30 p.m. $40 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater
311 w/Awolnation/Neon Trees Sunday, Aug. 18. 8 p.m. $75 & up. Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa
Charley Crockett Tuesday, Aug. 27. 8 p.m. $40. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Zheani Saturday, Oct. 5. 7 p.m. $25. Crowbar, Ybor City
The Avett Brothers Saturday, Nov. 16. 7 p.m. $44.50 & up. The BayCare Sound, Clearwater
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Josh Bradley is Creative Loafing Tampa's resident live music freak. He started freelancing with the paper in 2020 at the age of 18, and has since covered, announced, and previewed numerous live shows in Tampa Bay. Check the music section in print and online every week for the latest in local live music.
Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief in August 2019. Past work can be seen at Suburban Apologist, Tampa Bay Times, Consequence of Sound and The...