If you’re looking to fill your live music calendar with the rest of this year’s must-see concerts, then look below.
Lizzo w/Ari Lennox Lizzo’s concert at Jannus Live was selling so well that it got moved to a bigger venue across the bay. In April, Tampa’s Yuengling Center announced that it will be the new home for the concert by the rising rap phenom and master flutist. Arena officials say that the move makes 5,000 additional tickets available, which bodes well for fans of the 30-year-old rapper and body-posi star, who’s tapped Dreamville stunna Ari Lennox to open the show. Tues. Sept. 10, 8:30 p.m. $41.25 & up. Yuengling Center, Tampa. yuenglingcenter.com.
The Midnight Hour feat. Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad The Palladium Theater is a great place to see jazz, and it’s about to play host to a show featuring two hip-hop producers whose music wouldn’t exist without the genre. The Midnight Hour — featuring A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Los Angeles producer Adrian Younge — plays the Palladium’s 850-seat Hough Hall, and it’s the band’s first appearance in the area since it headlined Orpheum in December. Loren Oden, Angela Muñoz and Jack Waterson play support on the show and will also be in the lineup for The Midnight Hour. Wed. Sept. 11, 7 p.m. $12 & up. Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg. brokenmoldentertainment.com.
Cat Power After a concert announcement rollout that saw the show appear and then disappear, we can confirm that Chan Marshall is coming to Tampa. Marshall’s latest LP, Wander, was one of the most powerful releases of 2018. Fri. Sept. 13, 6 p.m. $31. The Ritz, Ybor City. theritzybor.com.
Propagandhi We’ll take any chance to see Tampa expat Sulynn Hago shred onstage, and this gig finds the guitarist slaying with been-woke Canadian punk band Propagandhi. Bonus points since St. Petersburg’s own Permanent Makeup is opening the show. Sat. Sept. 14, 7 p.m. $25. Orpheum, Ybor City. eventbrite.com.
Big K.R.I.T. Rapper Big K.R.I.T., known for such Dirty South anthems as “Country Shit” and “Money on the Floor,” will kick off his “From The South With Love” tour supporting a new album, K.R.I.T. Iz Here in Tampa. Thurs. Sept. 19, 7 p.m. $26 & up. theritzybor.com. —Colin Wolf
Growlers Still hurt over The Growlers’ last-minute cancelation of a sold-out October 2017 show at Orpheum in Ybor City? Hope you got a ticket to see the wildly-popular beach-goth band try and make it right. The California outfit arrives supporting a forthcoming album, Natural Affair, and tickets sold out this week. Secondary market tickets might totally worth it since the band hasn’t played a Bay area room as small as Crowbar since 2015 when Broncho played opener. Thurs. Sept. 19, 7 p.m. $35. Crowbar, Ybor City. aestheticized.com.
Xavier Rudd The 41-year-old Australian songwriter and didgeridoo whiz is in St. Pete supporting a 2018 album, Storm Boy, which press materials describe as an “awakening” for Rudd, who’d notably fallen in love on the effort. “It’s definitely a theme on the record,” Rudd said. ““Life feels strong and solid for me now… and this record is in a different space. It’s a solid space. I feel like I’ve come to the end of that chapter where I’ve learned a bunch of lessons and I’ve been shown a bunch of things spiritually.” It’ll be the first time CL has seen Rudd in the area since a 2010 stop at State Theatre. Sat. Sept. 21, 8 p.m. $25. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg. jannuslive.com.
GZA Call him the Genius, Justice or even Maximillion, Wu-Tang Clan founding member GZA has been known by many names during his years with the Clan. But it was with the release of his seminal 1995 solo album Liquid Swords that GZA made his name as a solo force to be reckoned with. Fans in Tampa Bay will get to experience a rare headlining appearance by the Genius himself in the days immediately following his appearance at St. Augustine's Sing Out Loud fest. Sun. Sept. 22, 9 p.m. $25-$50. Orpheum, Ybor City. eventbrite.com. —Matthew Moyer
Meek Mill w/ Future/Megan Thee Stallion Meek Mill is doing a bang-up job making up for the time he lost while becoming a highly-visible figure in the fight against mass incarceration and subjectivity in the criminal justice system. The 32-year-old Philadelphia rapper, who was incarcerated after violating probation on old gun and drug charges, was freed from prison in 2018 after high-profile celebrities and sports owners called for his release. He dropped a new album, Championship, months later and played Saturday Night Live early this year. Now Mr. Mill is bringing Future and Megan Thee Stallion to Tampa Bay. Mon. Sept. 23, 7 p.m. $35 & up. MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa. livenation.com.
It Was 50 Years Ago Today w/Todd Rundgren/Christopher Cross/Mikey Dolenz/Jason Schaff Todd Rundgren just played Tampa Bay in June, but he’s already headed back. The occasion? A tribute show built around the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ 1968 self-titled double album commonly referred to as “The White Album.” Joining Rundgren onstage is an all-star collection of musicians including Christopher Cross, the Monkees’ Micky Dolenz, Badfinger’s Joey Molland and former Chicago singer Jason Scheff. The show — where the musicians will play their own greatest hits as well as songs from the White Album — just might sell out. Tues. Sept. 24, 8 p.m. $43.75 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. rutheckerdhall.com.
Snarky Puppy Grammy-winning jazz collective Snarky Puppy released a new album, Immigrance, this spring and will support the effort with a fall tour that stops in Clearwater. “The idea here is that everything is fluid, that everything is always moving and that we’re all in a constant state of immigration,” Snarky Puppy co-founder Michael League said in a release about the album. “Obviously the album’s title is not without political undertones.” League appeared as backup in David Crosby’s band during a 2016 show at the recently re-named Capitol Theatre, but this might be Snarky Puppy’s first show in the Bay area since the band played a January 2016 show at The Ritz in Ybor City (diehards remember seeing the Pups at State Theatre the year before and at Crowbar in 2014). Thurs. Sept. 26, 8 p.m. $33.25-$125. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. rutheckerdhall.com.
Phil Collins Phil Collins’ “Still Not Dead Yet” tour has announced a 15-date run through the U.S., and Tampa scored one of its stops. Love him or hate him, you still know that “In The Air Tonight” drum fill when you hear it. Thurs. Sept. 26. 8 p.m. $50 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa. amaliearena.com.
Tyler the Creator w/Jaden Smith/Goldlink Igor is inarguably the most successful album of Tyler, The Creator’s career, and now the 28-year-old Odd Future founder is bringing it to the biggest rooms of his life. The show comes eight years after Tyler had to wade through controversy surrounding his overtly homophobic 2011 album Goblin. In his own defense, Tyler told NME that he’s not homophobic. “I just think 'faggot' hits and hurts people. It hits. And 'gay' just means you're stupid. I don't know, we don't think about it, we're just kids. We don't think about that shit. But I don't hate gay people,” he said. “I don't want anyone to think I'm homophobic." Tyler released two albums after that and then raised questions about his own sexuality with his Grammy-nominated 2017 album, Flower Boy. Igor, which debuted at No 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart, found Tyler mining deeper into his musical curiosities while exposing the deepest parts of his life. Sat. Sept. 28 7 p.m. $35.75-$65.75. Yuengling Center at University of South Florida, Tampa. yuenglingcenter.com.
Cupcakke The Chicago rapper sucks, ducks, and is sex-positive — and she's bringing her microphone deep-throating to her fans, aka “Slurpers,” along with some cash. OK — so Elizabeth Harris who performs as CupcakKe is more than dildo games and declarations of wanting to ride Squidward's nose. Her upbeat and mostly NSFW rap also finds space to deal with her own sexual abuse and prior homelessness, as well as allows her to champion her legion of fans in the LGBTQ+ community, and, well, dicks. Even Spider-Man's. CupcakKe took to Twitter to announce the details for her upcoming $10K Tour, during which the “Old Town Hoe” claims she will be giving away $10,000. While it was not made explicitly clear in her tweet, the folks over at Stereogum used their noggins to deduce that CupcakKe is probably not making it rain $10,000 each night; rather, the site said she'll probably give out that amount over the course of her 21-date run, which includes that stop in Ybor City this fall. Wed. Oct. 2, 7 p.m. $23. eventbrite.com. —Jerilyn Jordan
Twenty One Pilots It’s been less a year since 21P played a sold-out Amalie Arena, but the ridiculously popular alt-rock duo is already headed back to Tampa Bay. The band kicks off a new leg of its “Banditø Tour” at Amalie in downtown Tampa. Wed. Oct. 9, 8 p.m. $50 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa. amaliearena.com.
Chance the Rapper Chance the Rapper’s official debut LP, The Big Day, topped Billboard charts when the tallies came in after its July release, and the Chicago MC is bringing a tour supporting the effort to Tampa Bay. Hypebeasts and hipsters dissed the album, so it’ll be interesting to see how and if Chance’s day ones can fill the arena. Mon. Oct. 14, 7 p.m. $55.75 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa. amaliearena.com.
Clearwater Jazz Holiday Jazz purists: you already know the drill. The 40-year-old Clearwater Jazz Festival, much like the New Orleans Jazz Festival, has a lineup that includes artists whose albums wouldn’t be found under the “jazz” category at your local record store. In short, find a different way to argue about your aversion to the lineup. In June, the nonprofit Clearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation, which activates music education in Bay area schools throughout the year, announced that its 2019 poster will be led by bluegrass singer-songwriter Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men and Chicago, who are headlining four days of music at Clearwater’s Coachman Park starting on Thursday, October 17. Crescent City jazz collective Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue — which includes Tampa’s very own BK Jackson on saxophone — adds, yes, jazz, to a bill that also includes Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Soul Rebels, Yonder Mountain String Band plus Blood, Sweat and Tears. Thurs.-Sun. Oct. 17-20. Coachman Park, Clearwater. clearwaterjazz.com.
Frankie and the Witch Fingers It’s not uncommon to see a crowd outside of The Bends in St. Petersburg. We’re hoping to see a line out the door on October 18. The occasion? A headlining set by surging Los Angeles rock and roll band Frankie and the Witch Fingers whose 2019 album, ZAM, makes me want to pretty much abandon every responsibility I’ve ever had and lose complete control of my life. It’s a sinister effort that’s both hypnotizing and ready to beat you over the head with its psych-rock sensibilities and pounding drum-driven rhythmic base. Not having to pay a cover for this is certified highway robbery. Fri. Oct. 18, 9 p.m. No cover. aestheticized.com.
Coheed and Cambria w/The Contortionist/Astronoid Coheed’s fall tour is in support of Coheed’s latest concept album, Vaxis – Act I: The Unheavenly Creatures, for which frontman Claudio Sanchez and his bandmates — guitarist Travis Stever, bassist Zach Cooper and drummer Josh Eppard — have continued to bring new characters to storylines introduced on the band’s last album, The Color Before the Sun. Fri. Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m. $29.50. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg. themahaffey.com.
Tampa Pig Jig w/Jake Owen/Dr. Dog/LANCO/more Tampa Pig Jig has figured out how to use country and indie-rock to help raise money for research benefiting patients suffering from the kidney disease Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and the diseases that cause Nephrotic Syndrome. Today, the one-day barbecue cook-off and mini-music festival (aka the best backyard cookout in downtown Tampa) announced that Florida native and rising country music star Jake Owen will headline festivities. Joining the 37-year-old “Down To The Honkytonk” singer at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park will be Nashville crossover group LANCO and indie-rock favorite Dr. Dog. Sat. Oct. 19. $25 & up. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa. tampapigjig.com.
Post Malone/Swae Lee/Tyla Yaweh Post Malone, a Grammy-nominated, Texas-based rapper and man-shaped wad of debris stuck in the Roomba, will bring his latest tour to Tampa where he and his hordes of fans will belt out hits like “White Iverson,” “Rockstar” and “Congratulations.” Thurs. Oct. 24, 8 p.m. $49.75 & up. Amalie Arena, Tampa. amaliearena.com. —Colin Wolf
Gus Dapperton What’s it like to be an “it-boy bedroom-pop auteur” these days? Ask Gus Dapperton, who was given the title by Pitchfork, which also called Dapperton’s debut LP “excitingly personal and a bit disingenuous.” The 22-year-old born Brendan Rice recorded, mixed, and mastered the 2019 effort, Where Polly People Go To Read, himself and will wrap his fourth Euro-tour (plus hit Asia and Australia for the first time) before heading to the U.S. for a series of dates this Halloween show. Thurs. Oct. 31, 7 p.m. $18-$20. Orpheum, Ybor City. eventbrite.com.
Elton John The reschedule didn't take long, but Elton John's farewell version of yellow the yellow brick road was a lot longer for Tampa fans who saw the original gig get postponed due to an ear infection on the night before it was supposed to go down. “We always play 100% live and with impaired hearing and ear pain, I wouldn’t have been able to deliver the performance that my fans deserve," John wrote on social media. "I absolutely hate letting my fans down and it was an incredibly hard decision to make. Thank you for all your patience and support.” Mon. Nov. 4, 8 p.m. $55.75. Amalie Arena, Tampa. amaliearena.com.
Frank Turner Frank Turner is a familiar, and welcome, face for Tampa Bay punk fans, and this fall he’ll bring a new album to a venue he’s never played before when a 19-date fall tour in support of No Man’s Land, err, lands at Palladium Theater. The album’s name is significant in that the effort features an all-female cast of musicians all dedicated to telling stories of 13 women whose lives have been overlooked. What’s more is that the album, released in August, is accompanied by a new 13-episode podcast series called “Tales from No Man's Land.” Wed. Nov. 6, 6 p.m. $38. Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg. mypalladium.org.
Elvis Costello & the Imposters Elvis Costello thinks that fans have a lot of questions when it comes to his band’s live set. “Will they play my favorite song?" or, “Are they going to frighten the horses with a lot of excellent songs that are rarely performed?,” not to mention, “Can I expect the hits of yesteryear and those of tomorrow?" A press release for this tour says that the trek’s title, “Just Trust,” is an answer to those questions, and Tampa Bay fans will get a chance to figure it all out for themselves when Costello and The Imposters (Steve Nieve on keyboards, Pete Thomas on drums, and bass and vocalist Davey Faragher all joined by singers Kitten Kuroi and Briana Lee) get to the Sunshine City. Sun. Nov. 10, 7 p.m. $55 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg. themahaffey.com.
Dwight Yoakam Iconic country artist Dwight Yoakam has made a career out of simple, well-written songs that resonate deep in the listener's soul. And some of those tunes have even won over folks who normally couldn't be bothered with the genre. Lucky for us, Yoakum's gearing up for a Clearwater concert. “Well, I’m back again for another night of trying to break free from this sadness that I can’t lay to rest,” Yoakam croons on the 1990 track “Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose." “This old honky-tonk sure does feel like home, and the music with the laughter seem to soothe my loneliness.” Fri. Nov. 15, 8 p.m. $43.25 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. rutheckerdhall.com. —Chris Conde
Com Truise w/Altopalo/Beshken Com Truise’s new album, Persuasion System, found him heading in a darker direction, and he’s bringing the moody vibes to Tampa for his first local show since 2017. Sat. Nov. 16, 9 p.m. $20. Crowbar, Ybor City. aestheticized.com.
Ariana Grande w/Normani/Social House Tampa has been waiting to taste Ariana Grande’s Sweetener in real life after she postponed her Amalie Arena show just hours before doors opened. A press release cited illness as the reason for the postponement — and by illness, Grande meant an unknown tomato allergy. Tickets the shows will be honored at the makeup. No tomatos allowed. Sun. Nov. 24, 8 p.m. $31.20. Amalie Arena, Tampa. amaliearena.com.
John Prine w/Kelsey Waldon In June, one of country music’s brightest young songwriters inked a deal to be labelmates with one of the all-time greats. Kelsey Waldon, whom CL first noticed when she landed on the bill for a Gasparilla Music Festival 2017, is now on John Prine’s Oh Boy Records. Waldon’s move represents Oh Boy’s first new signing in 15 years and is a testament to the way her songs candidly explore the daily lives of the working class with both humor and humility. The icing on the cake is that Waldon — who’s supporting her Oh Boy debut, White Noise / White Lines, due October 4 — is opening this Clearwater show with Prine (happening just a few miles away from a home he keeps in Gulfport). Sat. Dec. 7, 8 p.m. $77 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. rutheckerdhall.com.
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