Offering three days worth of classic rock and classic cuisine, Ribfest returns and brings its usual aroma of seared flesh and the sound of screaming guitars to downtown St. Pete's Vinoy Park. Vendors from across the nation hawk barbecue alongside local food purveyors like Fat Fred's Famous BBQ (St. Petersburg) and J&J Bar-B-Que of Bradenton. Attendees also enjoy a custom/classic car and truck show, and a children's entertainment area. On Friday, attendees are treated to music by a power trio fronted by Fran Cosmo, the dude who took over as lead vocalist for Boston in '91 and appeared on the band's 1994 comeback album Walk On, as well as subsequent tours. That same evening, attendees also hear from Midwest prog-rock stalwarts Kansas. Saturday's headliners are Southern soft rockers Atlanta Rhythm Section; Vinoy regular Eddie Money and the "Sweet, sweet Connie"-loving Grand Funk Railroad. Sunday's bill features blues-rocker Edgar Winter; Lou Gramm, original vocalist for Foreigner; and Gregg Rolie, lead singer/keyboardist of the original Santana lineup. Visit ribfest.org for a complete schedule. Nov. 9-11, gates open at 11 a.m. each day, Bayshore Drive and Seventh Avenue N.E., St. Petersburg, $10 in advance/$15 day of.
This article appears in Nov 7-13, 2007.