2024 Promises to Bring a Stellar Lineup of Live Music to the Florida Suncoast & Tampa Bay
Live music on both the local and national stages is already lining up well into summer around the Suncoast, Tampa Bay, and beyond. Small local venues that constantly keep live music playing such as Big Top Brewing, Stottlemyer’s Smokehouse, Motorworks Brewery, 88 Live Piano Bar, Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub, Swordfish Grill & Tiki, and Cortez Kitchen, have music throughout the week and weekends with favorites like Kettle of Fish, Jack’D Up, Dr. Dave and of course local rock stars Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio & The Billy Rice Band. Bradenton’s Village of the Arts brings blues at both the Birdrock Taco Shack and Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, with acts like local musician James Varnardo’s Jazz and Blues Jam on Sundays. The upcoming 5th Annual Cigar Box Guitar Festival will be held on February 2nd and 3rd at the Village. Sarasota’s Van Wezel Performing Arts Center has a mix of Broadway, comedy and music coming up. Jazz trumpeter Chris Botti is coming to town and songstress Diana Krall. Broadway’s biggest show Hamilton is on stage in March. Blues rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepard and pop/rocker Rick Springfield are just a couple of the national tours headed to the SRQ. Just announced, George Thorogood & The Destroyers are coming to rock Sarasota on May 1st! Show lineups and tickets at www.vanwezel.org
Clearwater has a triple treat of venues with Ruth Eckerd Hall, The Nancy & David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre and the new outdoor amphitheater, The Sound. From the Cap’s small intimate venue of 800, the Ruthie seating 2,180 and The Sound can house up to 9,000 with lawn, there is a variety of sizes and shows to choose from. Coming to The Sound on February 10th is the legendary Willie Nelson & Family. A not-to-miss show. Just some of the artists headed to Clearwater are the Allman Betts Band, Todd Rundgren, and David Foster & Katherine McPhee. Check out the website for the slew of artists coming to all the venues at www.rutheckredhall.com
Coming to Tampa, starting with the biggest venue Raymond James Stadium, is hosting the Billy Joel/Sting double-header on February 24th! For country fans, Kenny Chesney is coming on April 20th with the Zac Brown Band, Uncle Kracker and Megan Moroney. Be ready, the Bucs home stadium seats 75,000, for really big shows! Tickets are at www.ticketmaster.com The Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds kicks off its season on May 10th with Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show. Big names for summer tours are coming – Janet Jackson, Sammy Hagar, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Alanis Morrisette just to name a few.
Over at downtown Tampa’s Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning, there are concerts and Lightning games going on. For the hip-hop/R&B crowd, Drake is bringing his “It’s All a Blur Tour” for 2 nights on February 2nd and 4th. Right after Drake leaves town, Pantera with guest Lamb of God will be hard rocking the Amalie on February 5th. Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Pitbull team up for a high energy show on March 10th with the Trilogy tour. On April 4th, the Material Girl, Madonna will arrive in Tampa with her Celebration Tour. All events here https://www.amaliearena.com/events
The Tampa Seminole Hard Rock Event Center is one of the best intimate venues in the area! Booking legendary artists like Rod Stewart and Frankie Valli, they mix it up with acts like Boys II Men and metal bands, Sevendust and Static-X. The 1,500 seat setting makes it a great room to see your favorite artist up close and personal. The Hard Rock offers restaurants and bars for before and after shows as well as your favorite adult games. The Hard Rock Cafe also books local and national music acts. Check out the lineup coming https://www.seminolehardrocktampa.com/entertainment/hard-rock-event-center Locally in Tampa, Skipper’s Smokehouse has always hosted an eclectic mix of bands and musicians since 1980. Check out their award-winning Blackened Grouper Reuben sandwich!
There will be plenty of festivals too! Paragon Festivals will be bringing their popular Seafood and Food Truck Festivals from St Pete to Ft. Myers. The Gasparilla Festival, Tampa Bay Blues Festival, Bradenton Blues Festival, Thunder By the Bay and much more!
If that’s not enough live music for you around the Suncoast, you can head over to Orlando. There is the House of Blues, Hard Rock Live and Kia Center for more national tours. You will have to take a road trip over to the land of the mouse if you want to see The Rolling Stones on their “Hackney Diamonds” tour is coming to Camping World Stadium on June 3rd. There will be more shows being added throughout the year, so be sure to check the various venues for your favorite artists coming on tour, and please support your local live music!
Vicky Sullivan Photos