Musically, the Tampa Bay area has a busy month in store with a variety of acts scheduled to appear at venues large and small. In addition to single-artist gigs, the area will play host to two multi-act festivals this month.
Raymond James Stadium will host 98 Rockfest on Sunday, May 11, 11 a.m. Headlining the festival is Kid Rock. From his debut album “Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast” to his breakthrough “Devil Without a Casue” in 1998, the artist has cultivated a unique blend of Southern rock, blues, country and hip-hop. Other bands scheduled to take the stage include 3 Doors Down, Serj Tankian (best known as the lead vocalist of System of a Down), Shinedown, Filter, Ashes Divide, Theory of a Deadman, Five Finger Death Punch, Saving Abel and Skratch-n-Sniff.
Fashioned specifically for the eclectic music connoisseur, WMNF 88.5 will present Tropical Heatwave 2008 on Saturday, May 17, 5:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., in various venues around Ybor City, including The Cuban Club, New World Brewery and The Orpheum. As always, event organizers have managed to rustle up a wide range of great acts, from nationally known artists to up-and-coming performers. Influential singer/songwriter Graham Parker leads the playbill, with returning acts like Sonny Landreth, Brave Combo and Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams also scheduled to appear.
Following is a list of some of the musical acts slated to perform in May.
- Friday, May 16 – Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, 9 p.m. Sunday, May 25 – Debbie Davis, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29 – Todd Wolfe, 8 p.m. Saturday, May 31 – Larry Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, 9 p.m.
Ford Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds
- Friday, May 9 – Tim McGraw with Jason Aldean, 8 p.m
- Sunday, May 25 – Steve Miller, 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, May 10 – Stephen Marley, doors open at 7 p.m
- Friday, May 16 – Drive-By Truckers, doors open at 7 p.m.
- Sunday, May 18 – Ace Frehley, doors open at 6:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 20 – She Wants Revenge, doors open at 6:30 p.m.
- Friday, May 23 – Pennywise, with Strung Out, doors open at 6:30 p.m.
- Monday, May 12 – The Spencer Davis Group, 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, May 16 – Firefall, 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 28 – Cowsills, 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, May 15 – Sergio Mendes with special guest Simone, 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, May 16 – B.K. Jackson Jazz Quintet, 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, May 16 – Sol y Canto, 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, May 24 – Natasha Bedingfield, 8 p.m.
- Saturday, May 24 – Alicia Keys, 8 p.m.
- Friday, May 9 – Red Elvises and Truckstop Coffee, 8 p.m.
- Friday, May 16 – WMNF’s Heatwave Preview Show featuring Del Castillo, Groovesect, Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams and Brave Combo; 8 p.m.
- Friday, May 23 – Michael Burks, 8 p.m.
- Saturday, May 24 – Halcyon, 8 p.m.
- Friday, May 30 – Adrian Belew, 8 p.m.
- Thursday, May 22 – Hatebreed, 7 p.m.
- Friday, May 23 – Corey Smith, 7 p.m.
- Sunday, May 25 – The Sword, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
- Saturday, May 24 – Arturo Sandoval, 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, May 29 – Terrence Brewer, 7:30 p.m.
