Coachman Park
Country Thunder
CLEARWATER — Following a change of venue, Country Thunder will be presented May 8-10 at Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland St.
Weekend general admission starts at $300. Visit www.countrythunder.com/fl-info.
Country Thunder — the largest country music festival brand in North America — will be headlined by country superstars Zach Top, Gavin Adcock, and Kane Brown. The event comes to Florida with a stacked lineup also featuring Randy Houser, Max McNown, Shaboozey, Dasha, and many more.
“We are excited to introduce country music fans to beautiful waterfront Coachman Park and to be the new location for Country Thunder,” said Jennifer Poirrier, Clearwater city manager. “There’s a lot that goes into expediting event preparations and moving a festival 30 days before it is scheduled and we have been working around the clock with Country Thunder officials to ensure we deliver a great festival experience for ticket holders and the artists. I’m excited to put on my boots and watch the sunset while listening to some great country music.”
Across three days, Country Thunder Florida will transform Coachman Park into a bucket-list festival experience — uniting fans from all corners of the U.S. for nonstop music, connection, and coastal ambiance at its finest. Beyond the music, attendees can expect a full slate of all-day action: cowboy hat and apparel vendors, a wide range of food offerings, plus an additional stage spotlighting rising artists from the Sunshine State and a Songwriter Showcase featuring the writers behind the Main Stage’s biggest smashes. Curated sponsor activations bring added buzz throughout the grounds, and surprise artist meet-and-greets can surface at any moment.
Jannus Live
Aaron Hibell
ST. PETERSBURG — English DJ, record producer, composer and electronic artist Aaron Hibell will take the stage on Thursday, May 7, 7 p.m., at Jannus Live, 200 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg.
Tickets start at $32.48. Visit www.jannuslive.com.
Hibell is known for his immersive electronic music that blends atmospheric textures, intricate rhythms, and layered sonic detail. He produces work that is as emotionally resonant as it is compelling on the dance floor. His sound moves seamlessly between introspective depth and club-ready energy, reflecting a meticulous, process-driven approach to production.
Between 2021 and 2023, Hibell began self-releasing his “Monastery of Sound” mixtape trilogy on SoundCloud. His debut EP, “Twilight Zone,” arrived in 2023, followed by a sophomore EP, “Astral Projection,” in 2024 — both independently released on his label imprint, All Time High.
Earlier this year, Hibell released “Synchronicity,” his debut studio album. With the new album, Hibell continues to push the boundaries of electronic music, creating richly textured, evolving soundscapes.
Soulja Boy
ST. PETERSBURG — Rapper and record producer Soulja Boy will perform on Friday, May 8, 7 p.m., at Jannus Live, 200 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg.
Tickets start at $48.24. Visit www.jannuslive.com.
Soulja Boy first gained recognition with the self-released debut single “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” in 2007. The song reached the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The single led to Soulja Boy’s debut album, “Souljaboytellem.com,” released the same year.
Since then, Soulja Boy has released 10 additional studio albums, as well as several compilation albums, mixtapes and extended plays. His most recent studio album, “Drip,” dropped on April 10.
Exodus & Biohazard
ST. PETERSBURG — Thrash metal outfit Exodus will perform on Sunday, May 10, 6 p.m., at Jannus Live, 200 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg.
Tickets start at $42.55. Visit www.jannuslive.com. Biohazard also will perform.
Firmly at the genre’s forefront for 40 years, Exodus are undisputed legends. From the far-beyond-seminal eruption of their debut album “Bonded By Blood,” first released in 1985, to the skull-smashing extremity of the records the Bay Area crew have released in recent years, they remain a benchmark for thrash brutality and unerring commitment to the heavy metal cause. According to the band’s website, their sound was revolutionary back in the early ’80s, and remains far ahead of the curve today.
Exodus are the rightful kings of thrash, and “Bonded By Blood” is still the ultimate expression of the genre’s snotty, energized essence. The band have been at the genre’s cutting edge throughout their four decades, and never more so than now, as showcased on their preceding output, 2021’s “Persona Non Grata,” and the brand-new tour de force, “Goliath,” released on March 20 through Napalm Records.
Bilheimer Capitol Theatre
Devon Allman’s Blues Summit
CLEARWATER — Devon Allman and Ruf Records are celebrating the joint release of the 2025 star-studded album titled “Blues Summit.” Devon Allman will bring “Blues Summit” to the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday, May 6, 8 p.m., at the Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater.
Tickets start at $52. Visit www.rutheckerdhall.com or call 727-791-7400.
The album features all-star appearances from Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Robert Randolph, Jimmy Hall, Larry McCray, Sierra Green, and more. Following the album’s release and a series of European festival performances, the “Blues Summit Tour” is playing dates throughout the United States. The touring lineup features The Devon Allman Project, Larry McCray, Jimmy Hall, Sierra Green with special guest Ghalia Volt and promises to bring a high-energy celebration of blues music across the country.
Blues has always been at the core of the Allman legacy, serving as a foundational influence in Devon Allman’s career. His partnership with Ruf Records through his own Create Records imprint feels like a natural evolution, especially given his longstanding relationship with label founder Thomas Ruf. Since its inception in 1994, Ruf Records has earned a reputation as one of the premier labels in blues rock, holding a meaningful place in Devon’s musical journey.
Devon Allman’s Blues Summit is a powerhouse gathering of blues legends that promises to electrify the stage.
10,000 Maniacs
CLEARWATER — 10,000 Maniacs will perform on Thursday, May 7, 8 p.m., at the Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater.
Tickets start at $63. Visit www.rutheckerdhall.com or call 727-791-7400.
One of the most influential bands to emerge from the alternative-rock scene, 10,000 Maniacs have spent over four decades captivating audiences with their poetic lyrics, lush melodies, and unforgettable live performances. Since forming in Jamestown, New York in 1981, the group has gone from indie trailblazers to platinum-selling pioneers, selling more than 10 million records worldwide and helping to shape the sound of alternative rock.
The band broke through with 1987’s “In My Tribe,” which stayed on the charts for 77 weeks and produced the classics “Like the Weather” and “What’s the Matter Here?” They followed with platinum albums “Blind Man’s Zoo” and “Our Time in Eden,” featuring fan favorites “Trouble Me,” “Candy Everybody Wants,” and “These Are Days.” Their MTV “Unplugged” performance, including the hit “Because the Night,” sold over 4 million copies and remains a landmark moment in ’90s music.
Led today by the powerful voice and viola of Mary Ramsey alongside founding members Jerome Augustyniak (drums), John Lombardo (guitar), Dennis Drew (keyboards), and Steven Gustafson (bass), the Maniacs continue to bring their rich songbook to life onstage with passion and authenticity. Guitarist Ben Medina rounds out the lineup, adding fresh energy to their signature sound.
Killer Queen: Tribute to Queen
CLEARWATER — Killer Queen: A Tribute To Queen will perform on Saturday, May 9, 8 p.m., at the Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater.
Tickets start at $62. Visit www.rutheckerdhall.com or call 727-791-7400.
Killer Queen, featuring Patrick Myers as Freddie Mercury, formed back in June 1993. Their first public shows were at London University, following in the footsteps of the real Queen who had played their first shows there 21 years earlier. By 1995 Killer Queen’s UK popularity had grown to such an extent they secured a residency in London’s Strand Theatre attracting nationwide BBC coverage — the first tribute to have a show in the West End. The band’s reputation continued to grow both in the UK and abroad.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” Myers said in a press release. “That first show back in June 1993 changed my life. We thought our band would last maybe a summer at the most but it’s a very addictive thing performing these songs. The concerts grew and grew and we’ve ended up playing and selling out the same arenas that Queen played at their peak. It’s been quite a surreal ride.”
Coastal Lifestyle House Concerts
Hobo Cane
DUNEDIN — Javier “Hobo Cane” Mendoza will perform Saturday, May 9, 8 p.m., at Coastal Lifestyle House Concerts, 1242 Taylor Ave., Dunedin.
Admission is a $25 donation which goes directly to the artist. RSVP required. For information and to RSVP, visit www.CoastalLifestyleConcerts.com.
Hobo Cane is a genre-defying artist driven by authenticity, purpose, and soul. Born Javier Alberto Mendoza in Virginia to a Spanish mother and Mexican-American father, music shaped his identity from an early age. His professional career began in Miami as a staff songwriter for Warner-Chappell Music, where he wrote for international superstars such as Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, Juanes, and Rosario.
Mendoza’s path led him to St. Louis, a city rich in musical legacy, where he cultivated a devoted following and refined his voice as both songwriter and performer. In 2014, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, launching the Hobo Cane project — an artistic rebirth rooted in live performance, emotional honesty, and creative independence. He now splits his time between Nashville and St. Louis.
Mahaffey Theater
One Night of Queen
ST. PETERSBURG — One Night of Queen will visit the Tampa Bay area for a show on Sunday, May 10, 7:30 p.m., at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts — Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg.
Tickets start at $58.80. Visit themahaffey.com.
For over 20 years Gary Mullen & The Works have been performing their world-renowned One Night of Queen live concert. The band features Gary Mullen on vocals, David Brockett on guitar, Malcolm Gentles on keyboards, Jon Halliwell on drums and Alan McGeoch on bass guitar. Together, they pay tribute to the stage theatrics, showmanship, and music of arguably the greatest rock band of all time: Queen.
In 2000, Mullen won the Granada TV program “Stars in Their Eyes” with his performance as Queen’s lead singer: Freddie Mercury. Mullen’s embodiment of Freddie Mercury resulted in him gaining 864,838 votes in the show’s Live Grand Final. The number of fans who voted for Mullen was more than double that of the runner-up, thus setting the all-time record number of votes in the history of the program.
For over two decades, Gary Mullen & The Works have performed to audiences around the world, playing more than 2,500 live shows to audiences in over 20 countries — performing and selling out many of the same venues that Queen have, all around the world.
Benchmark International Arena
Kid Cudi
TAMPA — Grammy-Award winning rapper and songwriter Kid Cudi will perform on Friday, May 8, 6:30 p.m., at Benchmark International Arena, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa.
Tickets start at $64.20. Visit www.benchmarkintlarena.com.
Scott Mescudi, professionally known as Kid Cudi, is a musician, actor, director, author, fashion founder and visual artist whose work has reshaped modern culture. Since emerging in 2008, Cudi has built one of the most emotionally resonant catalogs in contemporary music, creating a blueprint for vulnerability, experimentation and genre-defying expression that continues to influence artists across generations. His debut album, “Man on the Moon: The End of Day,” marked a cultural shift, introducing a new emotional language to mainstream music. Over the course of his career, Kid Cudi has released 10 studio albums, sold more than 23 million records worldwide and maintained a rare longevity rooted in authenticity rather than trend. His influence remains active and visible, with early tracks such as “Maui Wowie” recently finding renewed life through viral momentum and reaching a new generation of listeners years after their initial release.
Kid Cudi’s most recent album, “Free,” represents a confident and expansive chapter in his evolution. The project reflects an artist fully in command of his voice, balancing introspection with clarity and forward momentum while reinforcing his role as a creative who continues to grow rather than repeat himself.
The Orpheum
Defeated Sanity
TAMPA — German technical death metal band Defeated Sanity will perform on Wednesday, May 6, 7 p.m., at the Orpheum, 14802 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa.
Tickets start at $35.06. Visit www.theorpheum.com.
Defeated Sanity pushes boundaries. They are a unique outfit in the history of extreme death metal. Their music is as technically coherent as it is mind-bending and memorable. Their maze of riffs and musical passages is inspired by infamous classic bands in the extreme metal genre, while also heavily steeped in jazz and progressive classical elements.
The band consists of four members. They’re led by drummer Lille Gruber, who’s the son of deceased co-founding member Wolfgang Teske. Gruber is joined by bandmates Jacob Schmidt (bass), Josh Welshman (vocals) and Vaughn Stoffey (guitar).
The band’s most recent studio album, “Chronicles of Lunacy,” was released in 2024.
Napalm Death
TAMPA — English grindcore outfit Napalm Death will perform on Friday, May 8, 7 p.m., at the Orpheum, 14802 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa.
Tickets start at $35.06. Visit www.theorpheum.com.
According to the band’s official website, Napalm Death are credited as pioneers of the grindcore genre. The band is known for incorporating elements of crust punk and death metal, using a noise-filled sound that uses heavily distorted, down-tuned guitars, grinding overdrive bass, high speed tempo, blast beats, and vocals which consist of incomprehensible growls, or high-pitched shrieks, extremely short songs, fast tempos, and sociopolitical lyrics. Even after exerting an indelible influence on the entire world of heavy music for nearly 40 years, there is still no band on Earth that sounds like Napalm Death. Not just the pioneers, but an enduring benchmark for invention and fearlessness in heavy and experimental music of all kinds, the Birmingham legends are still hurtling forward.
Das Ich & Esa
TAMPA — German dark wave/gothic-industrial band Das Ich will perform on Sunday, May 10, 7 p.m., at the Orpheum, 14802 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa.
Tickets start at $31.24. Visit www.theorpheum.com.
Das Ich was established in 1989 by Bruno Kramm and Stefan Ackermann — both new wave musicians at the time. They were pioneers in “new German death art,” recording songs such as “Gottes Tod” and “Des Satans neue Kleider.” Known for their gothic-industrial style, on-stage theatrics and German lyrics, Das Ich released their most recent studio album, “Fanal,” in October 2025.
Archspire
TAMPA — Canadian technical death metal band Archspire will perform on Tuesday, May 12, 6 p.m., at the Orpheum, 14802 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa.
Tickets start at $35.06. Visit www.theorpheum.com.
Since 2009, Archspire has aimed to be one thing above all else: extreme. With their new studio album “Too Fast to Die,” they’ve once again raised the bar for what extreme music can be.
The new release is the band’s fifth studio album. They continue to push the limits of speed and virtuosity while keeping a sharp focus on hooks. According to their website, Archspire’s music sits on a knife’s edge of “too much” — just when you think you’ve hit overload, they drop in a soaring melody or a meticulously crafted clean section long enough for you to breathe before throwing you back into a rap-flow vocal assault or some of the fastest drumming you’ll ever hear.
Band members include Oliver Rae Aleron on vocals, Dean Lamb on guitars, Spencer Moore on drums, Tobi Morelli on guitars, and Jared Smith on bass guitar.
Skipper’s Smokehouse
The Black Honkeys
TAMPA — The Black Honkeys will perform on Saturday, May 9, 8 p.m., at Skipper’s Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, Tampa.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Visit skipperssmokehouse.com.
According to the band’s official website, the Black Honkeys first hit the stage in August of 2000. Guitarist Joe Sanders sat down with vocalist Phil Esposito and brainstormed the project. Sanders was big into the J. Geils Band, Hendrix and the Stones. While Esposito loved that too, he also had a love for the old Motown and R&B of the ’60s and ’70s. It was a good fit. Nobody in the scene was doing anything like it at the time, so it was a wide-open playing field.
Sanders and Esposito had previously worked together as part of Freaks Rule, another long-standing Tampa Bay area act. With that background, they knew they could put something together. The band’s first line-up included Sanders and Esposito, along with bass player Wil “The Thrill” Harris. In the early days, The Black Honkeys worked with two different drummers. By September of 2000, the band was rehearsing. Their first live show was on New Year’s Eve at Club More in Clearwater.
Fast forward to 2024: The Black Honkeys have toured nationally and internationally. They have released three CDs, and are a fan favorite in the Tampa Bay area music scene.
The long-standing line-up includes Esposito, Harris, drummer Steven Tanner, guitarist Greg Czinke, trumpeter Terry Clark, trombonist Scott Myers, vocalist Nicole Simone, and guitarist Billy Summer.
The Ritz Ybor
Black Tiger Sex Machine
TAMPA — Canadian electronic music trio Black Tiger Sex Machine will perform on Friday, May 8, 10 p.m., at the Ritz Ybor, 1503 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa.
Tickets start at $42.58. Visit www.theritzybor.com.
The trio are part of Kannibalen Records. They specialize in aggressive, dark electronic music, as well as a live show that extends beyond a typical DJ performance. Members include Marc Chagnon, Julien Maranda and Patrick Barry. The group wear illuminated tiger helmets during their live shows.
Kayzo
TAMPA — Kayzo will take the stage on Saturday, May 9, 10 p.m., at the Ritz Ybor, 1503 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa.
Tickets start at $31.15. Visit www.theritzybor.com.
Hayden Capuozzo is best known by his stage name, Kayzo. The Los Angeles based DJ has amassed a following for remixing songs and incorporating trap and hardstyle genres in his remixes. Kayzo released his debut album, “Overload,” in 2018. His most recent release is “New Breed,” released in 2022.