MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
John Mellencamp
TAMPA — John Mellencamp is on the road this summer with his “Dancing Words Tour — The Greatest Hits.” The outing will bring Mellencamp to the Tampa Bay area for a performance on Monday, Aug. 3, 8 p.m., at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4802 U.S. 301 N., Tampa.
Tickets start at $27.50. Call 813-740-2446 or visit www.livenation.com.
The tour, produced by Live Nation, marks the first time Mellencamp will be performing all his most beloved songs in a single night, some of which haven’t been played live in many years.
One of the most anticipated tours of the summer, fans can expect to hear Mellencamp’s best known songs including “Pink Houses,” “Jack and Diane,” “Small Town,” “Hurts So Good,” “Authority Song,” “Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First),” as well as beloved tracks that he hasn’t performed live in more than 10 years, including “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.,” “I Need a Lover,” “Wild Nights,” “Ain’t Even Done With the Night” among other gems.
Mellencamp’s previous tour, the massive “Live and In Person 2023,” saw sold-out dates across the United States and a host of critical praise, leading to its expansion with “Live and In Person 2024” in 27 additional cities.
Mellencamp is one of the most highly respected singer-songwriters of his generation, with a career in music spanning five decades. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is a recipient of the John Steinbeck Award, ASCAP Foundation’s Champion Award, Woody Guthrie Award, Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and, more recently, the Founders Award, the top honor assigned by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He is also one of the most successful live concert performers in the world. The social activism reflected in his songs helped catalyze Farm Aid, a concert series and organization created by Mellencamp, Willie Nelson and Neil Young in 1985 to address the struggle of American family farmers.
The Palladium
Bryan J. Hughes and the Crew
ST. PETERSBURG — Bryan J. Hughes and the Crew will perform on Friday, July 31, 8 p.m., at the Palladium at St. Petersburg College, 253 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg.
Tickets start at $30. Visit mypalladium.org.
The long-awaited renovation of the Palladium begins Aug. 1. Before the doors close for the scheduled makeover, there will be a special send-off for the beloved theater. This special show will feature Bryan J Hughes and The Crew, with Jean Bolduc on drums, James Suggs on trumpet, John C. O’Leary on piano, and Elias Tona on bass — along with Jeremy Carter on saxophone, Allison Nash on vocals, and extra special guest John Lamb on bass.
This unforgettable evening will be filled with magical moments, connecting friends and memories through the years with all your favorite songs. From jazz and classic favorites to pop, rock, funk, and dance hits, the night promises an extraordinary celebration of music and community.
Jannus Live
Dead Set Florida
ST. PETERSBURG — Dead Set Florida will celebrate Jerry Garcia’s birthday with a concert on Saturday, Aug. 1, 6 p.m., at Jannus Live, 200 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg.
Admission is free. For details, visit www.jannuslive.com.
Dead Set Florida began in 2017 when Christian Walker, born and raised in Upstate New York, and newly transplanted to Tampa Bay, decided to continue performing Grateful Dead music live in Tampa Bay. After serving for the better part of a decade in Syracuse’s finest Grateful Dead tribute, Dark Hollow, and after moving closer to family that transplanted to Florida 20 years prior, he followed his heart and searched for like-minded individuals to share the passion of performing regularly throughout the Tampa Bay area.
He was soon joined by Paul Wolff on guitar, Tucker Waud on keyboards, and drummers Mike Garrie and Scott Costa.
Bayboro Brewing Co.
L’Eclair
ST. PETERSBURG — L’Eclair will perform on Friday, July 31, 7 p.m., at Bayboro Brewing Co., 2390 Fifth Ave. S., St. Petersburg.
Tickets start at $20.70. Visit www.bayborobrewing.com.
L’Eclair is a cosmic instrumental six piece from Geneva, Switzerland. Their origins can be traced back to 2015 when, while studying in London, keyboardist Sebastien Bui and guitarist Stefan Lilov recorded several demos together in their hotel room. Hearing something special in this batch of songs, they returned to Geneva and enlisted Yavor Lilov (drums), Alain Sandri (percussion, keyboard), Quentin Pilet (percussion) and Elie Ghersinu (bass) to flesh out these ideas into a full-fledged band. The relentless grooves, classic tones and silky smooth melodies were instantly present, and L’Eclair was born.
Their debut record, “Cruise Control,” was released in 2017, to positive reviews. Touring extensively in Switzerland and abroad, they further honed their trademark sound while steadily growing their audience. They soon convened in Haarlem, Netherlands, to record with famed studio wizard Jasper Geluk. These sessions became their second studio album entitled “Polymood,” which was released in 2018 on U.S. label Beyond Beyond is Beyond, opening up even more opportunities for L’Eclair.
Bayboro Brewing Co.,
Rujen
ST. PETERSBURG — Rujen will perform on Saturday, Aug. 1, 8 p.m., at Bayboro Brewing Co., 2390 Fifth Ave. S., St. Petersburg.
Also performing will be Domino Pink and Movie Props. Tickets start at $19.10. Visit www.bayborobrewing.com.
Atlanta’s Rujen returns with their signature blend of space rock, psychedelic grooves, soulful melodies, and vintage-inspired textures for an immersive night of modern psych rock.
Fresh off the release of their acclaimed sophomore album “Velvet Dream,” Rujen has carved out a sound that fuses ’70s psychedelic rock, jazz-infused rhythms, fuzzed-out guitars, and dreamy analog atmospheres. Often described as an “east coast band with a west coast sound,” the five-piece group delivers expansive live performances packed with hypnotic jams and lush sonic landscapes.
Joining the bill is Domino Pink, a garage fuzz and psych-rock quintet from Palmetto, bringing raw energy, heavy grooves, and swirling psychedelic sounds.
Mahaffey Theater
Woodz
ST. PETERSBURG — South Korean singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer Woodz will perform on Sunday, Aug. 2, 7:30 p.m., at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts — Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg.
Tickets start at $56.75. Visit themahaffey.com.
Cho Seung-youn — who goes by the stage name Woodz — is known for his versatility and distinctive musical style that blends K-pop, R&B, hip-hop, and alternative influences. Since debuting in the entertainment industry, Woodz has built a reputation for his creative artistry, dynamic stage presence, and hands-on involvement in writing and producing his music.
Recognized for hits that showcase both emotional depth and energetic performance, Woodz continues to captivate global audiences with his evolving sound and authentic storytelling. His ability to seamlessly move between genres has earned him a dedicated international fanbase and critical acclaim within the Korean music industry.
With a growing catalog of successful releases and live performances, Woodz remains one of Korea’s most innovative and compelling solo artists.
Yuengling Center
Freestyle Explosion
TAMPA — Various artists will take the stage to perform their biggest rhythmic dance hits during the Freestyle Explosion, set for Saturday, Aug. 1, 7:30 p.m., at the Yuengling Center, 12499 USF Bull Run Drive, Tampa.
Tickets start at $58.55. Visit www.ticketmaster.com.
The biggest names in freestyle are back including the King of Freestyle Stevie B., The Latin Queen of Freestyle Lisa Lisa, 80’s freestyle and pop sensations The Cover Girls, Latin freestyle legends TKA, Judy Torres, George Lamond, Liette, 69 Boyz and J.J Fad.
This lineup influenced the ’80’s, ’90s and beyond with their rhythmic beats and crossover music which remains widely popular and in rotation with today’s hits. Singer, songwriter and producer Stevie B., who was influential in the Latin freestyle music scene of the late 1980s, is best known for his No. 1 ballad “Because I Love You” as well as party jams “Spring Love” and “Party Your Body” and other hits “I Wanna Be The One” and “Dreaming of Love.”
Lisa Lisa rose to fame with the certified gold single, “I Wonder If I Take You Home,” which was released along with her band Cult Jam and huge follow up hits such as “Can You Feel The Beat,” “Head To Toe,” “Lost In Emotion” and the smash ballad “All Cried Out.” She remains one of the most played ’80s and ’90s artists on radio today.
The Cover Girls came on the scene in 1986 and hit the Billboard Charts with the huge pop hit with “Show Me.” They followed up with a string of hits that included “Because of You,” “My Heart Skips A Beat,” “Wishing on A Star” and “Promise Me.”
TKA is still one of the best-selling Latin freestyle bands in history. The group was prominent in the 1980s and early 1990s, particularly in New York City, Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia and Orlando. Original member and lead singer Louis “Kayel” Sharpe (K7) and his group are still performing together on their big hits “One Way Love,” “Louder Than Love,” “Maria,” “Tear’s May Fall,” “Scars of Love” and “Come Baby Come.”
Judy Torres is a New York-born freestyle and dance-pop singer and has been a successful artist for over 30 years. Known as the “NY Queen of Freestyle,” Torres is famous for hits like “No Reason to Cry” and “Come into My Arms.” She’s released two albums, “Love Story” and “My Soul” and has performed at Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden just to name a few. Torres has also acted in films like Elliott Loves and Fists of Love, and on the CBS drama “Blue Bloods.”
George Lamond is known for his smooth vocals and dance moves and has released seven albums between 1989 and 2014. He is best known for his 1989 No. 25 Billboard debut, “Bad of the Heart,” and his No. 1 salsa smash, “Que Te Vas.” He also had a 2008 Top 5 radio hit, “Don’t Stop Believin.” George is not only a dynamic performer but one of the best showmen of the genre.
Lisette Melendez is an American freestyle/Latin pop/dance-pop singer. She is best known for her Top 40 hit “Together Forever,” which reached No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991 and its follow-up “A Day In My Life,” which peaked at No. 49. Later she scored another big hit “Goody Goody.” This Latin Diva comes to perform and brings the New York style to Vegas.
MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
Toto & Christopher Cross
TAMPA — Toto and Christopher Cross — along with The Romantics — will perform on Saturday, Aug. 1, 6:45 p.m., at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4802 U.S. 301 N., Tampa.
Tickets start at $35. Call 813-740-2446 or visit www.livenation.com.
Last year was one of the strongest in Toto’s 48 years of existence with more than a half a million fans coming out to see them perform, alongside over a billion streams counted this year alone. The weekly average is more than 20 million plays at the DSPs, which has triggered additional certifications throughout this past year. Total streams at Spotify exceed 4 billion and 7 billion across all platforms.
Toto’s largest hit, “Africa,” has achieved the milestone of 2 billion plays at Spotify alone, while “Hold The Line” exceeds 1 billion streams. On the sales side, “Africa” has been certified diamond by the RIAA, with 10 million sold, with cumulative sales now approaching 11 million. Additionally, “Hold The Line” has been certified triple platinum for sales of 3 million copies, while “Rosanna” hit the milestone of double platinum for sales of 2 million copies.
Cumulative Toto album sales are 50 million-plus copies.
For all members past and present, one of the most exciting details to celebrate is the continual aging down of the band’s audience. Consistently, more than half of the billion annual streams are plays from those 34 years or younger. The live audience present night to night has truly become a celebration of three generations coming together.
Individually and collectively, the band’s family tree can be heard on countless Grammy Award winning albums across all genres. Toto is one of the few ’70s bands that have endured the changing trends and styles while continuing to remain relevant. Led by Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams, the band features a collection of lifelong friends many deem amongst the best players on planet Earth.
Special guest Christopher Cross and the members of Toto have been friends and collaborators for more than four decades. On September 1, 2024, Christopher performed as direct support for Toto at the Hollywood Bowl. Subsequently, the two artists have toured the world together performing across Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. this past summer. In December, they’ll travel to Chile, Argentina and Mexico with one another.
Christopher Cross burst onto the music scene with his 1980 self-titled debut album winning five Grammy Awards, including — for the first time in Grammy history — the “Big Four” most prestigious awards: Record of the Year (for the single “Sailing”), Album of the Year, Song of the Year (“Sailing”), and Best New Artist. In a career spanning more than four decades, Cross has sold more than 12 million albums. His music has garnered five Grammys, an Oscar, a Golden Globe, an Emmy nomination and five Top 10 singles.
The Romantics formally became a band on Valentine’s Day, 1977. Bred on the streets of Detroit’s east side, they were inspired by American Roots Rock, the British Invasion and their hometown music scene. Nearly 50 years later, they are still celebrated for having created some of the most influential and beloved rock of all time. Known for their MTV video hits including “What I Like About You,” “Talking In Your Sleep,” and “One In A Million,” along with fan favorites “Rock You Up,” and ”When I Look In Your Eyes.”
The Orpheum
Jeffrey Nothing
TAMPA — Jeffrey Nothing will perform on Sunday, Aug. 2, 7 p.m., at the Orpheum, 14802 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa.
The show is sold out. For information, visit www.theorpheum.com.
Jeff Hatrix, also known as Jeffrey Nothing, is the former clean vocalist for the industrial metal band Mushroomhead. He left that band in 2018. As a solo artist, Nothing’s debut album, “The New Psychodalia,” was released in 2011. He will release a new solo effort, “202SICK,” this year via Wurmgroup.
Nothing is on the road In support of the upcoming album. His band features Gozer Butler (bass), Cletus Demetus (guitar), Mangy James (lead guitar), Paul T. Giest (keys/samples), and Kross Patrick (drums).