MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE
By Nanette Wiser FESTIVALS One of my favorite events of the year is the Tampa Bay Blues Festival April 8-10 at Vinoy Waterfront Park now in its 26th year complete with kick-off and after-parties and VIP packages.
BANDS Sunset Beach musician Stephen Miller’s band The Beach Rats’ classic rock and blues are a Gulf Beach staple with a monthly gig at Mastry’s. Catch them 3/17 for St. Patrick’s on Corey Avenue sponsored by Swigwam, 3/25 (and April TBD) Sunset Grill, 3/26 and 4/16 Mastry’s St. Pete Beach. Also in St. Pete Beach, Fiona Frensch debuts her cabaret every Wednesday PERFORM NOW! at Grapes Wine Café SPB. The talent showcases feature singers, dancers, musicians, and comedians 7-10pm. To reserve a performance spot contact Fiona: 727-841-2034. fionafrensche@gmail.com
BARS Crabby Bill’s brand is expanding along Gulf Beaches and just purchased J.D.’s in Indian Rocks Beach from the Downing family. Known for cheap drinks and eats, the outdoor patio and piano bar feature live music seven days a week as does Crabby Bill’s IRB. Hoping this continues. Crabby Bill’s is also debuting a new sports bar near Slyce and also owns Crabby Gifts, Jake’s Coastal Cantina, Seabreeze Island Grill, Ready Set Yo!, Crabby Bill’s St. Pete Beach and Crabby Bill’s Fish Camp.
Kick Off Party 4/7: Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters @The Palladium 8pm will keep your toes tapping. Ronnie Earl is a four-time Blues Music Award Winner for “Guitar Player of the Year” with 20+ albums.
When singer/songwriter Julie Brown sings Etta James you will fall in love with this trailblazer who writes female-driven, hyper-colorized music rooted in early blues, jazz, rock, and soul. She performs with her band 3/5 in North Straub Park’s Awakening Into The Sun Festival, 3/11 at Seminole’s Pow Wow Festival, 3/12, 3/26, 4/9 and 4/23 at Tarpon Springs’ H’Ours Creole Smokehouse, 3/13 and 3/27 at 3 Daughters new Clearwater Beach Rooftop Tasting Room and 3/31 at New Port Richey’s Chasco Fiesta. If you love ‘50s tunes, catch The Hot Red Hornets’ rockabilly, swing and cow punk performance. “We draw from the influences of Sun Record greats Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, & Jerry Lee Lewis. When you add in rock legends Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent & Eddie Cochran, you will hear how we bring high energy music with every performance,” says the band, who I saw at 3 Daughters’ Brewing. Lots of swing dancers show up for their gigs. Poodle skirt, let’s go! 32
MARCH 2022 | ParadiseNewsFL.com
The lineup includes Mindi Abair & The Bone Shakers, Samantha Fish, Sugar Ray & The Blue Tones, Larkin Poe, Jimmy Vaughan and many more. www.tampabaybluesfest.com
After-Party 4/9: Floridian Social Club features stellar guitarist Eric Gales and a second show by Chicago’s Nick Moss Band kicking off at 10:30pm.
NIGHTCLUBS Love ABBA and the Bee Gees? Get your Saturday Night Fever on when Good Night John Boy opens in the former Ringside Café location (16 Second St. N) near Jannus in downtown St. Pete. This 4,000 square foot Studio 54-style nightclub is the second location; the first one opened in Cleveland in 2021, thanks to Cleveland-based Forward Hospitality Group, papa to 10 restaurants and bars in Ohio.
