The heat is on: A guide to summer’s outdoor concerts

Summer is upon us, in all its humid, sweltering glory. Naturally, Floridians’ thoughts turn to … standing outdoors, jammed together with thousands of other people.

It’s always been more about the experience than the music, anyway.

Stadium and amphitheater concerts go back to the 1960s and ‘70s, and with much-improved technology, particularly sound and lights, today’s spectacles are even more festive affairs than they were back in the day when Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull or Grand Funk Railroad came to town.

Morgan Wallen will be at Raymond James Stadium July 11 and 12. Publicity photos.

In 2023 alone, Raymond James Stadium – home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – played host to the biggest of the big outdoor acts, including Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, George Strait and Luke Combs. Billy Joel and Sting played the Stadium earlier this year, as did Kenny Chesney and Brooks & Dunn.

There’s only two big Raymond James shows left in the season, before the Bucs move back in – country music bad boy Morgan Wallen (over two nights, July 11 and 12) and country music not-so-bad boy Zach Bryan, along with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Aug. 11).

Fear not, swelterers! Operating at full summertime capacity is Tampa’s Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheater. And the Baycare Sound, the Clearwater amphitheater, has a few shows planned for the hot months as well.

Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheater, at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa. Website.

The Doobie Brothers. July 11. The reconstituted rock legends (with both ‘70s lead singers, Tom Johnston and Michael McDonald, in the ranks) have appeared several times in the bay area in recent years. Always a fun and nostalgic show. And the evening’s star-filled lineup includes Steve Winwood and the Robert Cray Band.

XScape and SWV. July 13. Two girl groups from the 1990s, billing themselves as the “Queens of R&B.”

Sammy Hagar. July 14. The former voice of Montrose and Van Halen.

Janet Jackson. July 16. Nelly is the support act for pop icon Jackson’s first cross-country tour in a spell.

New Kids on the Block. July 19. They were big once. They could be big again! With Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff.

Styx, Foreigner. July 20. An exercise in rock nostalgia with one or two original members in Styx, and none in Foreigner. Show opener John Waite, however, is still John Waite.

Third Eye Blind. July 25. “Semi-Charmed Life” was a significant hit for the first version of this San Francisco pop/punk outfit, back in 1997. With Yellowcard.

Halestorm, I Prevail. Aug. 1. Singer/guitarist Lzzy Hale is still out in front of the hard-rocking Halestorm.

Limp Bizkit. Aug. 7. Fred Durst’s “Loserville 2024” tour includes Bones with Eddy Baker, N8NOFACE, and Corey Feldman (yes, the actor).

Lauryn Hill. Aug. 9. The idiosyncratic Ms. Hill delivers a Fugees reunion, with an anniversary look at her own breakthrough solo release, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. This is the first stop on the tour.

Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire. Aug. 16. Two vintage bands with a questionable amount of original members; still this always a hit-filled show with two mighty, mighty horn sections.

Train and REO Speedwagon. Aug. 20. Rock and roll from two opposing decades.

Dan + Shay. Aug. 23. Country/pop duo with five No. 1 hits. Florida’s Jake Owen opens.

Thirty Seconds to Mars. Aug. 24. Actor Jared Leto’s musical side project. With Poppy and AFI.

Stone Temple Pilots, Live, Soul Asylum. Aug. 28. Jeff Gutt replaced the late Scott Weiland as STP lead vocalist in 2017.

Jane’s Addiction, Love + Rockets. Aug. 29. Perry Farrell (vocals) and Dean Navarro (guitar) remain at the center of Jane’s Addiction, one of the most commercially successful of the early ‘90s alt-rock bands. In fact, this iteration is the original quartet, intact.

The Baycare Sound, Clearwater. Website.

Slash brings his SERPENT Festival to The Baycare Sound Aug. 10. Publicity photo.

Twenty Years of Tears. July 6. Emo-fest with Hawthorne Heights, Anberlin, I See Stars, Armor for Sleep, Emery and This Wild Life.

Sad Summer Fest. July 27. Emo-fest #2, with Mayday Parade, The Maine, The Wonder Years, We the Kings, Real Friends, Knuckle Puck, Hot Milk, Daisy Grenade and Diva Bleach.

Lindsay Sterling. July 31. The violinist, singer/songwriter, dancer and choreographer routinely sold out Ruth Eckerd Hall, so the powers that be have moved her to the amphitheater, which has many, many more seats (and standing/sitting room).

Blue October, Switchfoot. Aug. 2. More rock, and more roll.

Dirty Heads, Slightly Stoopid. Aug. 3. Reggae rock, hip hop and funk from two of the mixed genre’s biggest. With Common Kings and The Elovaters.

Straight No Chaser. Aug. 4. A cappella singing group, with Chris Kirkpatrick (from N’Sync) and O-Town.

UB40, English Beat, Maxi Priest. Aug. 8. UK pop reggae and ska from the originals.

Slash’s SERPENT Festival. Aug. 10. The former Guns N Roses guitarist and a bill of musical excellence – Larkin Poe, Robert Randolph and ZZ Ward.

RELATED READING: Jammin’ at the stadium: A look back at Tampa Bay’s biggest concerts