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Looking forward: The month of July in the arts
It might be the hottest month of the year – at least until August gets here – but there’s a considerable lack of “hot” acts on our performing arts stages in July.
That’s not to say the bay area has no great shows coming up, far from it. There are a number of major league concerts in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties, but none from red-hot, currently-charting pop, country or hip hop stars. They’re either playing bigger markets this summer, or staying off the road entirely to keep cool in the AC.
These are legacy acts and newcomers, along with a cult favorite or two.
Let’s begin with a few highlights.
KeyShia Cole at Amalie Arena, July 19. The first three albums by the “Princess of Hip Hop Soul” each sold a million copies in the mid 2000s. Her best-known hits are “Let it Go” (with Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim), “I Remember,” “Heaven Sent” and “Trust.” Thirty-three episodes of Keyshia Cole: The Way it Is aired on BET between 2006 and 2008. With Tink, Amerie and Elijah Blake.
Elvis Costello. Photo: Big Hassle.
Elvis Costello at the Mahaffey Theater, July 9. The prolific British singer/songwriter and his Impostors band will deliver a program of the heady “early stuff,” from 1977 and ’78 (My Aim is True, This Year’s Model) through the mid 1980s. “I don’t want to go back, I want to bring these songs into the present day, once more, in the event they are ever pushed out of the way by the next number that I write,” the artist says.
Counting Crows at the BayCare Sound, July 20. Lead singer Adam Duritz and the mega-popular ‘90s band (August and Everything After) are on the road promoting Butter Miracle: The Complete Sweets!, their first album in a decade. The Gaslight Anthem opens.
Toto with Men at Work and Christopher Cross at Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre, July 19. Toto co-founder Steve Lukather, fresh off his 13th year as a key member of Ringo Starr’s band, fronts a re-configured version of the 1970s/’80s hit machine. The center of gravity for Men at Work remains Colin Hay (also a member of the Ringo All Starrs).
Darius Rucker at Seminole Hard Rock Event Center, July 20. The voice of Hootie & the Blowfish’s country music career has produced a solid handful of chart-topping singles, including “Wagon Wheel” and “Homegrown Honey,” but regardless of his country success (or his many appearances in celebrity golf tourneys) he’ll always the guy who only wants to be with you, because the dolphins make him cry.
More concerts
Stick Figure. Reggae band July 3 at Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre.
Blue Oyster Cult. Classic rock from the ‘70s, July 4, Seminole Hard Rock Event Center. Go go Godzilla!
Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival Concert. Classical music July 5, New Tampa Performing Arts Center.
Jazz vocalist Allyson Briggs and her band at the Palladium Theater Side Door Cabaret, July 11.
The Offspring at Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre, July 12. Long-lived California punk band.
Musical cabarets at American Stage (in the lobby): July 12 and 26.
Boogie woogie pianist Henri Herbert at the Palladium Theater Side Door Cabaret, July 12.
Ghost at Amalie Arena July 12. “Skeletour” with the costumed Swedish metal band.
Big Time Rush at Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre, July 19. Boy band and Nickelodeon personalities.
Gladys Knight. Publicity photo.
Gladys Knight at Seminole Hard Rock Event Center July 13. The ageless R&B/pop vocalist in concert. This is a hurricane makeup date.
Pianist Alisanne Busico at New Tampa Performing Arts Center, July 14. The show is called Bon Voyage! A Musical Adventure Around the World.
Firefall, Pure Prairie League and Pablo Cruise, July 17 at Ruth Eckerd Hall. The “Yacht Rock Summer Tour.”
Laura Bell Bundy at the Mahaffey Theater, July 18. The Tony-winning singer/actress’ cabaret is a benefit for the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts.
Clearwater Smooth Jazz Jam, July 18-19 at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Dave Koz, Brian McKnight, Peabo Bryson, Jonathan Butler, Peter White and Keiko Matsui.
Jeremy Carter at the Palladium Theatre Side Door cabaret, July 19. The Tampa jazz saxophonist and his band.
Daniela Soledade and Nate Najar perform in the American Stage lobby July 19.
Hindley Street Country Club at the Capitol Theatre, July 20. Australian cover band with several million YouTube subscribers, on its first American tour.
Keith Sweat at Amalie Arena, July 25. Legendary New Jack Swing singer returns to the bay area, along with Ginuwine, Joe, Dru Hill and SWV.
Russ at Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre July 25. The Georgia-born rapper, with Big Sean and Sabrina Claudio.
Comedian Lynn Kopliz at the Palladium Theater Side Door Cafe July 25, with Lou Angelwolf.
Ryan Adams July 27 at the Mahaffey Theater. The prolific singer/songwriter and his band, the Cardinals.
Trace Zakur with all-star band at the Palladium Theater Side Door Cabaret July 27. The bay area jazz sax phenom is calling this his “farewell concert” – he’s off to law school.
Comedian Jackie Schimmel at the Capitol Theater July 31.
Comedian Mo Amer at Seminole Hard Rock Event Center, July 31.
Zachary Bartholomew at the Palladium Theater Side Door Cabaret, July 31. The jazz pianist and his band celebrate the music of Horace Silver. Trumpet: James Suggs.
Jobsite’s comedy “Puffs” opens July 9. Image: James Zambon Photography.
Theater in July
An adaptation of The Merry Wives of Windsor runs July 10-27 at TheaterFor (Clearwater)
Jobsite’s summer show is Puffs: Or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, July 9-Aug. 3. The play by Matt Cox is a comedy that straddles the Harry Potter universe without actually stepping into it (copyrights, you know). (Tampa)
Erica Sutherlin’s Parallel Lives is presented at The Studio@620 July 11 and 12. (St. Petersburg)
At LAB Theatre Project, they’re also in a laughing mood. The annual anthology of short comedies, LAB Laughs, will run July 17-Aug. 3. (Tampa)
The new Powerstories Theatre presentation, Witch Hunt, will descend on Stageworks’ stage July 11-20. (Tampa)
At freeFall Theatre, The House of Future Memory continues through July 13. (St. Petersburg)
Websites
Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre
New Tampa Performing Arts Center
Seminole Hard Rock Event Center
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