Weekend forecast: Sold-out Sting, sold-out Hozier

Irish singer/songwriter Hozier, who’ll be onstage Saturday at the Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre, recently had a No. 1 hit with “Too Sweet.”

His eponymous first album sold a million copies in the U.S. in 2014; Wasteland, Baby! topped the album charts in 2019, but his biggest single to date, “Take Me to Church,” only made it to No. 2.

Regarding his first No. 1 single: “I feel blessed to have the career that I do,” Hozier told Chris Willman of Variety. “It’s a very sweet landmark after 10 years of a career, and I feel very fortunate glad that I’m still able to do this and still finding new audiences. It’s encouraging, and a nice way to celebrate a 10th anniversary.”

The concert is officially sold out.

Likewise, both Mahaffey Theater concerts pairing Sting with The Florida Orchestra – tonight and Friday – are sold out.

But Diana Ross is at the Baycare Sound Amphitheatre tonight (find tickets here), and country music giant Chris Stapleton performs Friday at Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre. Stapleton’s “All American Road Show” also features Grace Potter (just three weeks after her headlining appearance at the Tampa Bay Blues Festival) and Nikki Lane. Tickets are here.

Other concerts

Daniela Soledade rocks out Friday at the Floridian Social. Photo provided.

Metal stalwarts Queensryche play Jannus Live tonight at 8. Tickets.

Legendary Memphis singer/songwriter (and onetime Jimmy Buffett sideman) Keith Sykes is at Noisemakers Friday; here’s our interview with him (and a ticket link).

Comedian Steve (“America’s Favorite Husband”) Trevino visits Ruth Eckerd Hall Friday (tickets are here).

Don (“American Pie”) McLean is back in town to play the Capitol Theatre Saturday (tickets are here).

Saturday at the Tampa Theatre, it’s comedian and Comedy Central correspondent Roy Wood Jr. Tickets.

Sexy, sinewy, whispery bossa nova is one thing. But Daniela Soledade’s new show, Friday at the Floridian Social, is called “Coração Brasileiro” – it means “Brazilian heart,” and according to the St. Pete-based Brazilian singer and songwriter (who’ll also play electric guitar along with her band), the title “aims directly at a specific longing that Brazilians who live abroad feel: The longing to dance, sing along and party.” Tickets.

Classics & more

It’s a Mother’s Day matinee with the Tampa Bay Symphony Sunday at the Palladium Theatre. The 2:30 p.m. program includes music by Handel and Elgar, as well as Gordon Jacobs’ Concerto for Bassoon, Strings, and Percussion. Find tickets here.

More for Mom: Chelsea Gallo conducts The Florida Orchestra Sunday at 7:45 p.m. – the free Pops in the Park concert takes place at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Tampa. More info.

Saturday brings an orchestra and chorus to the Straz Center’s Morsini Hall, for Heroes: A Video Game Symphony, a blend of live music scored for video games and screened high definition gaming footage. Read all about it here.

Shelby Ronea, left, Clinton C.H. Harris and Fahniohnee Reeves in the comedy “Nollywood Dreams,” entering its final weekend at freeFall Theatre. Image: Thee Photo Ninja.

On theater stages

The world premiere of Gwendolyn Rice’s drama Fly Away Home is entering its second weekend at LAB Theatre Project in Tampa (tickets here). Cast members Mandy Keen and Owen Robertson guest on Friday’s Arts Alive! podcast.

Sunday’s matinee (2 p.m.) is the last performance of the freeFall comedy Nollywood Dreams. And Stagework’s adaptation of the classic drama Our Town is in its last weekend, too, closing with Sunday’s 3 p.m. matinee.

Your weekend arts forecast appears every Thursday in the Catalyst. 

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