By Nanette Wiser
THE BRANSON WELSH GROUP: Branson Welsh is a heavy hitting, high energy Blues Rock ‘n’ Soul act from St. Petersburg. The group is led by frontman/guitarist/singer Branson Welsh and has shared the stage with top national acts such as Eric Gales, Hubert Sumlin and Damon Fowler to name a few. “His sound and confidence shows promise for the future of the blues” writes Rodger White (Big City Blues Rhythm and Blues).
The band plays frequently at Ruby’s Elixir in downtown St. Pete, usually every Wednesday, and will headline on New Year’s Eve. Ruby’s has a jam-packed live music schedule seven days a week with free live entertainment and premium cocktails. Sip sip hooray for the Orange Collins (Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla, fresh lemon, fresh lime, orange juice, club soda) and Ruby’s Elixir (Deep Eddy’s Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka, St Germain Elderflower Liqueur, squeezed lemon and lime juice, simple syrup, pineapple juice). For the gents, Central Cigar is just a kiss away.
In the late 90s, Greg Haddad, a fifth-generation St. Petersburg native, opened Central Cigars on a very vacant Central Avenue. We started as a cigar store where patrons could enjoy cigars from St. Petersburg’s largest selection of premium cigars and accessories instead of having to make the trek to Tampa. In the early 2000s, a small coffee lounge area was added adjacent to the cigar retail area for patrons to enjoy a cigar and relax. In the mid-2000s, we added a beer and wine bar which evolved into a full-liquor bar in front with the back storage area turning into “The Havana Room”, a large lounge area with over-stuffed leather couches and chairs. In 2011, we finally became our latest iteration, “Central Cigars and Ruby’s Elixir”, amidst growing demand for live music. Central Cigars still boats the largest selection of cigars and accessories in the St. Petersburg area and Ruby’s Elixir is the only smoking-friendly live music lounge with a full-liquor bar.
With the Hideaway looking for a new location and the news that the venerable Ringside Café will close its current location at the end of January, small venues for live music downtown need your support!
Musical Chairs: Every year, The Florida Orchestra conducted by TFO Music Director Michael Francis outshines with its superstar galas, from Tony Bennett to Sting. This year, Josh Groban will take the stage with his mellifluous pipes Feb. 5th at Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater. In other philanthropic news, Beth and John England were honored for their gift to the Ruth Eckerd Hall “Expanding the Experience” Capital Campaign. In recognition of the donation, Ruth Eckerd Hall’s reimagined outdoor multi-use space located on the east side of Ruth Eckerd Hall, has been named The England Family Music Garden.
St. Pete Beach is party central, with live entertainment day and night in the tikis and Jimmy B’s. Burger-ish Bar & Grill in Dolphin Village is St. Pete’s newest burger stop featuring a Latin-Caribbean fusion menu, scrumptious yucca fries, a chicken or pork version of a Sloppy Joe, empanadas, $2 taco Tuesday, stand-up comedy monthly and live music Friday/Saturday. 82 Degrees @ The Saint Hotel serves up a Gulf view and tropical ambiance as well as live music on weekends. Catch live entertainment at Harry’s Beach Bar @ The Sirata Hotel is a coastal fave, especially when sipping a Harry’s Hurricane or The Harry Navel and nibbling the avocado mango tango burger. Caddy’s in St. Pete Beach is refreshed and reopened in December.