By Nanette Wiser
So many concerts, so little time. The Florida Strawberry Festival showcases dozens of famous bands 3/2-3/12. Ruth Eckerd added rocker Pat Benatar 4/27 to their line-up and Amalie Arena hosts Duran Duran 6/17.
JAZZ JAM Join the Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association Monday night at downtown St. Pete’s Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge! Hang out, grab a drink, enjoy, or even get up and jam as seasoned host Dwayne White artfully guides the evening to bring a night of killer jazz tunes for all. Join the jam in advance by signing up at www.aldowningjazz.com. Do you miss the jazz jam at The Independent in DTSP? Be sure to catch drummer Sandi Grecco, Mark Moultrop and James Suggs at The Studio Public House most Sundays from 3-5pm plus other visiting musicians. Get your tickets now for the Clearwater Smooth Jazz Jam at Ruth Eckerd Hall 6/2-6/3 featuring David Benoit and Boney James.
THE ALE & THE WITCH Just celebrated their 12th anniversary in Feb., this legendary al fresco courtyard concert venue inside The Plaza serves up folk, rock, indie bands, blues, and Grateful Dead tribute band Uncle John’s. Fab beers, from Lindemans Framboise to local craft brews, a friendly vibe, and no cover charge, it’s the place to be for live music Wed.-Sun. (with bluegrass Wed.) and blues on Sunday. www.thealeandthewitch.com
FOLK FUN The melodic Applebutter Express performs 3/5 at Gasparilla Festival of Arts and 4/15 at the Second Annual TBUS Ukulele Fest in the Clearwater District. The Applebutter Express brings you good-time ukulele funk featuring sweet harmonies with a bluegrass/Americana feel. The group’s founding members, Shannon and Kyle Biss, met in 2004 while Kyle was working at a local record shop. In 2010, then bass player Kyle picked up a ukulele with the intention of learning songs to sing and harmonize with girlfriend Shannon for fun. The eclectic, tuneful duo – now known as The Applebutter Express – was the talk of Tampa and now includes Zach Rogers (bass) and Jason Baker (fiddle) playing popular events such as Hulaween and Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. The self-described “ukulele funk” group’s song Hey My Brotha – a single from their project One For The Home Team – was featured in the Ron Howard film “The Good Lie” in 2015.
POSTCARDS FROM PARADISE PN pal and interior designer/party planner Laura Fage and realtor hubby Frank recently relocated from St. Pete to North Carolina where they promptly named their new home Eden. Enjoying a park bench with jazz legend Nina Simone was an unexpected bit of luck for the music loving pair, who discovered that Tryon, N.C., was her hometown.
On 3/2 @The Palladium, Synia Carroll pays tribute to Nina Simone in song and stories. Synia is joined by Paul Gavin (drums), James Suggs (trumpet), John O’Leary (piano), Brandon Robertson (bass), and Mark DeRose (percussion). Our friend and fashionista Fiona Frensch gives us a taste of Nina when she plays locally at Elizabeth’s, The Deck on Isla and other St. Pete Beach spots. Tune in to Fiona’s new radio show Monday 4-5pm showcasing Women In Song and local musicians from the jazz to the blues.