TAMPA Entertainment GuideGo. See. Do.

TAMPA BAY CONCERTS (CONT'D)

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Melissa Manchester

November 4, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $45.00, $55.00  |  Capitol Theatre  |  727.791.7400

This singer/songwriter is a GRAMMY® winner and Academy Award® nominee. She co-wrote Whenever I Call You Friend with Kenny Loggins, penned many of her own songs, and starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Music Of The Night and Song And Dance, Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd and the Chicago premiere of HATS!  She created the role of Maddie in the TV series Blossom, co-starred in the movie For The Boys, and composed scores for the film Lady And The Tramp II and the musical I Sent A Letter To My Love. Hits include Through The Eyes Of Love and Don’t Cry Out Loud.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show

November 9, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $50.50, $68.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Having sold more than three million tickets to concerts across 35 countries, The Australian Pink Floyd Show is rightfully hailed as the “Gold Standard” of live Pink Floyd tributes. This act is so good it was engaged by Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour to perform at his 50th birthday celebration. Their jaw-dropping, note-for-note re-creations of the music of Pink Floyd have thrilled audiences around the world. Now they return to Ruth Eckerd Hall with their biggest show ever, including stunning new 3-D visual effects. TAPFS is truly a phenomenon to be witnessed live.

Taylor Swift "Speak Now" World Tour 2011

November 12, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  $25.00 - $69.50  |  St. Pete Times Forum  |  813.301.2500

Taylor Swift announced that in response to strong fan demand, she will extend the North American portion of the tour by 16 dates, and will now headline 78 shows in stadiums and arenas in 63 cities in 42 states and provinces in the U.S. and Canada this year.

Tickets for shows already put on sale were gone in minutes, including stadium shows in Detroit, Foxboro (MA), and Philadelphia, and four-night runs at the Prudential Center i...n Newark and at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. The TAYLOR SWIFT SPEAK NOW WORLD TOUR 2011, launched February 9 in Singapore, kicks off in the U.S. on May 27 with two sold-out shows at the Qwest Center in Omaha and now wraps with two shows at Madison Square Garden just before Thanksgiving.

Taylor, who is currently nominated for four Academy of Country Music Awards – including the evening’s biggest honor, the fan-voted Entertainer of the Year Award, spent most of the month of February playing to capacity crowds in Asia, and this month she has headlined arenas throughout Europe. During the show, Taylor performs on two different stages -- playing several different acoustic and electric guitars and also the piano and the ukulele, and has earned rave reviews from critics at every SPEAK NOW tour stop.

Tickets for the added North American shows will go on sale in the coming weeks. Adam Brand will open the September 24 and the November dates, and David Nail will open the added October shows.

In his native Australia, Adam Brand is a veritable superstar, earning three platinum and two gold albums, nominated four times for Best Country Album by ARIA (Australia Recording Industry Association), and winning a dozen CMAAs (Country Music Awards of Australia) including multiple wins in the Song of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year categories. Brand is now taking on Nashville with his upcoming release on Arista Records. www.adambrandofficial.com

MCA Nashville recording artist David Nail is scheduled to release his sophomore album in the fall on MCA Nashville, and his current single “Let It Rain” is the first offering from the still-to-be titled release. David’s new album is the official follow-up to his critically acclaimed debut, I’m About To Come Alive, and will be the first release since his Grammy nomination for Best Male Vocal Country Performance for his hit “Turning Home.” www.davidnail.com

Tickets: Tickets for this event go on sale Friday, April 8 at 10:00 a.m. at the McDonald’s Box Office at the St. Pete Times Forum and all Ticketmaster Outlets.

A Very Special Acoustic Perofmance by Richard Marx

November 12, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  $39.50, $55.00  |  Capitol Theatre  |  727.791.7400

Grammy® Award Winner Richard Marx makes a solo appearance at the historic Capitol Theatre in the Cleveland Street District in Downtown Clearwater on Saturday, November 12 at 7:00 PM (tickets purchased for his May 13 show will be honored).   Tickets for his only Florida performance go on sale this Friday, March 25 at noon at the Ruth Eckerd Hall Ticket Office.

For more than 20 years, Richard Marx has consistently and powerfully made his mark on the music industry. His debut single Don’t Mean Nothing and self-titled debut album kicked off his career as a solo artist in 1987 and went on to sell 3 million copies. His 1989 follow-up CD, Repeat Offender, became even more successful, selling more than 7 million copies worldwide. From 1987 to 1990, he became the first male solo artist in history to have his first 7 singles reach the top 5 on Billboard’s singles chart, including the 1 hit songs Hold On to the Nights, Satisfied and the worldwide classic, Right Here Waiting. This feat remains unchallenged. Emotional Remains, Richard’s latest release in 2009, received critical acclaim.

Over course of his career he has written 13 #1 hit singles and sold more than 30 million albums collaborating with such artists as Luther Vandross, Ringo Starr and Keith Urban.  He has been nominated for Grammy® awards 3 times and received an American Music Award nomination for favorite male singer. In 1992, he was awarded Best Selling Adult Contemporary Artist at the Billboard Music awards, and received the International Song of the Year Award at the Australian Music awards for his song, Hazard, from his double platinum CD, Rush Street. 1994’s Paid Vacation CD also went platinum and featured the single, Now and Forever which not only went top 10 on the Billboard Pop Chart, but spent a nearly record breaking 13 weeks at #1 on the Billboard AC Chart. In addition to selling more than 30 million records, and writing, as of 2009, thirteen #1 songs, he remained a fixture on pop and adult contemporary radio for years, even as he emerged as a top producer working with some of the biggest names in the music business such as *NSYNC, Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Vince Gill, 98°, Luther Vandross, Kenny Rogers, Sarah Brightman, Lara Fabian, Sister Hazel, The Tubes and SHeDAISY. More recently, he has written and produced records for Daughtry, Leann Rimes, Katherine Jenkins, Travis Tritt, Emerson Drive, Natalie Cole, Keith Urban, Paulina Rubio, Kenny Loggins, Chris Botti, Michael Bolton and actor Hugh Jackman.

As his career began in 1987, Richard immediately got involved with many charitable organizations. By donating the royalties from his 1987 hit single, Should’ve Known Better, he helped build a room at the NYU Medical Center where pediatric cancer patients can play while at the hospital. In 1989, he wrote and recorded the song Children of the Night about the plight of homeless children on the streets and donated all the song’s royalties to the Children of the Night Foundation, which houses and reforms street kids. To date, the song has raised more than $500,000. Additionally, he has performed benefit concerts for many organizations, including the TJ Martell Foundation, Toys For Tots, Make A Wish Foundation, the American Cancer Society, Best Buddies and the Special Olympics. In 2005, Richard and his band flew to Kitzingen, Germany to perform for US troops stationed there, and as of 2008, he hosts an annual event in Chicago for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The first event featured a concert by Richard and the legendary Kenny Rogers.

Perhaps closest to Richard’s heart is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, whom he aligned with in 2000. He organized what has become an annual benefit concert to raise funds for research to cure the disease. The multi act, all-star concerts have, thus far, raised more than $3 million.

In February 2004, Richard won the Song of the Year Grammy for Dance With My Father, which he wrote with the late Luther Vandross. It was a big night for several reasons. “It was the award itself,” says Richard. “For me and more importantly for Luther. I was proud.”

2005’s Better Life,  a song written by Richard and Keith Urban which was included in Keith’s last CD, the triple platinum Be Here, was the biggest hit single from the CD, spending 6 consecutive weeks at 1 on Billboard’s Country Singles chart.

In the summer of 2006, Richard was asked to join “Ringo Starr’s All-Star Band” for a North American tour of 22 cities. Richard played guitar in the band supporting Ringo and others, including Billy Squier, and performed his own hits at each show. Ringo and Richard recently co-wrote a song for Ringo’s CD in 2010.

In 2007, Keith Urban released another song co-written by Richard, Everybody from his Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing CD. The song went top 5 on the Country charts.

In 2008, Richard began touring with Vertical Horizon lead singer, Matt Scannell, as an acoustic duo. They released a CD, Duo on iTunes, and played shows throughout the US. They continue to do occasional shows together and in early 2010 they released a live CD, which was followed by an electric rock record as a duo.

Josh Ritter

November 14, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  $28.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts   |  813.229.7827

“Josh Ritter's songwriting adventures on So Runs the World Away surprised even this avid fan. … Ritter doesn't make music that sticks close to fashion; he makes music that sticks in the gut and doesn't let go.” – NPR

A few years ago, Ritter’s “Girl in the War” was the most-played song on WMNF across all programming. He has a live in Dublin CD coming out in this month in Europe (with a U.S. release still to be scheduled). His latest studio effort is So Runs the World Away, which was named one of NPR and Paste magazine top 50 CDs of 2010 plus he has a novel, “Bright’s Passage,” to be released in June.

For more information, visit joshritter.com.

Queensrÿche 'Dedicated to Chaos' Tour

November 20, 2011  |  7:00 PM  |  $40.50, $63.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, Queensrÿche hits the road in support of the new opus, Dedicated to Chaos for its new label, Roadrunner Records/Loud & Proud which was recorded in its native Seattle.  The band makes an exclusive Tampa Bay area stop at Ruth Eckerd Hall Sunday, November 20 at 7 pm.  Tickets go on sale this Friday, July 22 at noon.

“Modern life moves fast,” commented frontman Geoff Tate about the album. “Plug into the rhythm of the now with our 12th studio album, Dedicated to Chaos. It’s a clash and slash of musical experimentation anchored by the pulse of digital code.” He did issue one suggestion to listeners as well, saying: “Enjoy – headphones are a must.”

Queensrÿche’s 1988-issued album Operation: Mindcrime is universally respected as a classic concept release about rock, revenge and redemption, which is ultimately regarded as one of the most important and essential hard rock records in the genre’s expansive canon. 1990’s follow-up, Empire, yielded a #1 single, the Grammy-nominated ballad “Silent Lucidity,” which the band performed at the 1992 Grammy Awards accompanied by a supporting orchestra.

In 2006, the band released Operation: Mindcrime II, a scorching sequel to their original. The band then hit the road performing both albums Operation: Mindcrime and Operation: Mindcrime II back-to-back in their entirety in an incredible theatrical presentation throughout the year. The final performance was recorded at The Moore Theatre in Seattle that October and the Mindcrime at the Moore double CD/DVD release debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top Music DVD Chart and eventually reached Gold status.

Dedicated to Chaos marks a new and riveting chapter in Queensrÿche’s already impressive history that fans will not want to miss.
 
And the chaos has just begun.

Joe Bonamassa "Dust Bowl" Tour

November 25, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $45.00, $55.00, $65.00, $75.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Award-winning blues rock star, guitar hero and singer-songwriter Joe Bonamassa and his ace touring band will perform in concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, FL on Friday, November 25, 2011 at 8 pm. Tickets go on sale this Monday, April 8 at noon.  The one-night-only show is in support of his recently released full-length solo album, Dust Bowl, which was released March 22.  This is Bonamassa’s ninth studio release on his own J&R Adventures label, which he created with longtime manager and business partner Roy Weisman.  This will be Joe’s first concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall since his successful appearance in 2009.
 
Dust Bowl was produced by Kevin “Caveman” Shirley (Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin) making it their sixth collaboration in five years.  Shirley most recently produced Bonamassa’s 2010 release Black Rock, which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Blues Chart and #39 on the Top 200, and the 2010 debut album from Black Country Communion, Bonamassa’s English-American rock band with Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner) and Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Billy Idol).
 
Dust Bowl was recorded in sessions at Black Rock Studios in Santorini, Greece; Ben’s Studio in Nashville, TN; The Cave in Malibu, CA and The Village in Los Angeles, CA. It combines the gritty, blues-based tones of Bonamassa’s first albums with the fluid, genre-defying sounds he’s mastered in the years since and adds a dash of country from Joe’s collaborations with the best of Nashville including legends Vince Gill and John Hiatt.
 
“Dust Bowl,” Shirley explains, “is very firmly rooted in the Blues, but definitely explores the outer reaches of the genre and showcases Joe’s amazing virtuosity as he digs deep into his psyche in some lengthy and blistering guitar solos.”
 
“This is the best album we’ve ever done,” adds Bonamassa. “I’m finding more inspiration in storytelling in my 30s, in writing songs that are about something more profound than ‘my baby left me.’ I like albums that are made with the right intentions and sound organic and a little rough around the edges, like a great band playing live in the room, and that’s what we accomplished with Dust Bowl.”
 
2010 was a stellar year for Bonamassa and his best to date. He was named Billboard’s #1 Blues Artist based on the charting success of Black Rock, the #2 Billboard Blues Album of 2010, and 2009’s Ballad of John Henry, which was #9. He was called “The Blues Rock Titan” by Guitar World and was honored twice in Guitar Player Magazine's 2010 Readers' Choice Awards winning "Best Overall Guitarist" for the first time and "Best Blues Guitarist" for the fourth consecutive year. Black Country Communion’s debut self-titled album, released in Sept. 2010, entered the Billboard Top 200 Chart at #53 and received rave reviews. MOJO gave the album four stars and Goldmine said it's "Possibly the best hard rock album of 2010." Black Country Communion is currently in the studio recording their second album, which is tentatively set for a summer 2011 release.
 
A child prodigy, Bonamassa opened shows at age 12 for blues legend B.B. King, who said after first seeing him play, “This kid's potential is unbelievable…He's one of a kind.” Bonamassa’s recording career began in the early ’90s with Bloodline, a rock-blues group also featuring Robby Krieger’s son Waylon and Miles Davis’ son Erin. His solo debut was in 2000 with the Tom Dowd-produced A New Day Yesterday.
 
Bonamassa averages 200 shows every year, almost always playing to sold-out and ever-larger houses, and with each gig, he comes more into his own as a virtuoso and a vocalist. As he heads back to the road in support of his new album, Bonamassa remains infinitely passionate about playing live, connecting with his audiences and making new fans along the way like Slash, who recently said, “Just saw Joe Bonamassa on Jools Holland again. He's definitely my new favorite guitarist."

George Thorogood & The Destroyers

November 29, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $29.50, $36.50, $46.50  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

George Thorogood has been sharing his passion for the blues for more than thirty years. A high-energy group from Delaware in the ‘70s, the Destroyers fought their way to the top. Bad to the Bone, Thorogood’s best-known composition, became an MTV staple and Greatest Hits: 30 Years of Rock won Billboard’s Blues Album of the Year. Drummer Jeff Simon, bassist Billy Blough, guitarist Jim Suhler and saxophonist Buddy Leach complete the lineup. Their most recent effort, Hard Stuff, includes covers of John Lee Hooker, Fats Domino and Jimmy Reed along with Thorogood compositions.

TIckets on sale Friday, July 29 at Noon.

Bowzer's Holiday Rock ‘n’ Roll Party

December 9, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $38.00, $48.00, $68.00, $100.00*  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Rock in the holidays with Jon “Bowzer” Bauman (co-founder of Sha Na Na) and a lineup of ‘60s favorites including Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits (Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter, There’s A Kind Of Hush [All Over the World], I’m Into Something Good, I’m Henry the 8th), Joey Dee of the Starliters (Peppermint Twist), The Mystics (Hushabye), Little Peggy March (I Will Follow Him) and Tommy Mara (16 Candles, Step By Step, The Angels Listened In) will transport us back to a bygone era. New to the lineup this year are The Bronx Wanderers.

*Includes premium performance seating and VIP reception with varies artists. Limited availability.

Michael McDonald & America

December 10, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $48.00, $59.00, $95.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Five-time GRAMMY® winner, singer-songwriter Michael McDonald (What a Fool Believes, Takin’ It to the Streets, Sweet Freedom) has contributed to American pop music for more than three decades. Best-known for his blue-eyed soul, his instantly recognizable voice reaches beyond just one genre. He teams with GRAMMY®-winning America, the classic rock favorite that skyrocketed to fame with A Horse With No Name, followed by Ventura Highway, Sister Golden Hair and Tin Man. For forty years, America has delivered timeless, uplifting songs and lush harmonies. Enjoy classic hits and Christmas songs.

Judy Collins & Arlo Guthrie Home for the Holidays

December 15, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $42.00, $52.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Two American folk icons share the stage for an unforgettable holiday for hippies and folk music fans. Artists will perform definitive selections from their repertoires and will join in singing a couple of numbers together as well. Judy Collins (Both Sides Now, Send In The Clowns) is a Renaissance woman and social activist who has brought us music of hope and healing for half a century. Singer-songwriter and social commentator Arlo Guthrie (Alice’s Restaurant) preserves his family legacy with timeless stories and classic songs of hope and inspiration.

Skrillex with 12th Planet, Two Fresh and Nadastrom

December 16, 2011  |  7:00 PM  |  $26.50, $28.00  |  The Ritz Ybor  |  813.247.2555

“I’ve been deep into electronic music my entire life. The first records I ever owned were ‘Fat of Land’ by the Prodigy and ‘Come To Daddy’ by Aphex Twin,” raves Sonny Moore, better known as emerging electronic visionary SKRILLEX. “Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails were also early influences. I’ve been dabbling in making electronic tracks on programs like Fruity Loops since I was 14 years old.”

SKRILLEX is part of a new generation of artists that refuse to be restricted by preconceived notions or outside expectations. “Genre has never been important to me,” he insists. “I’ve never thought about music that way.”

Describing his current sound as “a mix of dubstep, electro and glitch all thrown together,” new SKRILLEX release “SCARY MONSTERS AND NICE SPRITES” reflects all of the above and beyond. The uplifting post-trance synth melodies of “ALL I ASK OF YOU” (featuring the soaring vocals of Penny) stands in stark contrast to the face-melting electro bass blasts of the massive electro-dubstep hybrid “ROCK N’ ROLL (WILL TAKE YOU TO THE MOUNTAIN).”

“I’ve listened to so much music for so long, it’s more about instinct than influence,” Moore explains about his sonic inspirations. “Coming up, I was into a lot of artists on the Warp record label like Autechre, Squarepusher, and Aphex Twin, so SKRILLEX tracks are inclined to have more changes than most dance tracks normally have. I can draw influences from almost anything. I just like to mess around and create cool new sounds and noises. I just go where the music takes me.”

After just one hugely successful independent release, “SCARY MONSTERS AND NICE SPRITES” is the first SKRILLEX release on Big Beat Records, in conjunction with fellow electronic revolutionary Deadmau5’s freshly minted Mau5trap record label.

“For years, the artists needed the record labels. I don’t feel that way at all,” Moore stresses. “SKRILLEX has been 100% independent until now. I think it’s so important to be self-sufficient as an artist. Working with Atlantic / Big Beat, and cooperating with Mau5trap, allows us all to work as a team and expand on what’s already been built.”

Following its release on Beatport, the 9-song EP dominated the charts on the site, with the title track claiming the site's #1 slot (the first time a dubstep track has ever done so), 8 songs breaking into the top 10, and multiple tracks claiming the #1 slots on several of the site’s subgenre charts, including Dubstep, Electro House, Progressive House.

Aside from the immediate success of “SCARY MONSTERS AND NICE SPRITES,” SKRILLEX has also made a name for himself as a highly sought-after remixer. He’s already produced officially commissioned remixes for such A-list artists as the Black Eyed Peas (“Rock That Body”), Lady Gaga (“Bad Romance” and “Alejandro”), and La Roux (“In For The Kill”).

SKRILLEX stands not only at the vanguard of electronic dance music, but the perpetually evolving new music industry as a whole.

“For me, it’s important to believe in and love the music you’re making. I gave away my first EP on my manager’s website, just so people could hear the music,” he enthuses. “It was downloaded by the thousands in just a couple of months, and it hasn’t let up since. That’s all the inspiration I need to keep making music.

“SKRILLEX can be anything I want it to be,” he continues hopefully. “There are so many different avenues for music now. Video games, movie scores — the possibilities are endless, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Dar Williams

December 16, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $35.00, $45.00  |  Capitol Theatre  |  727.791.7400

With a reporter’s keen eye and a fiction writer’s feel for nuance, singer-songwriter Dar Williams takes an honest, objective look at life – her own and that of those around her. Once a neo-folkie influenced by Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez and Judy Collins, she is now a seasoned artist with an uncanny ability to understand the characters in her songs and treat them with unbiased compassion. She also examines her own life with piercing honesty and humor. Through it all, her songs reflect her unwavering faith in the ability of people to make a better world.

Tony Lucca

December 19, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  $28.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts   |  813.229.7827

Tony Lucca’s sixth studio album Rendezvous With the Angels finds the performer crafting his most thoughtful, tuneful and mature work. The album includes appearances by Lucca’s 2009 tour mate Sara Bareilles (who duets on “Back to Me”) and Lady Antebellum guitarist Jason “Slim” Gambill (featured on the bonus track “Nobody But You”). The songs on the new recording, mostly written on the road during a busy touring schedule, demonstrate new growth and fresh perspectives.

For more information, visit tonylucca.com.

JJ Grey & Mofro

December 30, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $20.00 - $23.00  |  The Ritz Ybor  |  813.247.2555

Singing with a passion and fervor directly influenced by the classic soul heroes, JJ Grey has written and recorded five albums of original songs steeped in the rhythm & blues, rock, and country soul of his native backwoods home outside Jacksonville, Florida. Grey comes from a long tradition of Southern storytellers and, in that spirit, he fills his songs with details that are at once vivid, personal and universal. After a decade of hard touring, he still spends eight months of the year on the road, bringing his music to a loyal, ever-growing, worldwide fanbase

In a live performance review in The New York Times, writer Nate Chinen praised JJ's “balance of wildness and cool” describing his music as "Southern swamp rock with undercurrents of Memphis soul. His songs chronicle ambiguous truths and unambiguous urges," delivered by Grey's “winningly uncontrived vocals.” Likewise, Billboard has praised Grey’s “world-beating blend of Southern rock, blues and Florida swamp soul.”

2010 sees the Alligator Records release of Grey’s latest labor of love, Georgia Warhorse, named after the resilient Southern lubber grasshopper. “Yellow and black, and tough like an old-school Tonka toy,” says JJ. “They seem so at ease with the world. Nothing seems to rile them. They’re in no hurry but they have a kind of resilience because they just keep coming back and I’ve always felt there was a lesson in there for me to learn.” Grey could be described in such words; his own career has grown over the course of a decade of winning over fans night after night

As with the previous releases, Grey meticulously demoed the entire Georgia Warhorse album himself on the various instruments in his own home studio he calls the Egg Room. “It’s named after the old refrigerator room we used to keep eggs in when my grandparents were in the egg business,” says Grey. “Once I’m done with the demos then I start thinking about hitting the real studio.” Armed with eleven new original songs including one co-written with songwriting icons Chuck Prophet and Angelo Petraglia (Kings of Leon), Grey and long-time friend and producer Dan Prothero hit the “real” studio, Jim Devito’s Retrophonics in St. Augustine, Florida, to begin tracking Georgia Warhorse. There, Grey would again track the majority of the instruments himself, playing guitars, keys, harmonica and delivering all the vocals with his gritty, straight-from-the-soul voice. Prothero’s approach as producer and Retrophonics’ unvarnished, natural sound mirrors Grey’s vision of musical tones and his love of the rustic Florida backwoods, where his family has lived for generations.

Joining him for a track on this album is Grey’s long-time musical hero and reggae icon Toots Hibbert, who sings with Grey on The Sweetest Thing. “Toots is the greatest soul singer I’ve ever heard and one of my biggest influences,” says Grey. Georgia Warhorse also provided the opportunity for Grey to work with another friend and hero, fellow Jacksonvillian Derek Trucks. In true neighborly fashion, Trucks stopped by JJ’s house to record slide guitar for the song Lullaby. “Derek Trucks is the greatest guitarist I’ve ever seen and I’m honored to have Derek and Toots on my record,” says Grey.

Debuting in 2001 with the CD Blackwater, following up in 2004 with Lochloosa, Grey steadily built his following one live performance at a time. Both albums (reissued by Alligator in 2007) were released under the name Mofro, a name the young Grey chose to describe his music and sound while still working his day job at a lumberyard. He has since used the word to name his band of ever-changing world-class players. The albums were met with critical acclaim, including “one of the 10 best R&B records of the year and one of the best of the decade” at Amazon.com for Blackwater and “one of the 10 best releases of the year” in Rolling Stone for Lochloosa.

Photo by Dave EarleyIn 2007, with his first Alligator release, Country Ghetto, Grey reached an even larger audience, doubling both his album sales and his concert attendance. Relix said, “Country Ghetto is a tribute to JJ Grey’s rich comprehension of the South’s learned musical roots and knack to make age-old ideas sound fresh. Grey and Mofro fuse rock with plenty of soul, groove-heavy blues, and dirty, infectious funk. The deep and introspective lyrics are a breath of fresh air.” 2008’s Orange Blossoms built on that energy, with even more fans, radio stations and critics coming on board. A 2009 best-of LP, The Choice Cuts, has kept the momentum going.

Grey, an avid outdoorsman, is a dedicated fisherman and surfer and holds an honorary position on the board of the Snook Foundation, dedicated to the protection of coastal fish and fish habitat. He has written passionately and articulately about his love for the untrammeled environment of his north Florida home.

JJ has brought his music to countless festivals, including Austin City Limits Festival, Byron Bay Blues Festival (Australia), Bonnaroo, Montreal Jazz Festival and Fuji Rock (Japan). Over the course of his 15-plus year career, Grey has shared stages with the likes of the B.B. King, The Allman Brothers Band, The Black Crowes, Los Lobos, Jeff Beck, Ben Harper, Lenny Kravitz, Booker T. Jones, Mavis Staples and many others. In the spring of 2010 Grey was awarded the opportunity of a lifetime as a solo acoustic opener with soul legends Mavis Staples and Booker T. Jones on the What It Is! tour. JJ reminisces, “Getting to open up for such legends, it’s just something I’ll never forget.”

His songs have also appeared in film and on network and cable television programs including House, Flashpoint, Crash, Friday Night Lights, The Deadliest Catch, and the film The Hoot. In November 2009, JJ wrote his first film score for the critically acclaimed documentary The Good Soldier that appeared in theatres and on Bill Moyers' Journal on PBS. Recently, Grey played piano, sang and contributed a song (The Wrong Side) to Buckwheat Zydeco’s Grammy-winning Alligator album, Lay Your Burden Down.

With the release of Georgia Warhorse and a relentless world tour to follow, Grey is set for a breakout year. Commenting on his musical future, he says, “Life just makes itself up right in front of me and I just roll with it. All I know is to have the family I have, see the places I’ve been, meet the people I’ve met and to get to play music with some of the most talented folks around has got to make me the luckiest man alive."

Greg Allman with Jaimoe's Jasssz Band

January 14, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $29.50, $36.50, $46.50  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

With his distinctive, soulful voice and gift for interpreting the blues, Gregg Allman creates work rich with passion, verve, and the unerring confidence of a true survivor. He and his powerhouse band cook up an earthy and atmospheric musical stew infused with gritty R&B muscle, spooky Southern psychedelia, and greasy deep soul grooves. Low Country Blues, his latest CD and a self-assured and spirited collection, reveals Gregg at his best. The voice that has the power to wring nuance and history from every lyric has become one of the defining sounds in the history of American music.

Meg Hutchinson

January 16, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $28.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts   |  813.229.7827

“A master of introspective ballads filled with understated yearning and an exquisite sense of metaphor.” – Performing Songwriter

Soft-voiced with a breathy intimacy, she writes with a film director’s eye and a poet’s sensibility – sometimes wistful, always observant. The UK’s PopMatters wrote that she’s “a musician with a naturally beautiful voice and a gift for lovely, nuanced lyricism.”

For more information, visit meghutchinson.com.

Liza Minnelli

January 17, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $59.00, $82.00, $125.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

A true legend and consummate performer, the indefatigable Liza Minnelli has been honored with four Tony Awards®, an Oscar®, a special “Legends” GRAMMY®, two Golden Globe® Awards and an Emmy®.  Her success extends from stage to silver screen and television. Broadway triumphs include Flora and the Red Menace (for which she became the youngest woman to win a leading actress Tony®), Chicago, The Rink, Victor/Victoria and The Act. Her most famous movie performance was in Cabaret. Always an exciting concert performer, her generosity of spirit, enthusiasm and commitment to her craft are unequaled.

Gordon Lightfoot

January 20, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $42.50, $79.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Bob Dylan said of Gordon Lightfoot’s music, “Every time I hear a song of his, it’s like I wish it would last forever.” The master songwriter who penned If You Could Read My Mind, Sundown and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald loves both writing and touring, and since his emergence from the Toronto folk club scene in the ‘60s, has blessed us with 20 albums (Harmony is his latest) and has composed hits for artists ranging from Bob Dylan to Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Harry Belafonte and Nina Mouskouri. This iconic Canadian returns to thrill our Clearwater audience.

Abba: The Concert

January 25, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $36.00, $50.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

The magic of one of the greatest pop music phenomena ever returns with ABBA: The Concert, courtesy of the tribute group recognized as “the closest to ABBA you’ll ever get.” The show includes two of the original members of the ABBA rhythm section, adding authenticity to this great sound. Mamma Mia; S.O.S.; Money, Money, Money; The Winner Takes It All; Waterloo; Gimme, Gimme, Gimme; Dancing Queen and more will take you back to your favorite ABBA moments. For fun, uplifting, feel-good, get-up-and-dance music, you can’t beat ABBA!

Tom Rush

January 27, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $29.00, $45.00  |  Capitol Theatre  |  727.791.7400

Eric Thom of EXCLAIM Magazine said of Tom Rush, “…he’s got that rare one-of-a-kind quality that makes you realize you’ve seen somebody who really matters.” A living legend who helped usher in the singer/songwriter era and has had a profound impact on American music, Rush was instrumental in shaping the folk revival of the ‘60s and the renaissance of the ‘80s and ‘90s. His distinctive guitar style, wry humor, warm, expressive voice and engaging storytelling have universal appeal and have made his songs hits with folk, country, heavy metal and rap audiences.

The Temptations & The Four Tops

January 27, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $49.00, $59.00, $85.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Exhibiting flair, flash and class, the smooth-stepping, Motown-singing Temptations are all about straight-up soul. The Way You Do the Things You Do, My Girl, Get Ready and Stay are among their 44 Top 10 hits. Graduating from four-part harmony jazz to Motown with Baby, I Need Your Loving, The Four Tops made history with their soulful, bittersweet songs. Reach Out I’ll Be There, Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got) and 22 other Top 40 hits earned them a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Each of these legendary Motown-defining groups shares its greatest hits. This will be one incredible night!

Patti LaBelle with Boney James

February 1, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $58.00, $72.00, $128.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Elegance, grace, style and class – and a soaring, powerhouse voice: Patti LaBelle embodies all of these and so much more. Humanitarian, entrepreneur, author, actor, recording artist and vocalist, Patti is known for her potent, emotionally real persona. From her 1961 hit I Sold My Heart To The Junkman to Lady Marmalade, On My Own and her recent album Back To Now, this soulful diva always delivers. Patti LaBelle, we see a Winner in You. Boney James lends his sax to this special evening. Known as one of the top jazz artists of our time, Boney reaches across genres, with hits on the R&B, Urban AC and Top 200 Charts as well.

Sha Na Na Tribute to ‘50s & ‘60s American Rock ‘n’ Roll

February 2, 2012  |  1:00 PM  |  $18.00, $25.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Sha Na Na is doing its part to make sure that Rock ‘n’ Roll Is Here to Stay. Now capturing new generations of fans, the group that had its roots in the Columbia University glee club ensemble The Kingsmen rocketed to stardom after performing at Woodstock just before Jimi Hendrix, then in the movie Grease (Screamin’ Scott Simon penned Sandy for John Travolta) and on their own TV series for four years. Fans will be treated to At the Hop, The Wanderer, Love Potion #9,  Hand Jive, La Bamba, In the Still of the Night, Get a Job, Come Go With Me and many more.

Danny Schmidt & Carrie Elkin

February 13, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $28.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts   |  813.229.7827

"Danny Schmidt is a force of nature: a blue moon, a hundred-year flood, an avalanche of a singer-songwriter. His songs are a flood of poetry, mythology, folk wisdom, and surprise." -- Sing Out! Magazine

"I have never seen a performer so in love with the act of singing. That's the gospel truth, and from what I've subsequently learned I'm not the only one to believe or state that. Onstage Elkin was simply a force of nature. … ” -- Maverick Magazine

It's a special treat when Danny Schmidt and Carrie Elkin, who normally tour separately and solo, get to share the stage together. Schmidt is best known for his riveting poetic lyrics, which have drawn favorable comparisons to Leonard Cohen and Townes Van Zandt for their depth and complexity.  And gypsy spirit Carrie Elkin is best known for her incredibly soulful and dynamic vocals, which have drawn favorable comparisons to Patty Griffin at her most powerful, and Nanci Griffith at her most intimate.

Diana Krall Valentine's Concert

February 14, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $72.00, $82.00, $135.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Three-time GRAMMY® winner Diana Krall offers impeccable phrasing, sensitive piano playing, and an enchanting contralto that makes the most of torch songs, jazz and pop standards, and songs of her own creation. At the top of the jazz charts, she has outsold all other female jazz artists during the past two decades. When I Look in Your Eyes and Live in Paris won Jazz Vocal GRAMMY®s, Quiet Nights for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), and Love Is the Answer is a pop success, evidence of Diana’s crossover appeal.

Paul Anka

February 17, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $52.50, $65.00, $98.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

With more than 900 songs to his credit and records on Billboard’s Top 50 during five consecutive decades, Paul Anka is clearly an extraordinary singer-songwriter. He has achieved unprecedented success as a recording artist and on stage, screen and television. Anka shot to fame at the age of 16 with Diana and had five Top 20 hits by the time he was 18. His combined LP and single sales number more than 42 million. The man who penned Put Your Head on My Shoulder, (You’re) Having My Baby, Lonely Boy and My Way is also a gifted showman. Paul’s concerts are always outstanding.

Jane Monheit

February 25, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $42.50, $57.00  |  Capitol Theatre  |  727.791.7400

Jane Monheit is an extraordinarily gifted jazz vocalist whose sincere and romantic interpretations of exceptional songs have made her a favorite in both the jazz and cabaret worlds. Her warm, supple voice, flawless tone and perfect pitch are evident on her recent CD Home, a collection of upbeat standards featuring There’s A Small Hotel, Look For The Silver Lining, I’ll Be Around, Tonight You Belong To Me and While We’re Young. Jane has emerged as a complete musician, delivering vocals reflecting deep maturity, sincerity and versatility.

Chris Botti

March 2, 2012  |  7:00 PM  |  $39.00, $45.00, $70.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Since the release of When I Fall In Love in 2004, Chris Botti has become the largest selling American instrumental artist. His success has crossed over to audiences usually reserved for pop music and his association with PBS has led to four #1 jazz albums and multiple gold, platinum and GRAMMY® Awards. He has recorded and performed with music giants including Frank Sinatra, Sting, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, John Mayer, Andrea Bocelli, Joshua Bell, Yo-Yo Ma and Steven Tyler. Chris and his incredible band have performed with many of the finest symphonies.

Richard Nader's Doo Wop Reunion XII

March 17, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $45.50, $52.50, $88.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

What’s more fun than an evening of Doo Wop? Richard Nader’s Doo Wop Reunion XII brings a stellar lineup of legends from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Kenny Vance & the Planotones (Looking For An Echo, Cara Mia, This Magic Moment), Larry Chance of The Earls (Remember Then, Never, I Believe), The Coasters (Yakety Yak, Charlie Brown, Poison Ivy), Shirley Alston Reeves, original lead singer of The Shirelles (Soldier Boy, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, This Is Dedicated To The One I Love), Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs (Stay, Come Along, I Remember), The Happenings (See You in September, Go Away Little Girl, I Got Rhythm), Tommy Mara and The Crests (16 Candles, Step By Step, The Angels Listened In), and Amanda Nikka with a salute to our Armed Forces,  will have you on your feet for the best Doo Wop party of the season.

The Nields

March 19, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $28.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts   |  813.229.7827

Sisters Nerissa and Katryna Nield left their band and became a duo for the 1998 Lilith Fair. One account says their keening Celtic-influenced harmonies provide an interesting contrast to their decidedly rural American musical roots, almost as if Sarah McLachlan recorded an album at Willie Nelson's ranch or if Aimee Mann were trapped on an island with only George Jones to keep her company.

Songs To Check Out by The Nields: "Yesterday's Girl,” "Love Me One More Time," "Moonlighter"

For more information, visit nields.com.

Wilson Phillips

March 23, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $49.00, $79.00*  |  Capitol Theatre  |  727.791.7400

Direct from their scene-stealing cameo in this year’s smash film Bridesmaids, Wilson Phillips is back! Surpassing the record held by The Supremes, Wilson Phillips was declared the best-selling female group of all time by Billboard in 1992. Chynna Phillips, daughter of Michelle and John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas, and Carnie and Wendy Wilson, daughters of Beach Boy Brian Wilson, exploded on the music scene with three #1 hit singles from their 1990 debut album (Hold On, Release Me and You’re In Love). Their new album, scheduled for release in January, features covers of their parents’ music. It’s going to be a party up close and personal at the intimate Capitol Theatre.

*Includes meet & greet.  Limited availability.

Tony Bennett

March 23, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $69.00, $89.00, $129.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

Inspired by the likes of Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett’s easy, natural style has captured the hearts of millions around the globe. Generation gaps are nonexistent when it comes to his music. Tony has charted hits in the past six decades, including I Wanna Be Around, The Good Life, Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) and his signature song I Left My Heart in San Francisco. The New York Times attributes Tony’s longevity above all to “his ability to convey a sense of joy, of utter satisfaction, in what he is doing.”

Neil Sedaka

March 25, 2012  |  2:00 PM  |  $39.00, $49.00, $79.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

For more than fifty years, Neil Sedaka has written, performed, produced and inspired countless songs. From Stupid Cupid and Where the Boys Are (sung by Connie Francis) to his own hits with Calendar Girl, Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Laughter in the Rain and so many more, Neil’s songs are capable of taking us back to special moments in our past. Enjoy this consummate musician, extraordinary vocalist and ageless songwriting talent.

David Benoit & Brian Culbertson

March 25, 2012  |  7:00 PM  |  $42.50, $59.50  |  Capitol Theatre  |  727.791.7400

Two of the highest profile pianists in contemporary jazz join together for a  completely unique pairing.  Playing two acoustic grand pianos, Benoit and Culbertson will perform some of their best known compositions along with original music they’ve collaborated on specifically for this project.  Combining these two very distinctive styles in an acoustic setting will make for a new and exciting concert experience sure to ignite some unexpected sparks!

Johnny Mathis

April 5, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $52.00, $62.00, $88.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

The crooner who has likely contributed more to romantic interludes (or dreams of them) than any other is back with his rich, warm, velvet voice and the melodies that have made him so important to American pop music: Chances Are, Misty, It’s Not For Me To Say, Wonderful! Wonderful!, The Twelfth of Never, A Certain Smile and so many more. The sound of his voice evokes memories for countless people of multiple generations. This gracious gentleman whose Greatest Hits album spent almost ten years on the Billboard Top Albums Chart returns with a 26-piece orchestra to put a smile on your face.

Pink Martini

April 5, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $26.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts   |  813.229.7827

“Pink Martini is a rollicking around-the-world musical adventure … if the United Nations had a house band in 1962, hopefully we’d be that band.” – Thomas Lauderdale, bandleader/pianist

Fifteen years ago in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, Thomas Lauderdale was working in politics, thinking that one day he would run for mayor. Like other eager beaver politicians-in-training, he went to every political fundraiser under the sun … but was dismayed to find the music at these events underwhelming, lackluster, loud and un-neighborly. Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world – crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop – and hoping to appeal to conservatives and liberals alike, he founded the “little orchestra” Pink Martini in 1994.

Pink Martini’s debut album Sympathique was released independently in 1997 on the band’s own label Heinz Records (named after Lauderdale’s dog), and quickly became an international phenomenon, garnering the group nominations for Song of the Year and Best New Artist in France’s Victoires de la Musique Awards in 2000. Pink Martini released Hang on Little Tomato in 2004 and Hey Eugene in 2007. All three albums have gone gold in France, Canada, Greece and Turkey, and have sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. Read more under "About the Show." For the official website, visit pinkmartini.com.

Ry Cuming

April 16, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $28.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts   |  813.229.7827

This young Australian has already won two of that country’s Dolphin Awards for Best Pop Song and Best New Artist.  He’s toured as an opener for Maroon 5 and has said that Jeff Buckley’s CD Grace was what made him decide to become a musician.

For more information, visit rycuming.com.

An Evening with Yanni

April 26, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $45.00, $65.00, $89.00, $125.00  |  Ruth Eckerd Hall  |  727.791.7400

His concerts are legendary.  His live shows have amazed millions on every continent in the world.  Yanni as you know him best, performing his instrumental hits from the shows that have become famous around the world. The live show will feature music from Yanni's new album Truth Of Touch, which is the composer’s first album of original studio music in almost a decade. This is Yanni returning to his roots with a live performance that will deliver old and new fans the very best of Yanni and his music. Come hear the music that touches the world.

Catie Curtis

May 14, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $28.50+  |  Straz Center for the Performing Arts   |  813.229.7827

“A folk-rock goddess.” – The New Yorker

“It is Catie’s heart that I admire, her ability to see light where so many would look and see darkness.” – Mary Gauthier

Curtis has recorded 10 solo albums and has toured with Lilith Fair as well as with Dar Williams and Mary Chapin Carpenter. She won the Grand Prize (with Mark Erelli) for their song “People Look Around,” a response to Hurricane Katrina. On Sweet Life, she looks directly into hearts of darkness but remains positive on the power of individual change.

For more information, visit catiecurtis.com.