Alicia Keys tour has Tampa date

Pop-soul queen Alicia Keys' 24-city North American tour in support of her new album "Girl on Fire" will make a March 24 stop at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Joining the star singer-songwriter on tour is rising R&B luminary Miguel, the "Adorn" singer who was recently nominated for five Grammy Awards including Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance and Best Urban Contemporary Album.

Keys issued a statement about the upcoming tour, her opening act and latest album.

"I can feel the energy of this upcoming year building and I couldn’t be more excited to go on tour with the new album! Everything is new and this show is going to be so fresh and I’m thrilled to have the insanely talented Miguel join me,” Keys said.

“'Girl On Fire' has been such an empowering and freeing experience for me as an artist. I can’t wait to discover how the new and familiar faces I see on tour embrace the music and the journey we're taking.”

Tickets: Tickets for the event go on sale 10 a.m. Jan. 18 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, Ticketmaster outlets and at Ticketmaster.com.  To order tickets by phone call 800-745-3000.  Ticket prices are $45.25, $55.25, $75.25 and $100.25. Prices do not include facility fee or service charges. 

—Photo: Alicia Keys arrives at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center on February 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images. View rest of photo gallery at Bradenton.com.

UPDATED 1/11: Crosby Still & Nash have Sarasota tour date at Van Wezel

UPDATED 1/11: Tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Jan 18 for Van Wezel show.
 
Folk-rock greats Crosby, Stills & Nash will tour again this year starting with eight dates in Florida including May 8 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the Sarasota venue confirmed today.

The tour begins May 5 at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando and also includes a May 7 date at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.

The same players who accompanied Crosby, Stills & Nash in 2012 will be on the road with them in 2013: Todd Caldwell (organ), Shane Fontayne (guitar), Steve DiStanislao (drums), Kevin McCormick (bass), and James Raymond (keyboards).

"CSN 2012," a 25-song set presenting CSN's first live performance film in more than 20 years, was released last summer in Blu-ray and DVD/2CD versions. It features complete concert footage and bonus content—including a conversation with David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash plus on-the-road interviews with the group's band and crew. 


—Publicity photo (from left): David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash

Leonard Cohen adds Tampa tour date

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Leonard Cohen, the author of the contemporary hymn "Hallelujah" and numerous other masterful songs, will return to the Straz Center on March 18 after an acclaimed 3-hour show at the Tampa venue in 2009.

Regularly priced tickets start at $59.50 and go on sale at noon Jan. 18.

Cohen’s current group features former Sarasotan and Gregg Allman Band leader Neil Larsen (keyboards & Hammond B3 accordion), Sharon Robinson and the Webb Sisters (background vocals), Roscoe Beck (musical director and bass), Mitch Watkins (guitar), Javier Mas (bandurria, laud, archilaud, 12-string acoustic guitar), Rafael Gayol (drums, percussion) and Alexandru Bublitchi (violin).

Cohen's latest album, the excellent 'Old Ideas," features the poignant, humorous, heaven-bound farewell song "Going Home," which Rolling Stone ranks among the best of 2012.

Information: 800-955-1045 and www.strazcenter.org.

—Leonard Cohen file photo by Chris Pizzello — Associated Press

Justin Bieber returning to Tampa; tickets on sale Dec. 14

Less than 24 hours after Justin Bieber headlined 93.3-FLZ's annual Jingle Ball Sunday at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, the teen-pop star with 3.1 billion YouTube views announced he's returning to the same venue Aug. 8.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/12/06/4305170_justin-bieber-keha-headline-flzs.html#storylink=cpy

The “Believe” tour, produced by AEG Live, starts up again on June 22 in San Diego.
Tickets for the Tampa show start at $36.75 and go on sale 10 a.m. Friday (Dec. 14).

A number of VIP packages will also be offered on the upcoming tour through www.aeglive.com.

Information: Tickets for the event go on sale 10 a.m. Dec. 14 at the McDonald’s Ticket Office at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, Ticketmaster outlets and at Ticketmaster.com. To order tickets by phone call 800-745-3000. Ticket prices are $36.75, $56.75, $66.75, and $92.25. Prices do not include facility fee or service charges. For dinner reservations at the newly renovated Firestick Grill on the day of the event please visit tampabaytimesforum.com or call 813.301.6926 for more information. Advanced parking passes are available at Ticketmaster.com or the ticket office.

—Bieber photo by Evan Agostini — AP.

Fleetwood Mac has Tampa date

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Fleetwood Mac will be embarking on a 34-city U.S. tour after a three year break beginning April 4.

The tour was announced today by the group and Live Nation, the tour's national promoter. Fleetwood Mac Live 2013 arena tour includes stops in Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Chicago and a special appearance at the historic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Oh yeah, and a June 7 date at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Price haven't been announced yet but tickets for the first run of shows go on sale Dec. 14 at Ticketmaster.com.

To coincide with the tour and anniversary, a new deluxe reissue of the band's bestselling 1977 album "Rumours" with previously unreleased studio and live tracks will be released in early 2013 from Rhino.

The current Fleetwood Mac lineup includes Mick Fleetwood and John McVie - both original members since 1967, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks who joined the band in 1975.

"Having started Fleetwood Mac with John McVie in 1967, it has always been so gratifying that despite the various incarnations, the band has survived," Mick Flettwood said in a statement. "Throughout the years, though, the one thing that has remained constant is our fans. I am looking forward to getting back behind the kit, reconnecting with the fans and sharing the stage with my fellow band members."

Nicks also made a statement.

"After spending four days at Lindsey's house working on music and one really fun day doing a crazy photo session, I am quite excited about next year. Everything seems to be falling into place. 2013 looks like the year of Fleetwood Mac," she said. 

—AP file photo of Stevie Nicks.

Bon Jovi announces Tampa show; film screening in Sarasota

Good news for Bon Jovi enthusiasts.

The hair metal band that survived the 1980s to fill arenas in the 2000s has another area concert coming up and special film screening at a local theater confirmed for Tuesday.

“Bon Jovi Because We Can – The Tour” has a March 1 date at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, the venue announced late today.

Tickets, which start at $19.50, go on sale 10 a.m. Dec. 3.

Bon Jovi will debut new songs from the band's upcoming album "What About Now," due out in the spring of 2013.

I'm sure 1980s smashes like “Livin’ on a Prayer," “Wanted Dead or Alive” and “You Give Love a Bad Name” will make the setlist, too.

In related news,  "Bon Jovi: Inside Out" will be screened 8 p.m. Tuesday at Regal Cinemas Hollywood 20, Sarasota.

In a first-ever interactive theater event for the band, Bon Jovi fans will have the opportunity to submit their questions for a Q&A with Bon Jovi, hosted by Allison Hagendorf of The CW's "The Next: Fame Is At Your Door Step." The Q&A will be broadcast live from Times Square and fans can submit questions now via Twitter using the hashtag #AskBonJovi or text in questions during the event. Featuring a hand-selected set list from their catalog of hits, "Bon Jovi: Inside Out" includes performances from recent shows in London, New Jersey and New York.

Sarasota movie details. 

Read more here: http://events.bradenton.com/sarasota_fl/events/show/294316047-bon-jovi-inside-out#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

—Photo of Jon Bon Jovi by David Bergman//www.TourPhotographer.com

Gasparilla Music Festival returns to Tampa

The second annual Gasparilla Music Festival returns to downtown Tampa on March 9 with Grammy Award-winning band Ozomatli. The genre-hopping, Latin-funk-hip hop outfit is the first of several acts to be announced in the coming weeks.

The L.A.-based band will headline GMF's Kiley Gardens Stage, playing an evening set along with a special family-friendly set earlier in the day.

Advance general admission tickets can be purchased at $20 for a limited time beginning today. Prices will increase as more bands are announced. Tickets are available through the GMF website (gasparillamusicfestival.com) and at select local ticket outlets. Admission is free for children ages 12 and under.

Along with cutting edge bands on four stages throughout downtown Tampa, this year's GMF expands upon its children's festival-within-the-festival from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in Kiley Gardens, located between Curtis Hixon Park and Rivergate Tower. In addition to family-friendly entertainment on the Kiley Gardens Stage there will be arts and crafts, games and other activities for children.

"We're thrilled to enhance GMF's family-friendly component with Ozomatli's 'Ozokidz' show, and we wanted to get the tickets out early at a reduced price so that parents could take advantage," said GMF president David Cox in a statement.

Bradenton's Have Gun, Will Travel played the inaugural Gasparilla Music Festival.

—Ozomatli publicity photo by Christian L.

Bradenton's Damon Fowler, Have Gun Will Travel to headline WMNF's Little Manatee River Jam

Damon Fowler at Blues Revue open house in Bradenton's Village of the Arts. Photo by Wade Tatangelo.

Read more here: http://heraldbuzzworthy.blogspot.com/2011/08/damon-fowler-sugar-shack-mondays.html#storylink=cpy

The Bradenton area's two greatest live music exports are joining forces to headline WMNF's 3rd annual Little Manatee River Jam.

The Tampa-based community radio station fund-raising concert is Nov. 17 at the Canoe Outpost in southern Hillsborough County features Bradenton Beach resident and international blues star Damon Fowler as well as the Bradenton natives of Have Gun Will Travel performing their equally acclaimed Americana originals. 

From WMNF:

The festival’s beginnings go back to early 2010, when the owners of the Canoe Outpost attended a friend’s wedding reception where Talk To Mark were providing the entertainment. A brief discussion with the band during a set break led to the subject of WMNF and the idea of a live music event on the Outpost’s beautiful 5-acre property. With a little coordination between the band, the station and the site owners, the concept quickly began to take shape. Brandon native Damon Fowler — whose roots in the area made him the natural choice — was tapped to headline the show, and a festival was born.

Complete schedule:

Christy Massey: 1-1:30

Ed Carter 1:40-2:20

Sarah Mac Band 2:30-3:30

Rebekah Pulley and the Reluctant Prophets 3:50-4:50

Talk To Mark 5:10-6:10

Have Gun Will Travel 6:30-7:30

Damon Fowler 8- 10 p.m.

Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 the day of the event.

To order tickets online visit www.wmnf.org or call the station at 813-238-8001.

For camping reservations, call the Canoe Outpost at 813-634-2228 or visit www.Canoeoutpost.com.

Taylor Swift has Tampa date for 'Red'

From the cover of Rolling Stone to Letterman, Taylor Swift is everywhere these days promoting her new album "Red" and, yes, its tour includes a local stop at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on April 20.

Tickets, $29.50-$84.50, go on sale 10 a.m. Nov. 16.

“I didn’t think I could be any more excited about my RED album, but then I start thinking about how I’m going to put the new show together for The RED Tour,” Swift said in a statement. “I have so many ideas about how to really bring this music to life, and I can’t wait to share the new show with all my fans!”

Singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran, whose duet with Taylor, “Everything Has Changed,” from her "Red" album, has already reached the No. 1 on iTunes all-genre Top Songs chart, will be a special guest on all of the shows on the tour. 

Tickets will be available at the McDonald's Ticket Office at the Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, at Ticketmaster outlets and at Ticketmaster.com.

In related news, the country-pop super star will co-host the Grammy nominations television special.
Grammy officials say Swift will join LL Cool J as hosts of the Dec. 5 special, airing live on CBS from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. This is the first year the nominations special has been broadcast from Music City.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/10/29/4257581/taylor-swift-to-co-host-grammy.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

—Photo: This Oct. 23, 2012 file photo shows Taylor Swift performing on ABC’s "Good Morning America" in New York. INVISION — Photo by Charles Sykes

Marshall Tucker Band is Sarasota bound for free show at Thunder By the Bay

Marshall Tucker Band

One of the greats of Southern rock, The Marshall Tucker Band, will headline the 15th Annual Thunder By the Bay Motorcycle Festival in Sarasota.

The group will play the free Downtown Festival Jan. 6 on Main Street.

UltimateClassicRock.com recently named The Marshall Tucker Band's classic power ballad "Can't You See," originally included on the band's self-titled 1973 debut disc, the greatest Southern Rock song ever recorded.

It beat out favorites by the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Outlaws   

“We are over the top with this announcement from Ultimate Classic Rock,” said Marshall Tucker Band lead singer and founding member Doug Gray, in a statement posted on the group's website.  “It certainly lets us all know that ‘Can’t You See’ is and will continue to be appreciated for a very long time.”

The Marshall Tucker Band's other hits include "Heard it in a Love Song," "This Ol' Cowboy," Searchin' for a Rainbow" and "Fire on the Mountain."

David “Frankie” Toler, who died last year at Tidewell hospice care in Bradenton after a prolonged illness following a liver transplant, was the drummer for the Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman Band and Marshall Tucker Band (1992-94).

“Frankie’s personality was so big — it stuck out farther than his mighty drumsticks,” Gray told the Herald. “I didn’t know anybody who couldn’t talk to him.”

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2011/06/07/3253301/former-allman-drummer-leaves-lasting.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

  
Thunder By the Bay, which raises money for Suncoast Charities for Children, is one of the top motorcycle festivals in Florida.

For festival details and updates visit www.thunderbythebay.org

Muse to play Tampa Bay Times Forum

Prog rockers Muse announced an upcoming North American tour today that includes a date at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Feb. 23.

Dead Sara is scheduled to open.

Tickets for the show, presented by 97X, go on sale 10 a.m. Friday (Oct. 12). Tickets are priced at:  $32.25, $52.25 and $62.25.  Prices do not include facility fees or service charges.

UK-based trio Muse is touring in support of their sixth album, "The 2nd Law," which was released this week on Warner Bros. Records.

The group's last album, "The Resistance," reached No. 1 in 19 countries and won the Best Rock Album Grammy Award.

Information: 813-301.2500 or TampaBayTimesForum.com.

—Photo of Muse by Gavin Bond provided.

Pink announces Tampa stop for 'Truth About Love Tour'

Pop star Pink has announced that she will tour North America for the first time in four years, beginning Feb. 13. She has confirmed 25 dates with a stop at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Feb. 27. The tour  is in support of Pink's new album, "The Truth About Love."

Pink appeared on "The Today Show" this morning, "The View" this afternoon and will visit "John Stewart's The Daily Show" on Wednesday (Sept. 19).  Fans will have the opportunity to chat with Pink about her upcoming tour live today at noon Eastern. To register and participate in the web chat, fans should visit TheTruthAboutLoveTour.com.


Tickets will go on sale 10 a.m. Oct. 6 via Ticketmaster.com.
 
Citi presale info Citi cardmembers will also have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. local time through Citi's Private Pass Program. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com.

—Photo Pink, left, and Carey Hart arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, in Los Angeles. INVISION — Photo by Matt Sayles

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/09/07/4189618/mtv-awards.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

Lady Gaga has Tampa date in March

Lady Gaga has a another date in Tampa.

Live Nation Global Touring today announced details for the North American leg of the pop star's "Born This Way Ball World Tour," which includes a date at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on March 13, 2013.

Tickets for this show go on sale 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28.

"The Born This Way Ball" will continue in 2013 visiting 25 cities in North America including performances in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Toronto.  In this brand new tour, Gaga performs her latest album "Born This Way" as well as music from both "The Fame" and "The Fame Monster." "The Born This Way Ball" began on April 27 in Seoul.

"The Haus of Gaga and I have worked for months conceiving a spectacular stage,” said Lady Gaga in a statement. “'The Born This Way Ball' is an Electro-Metal Pop-Opera; the tale of the Beginning, the genesis of the Kingdom of Fame. How we were birthed and how we will die celebrating.”

Fans will have first access to ticket presales via LittleMonsters.com on Tuesday, Sept. 18. To receive an access code for this exclusive presale, sign up for free at LittleMonsters.com to RSVP.

Citi is the official credit card of the US leg of The Born This Way Ball. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning 10 a.m. Wed., Sept. 19 at through Citi's Private Pass Program. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com.

"The Born This Way Ball" starring Lady Gaga is promoted world-wide by Live Nation Global Touring, and brought to you by Skype.

—Photo: Singer Lady Gaga arrives at a "Lady Gaga Fame" fragrance launch event at the Guggenheim Museum on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012 in New York. The black tie masquerade event will feature a performance art piece by Lady Gaga, “Sleeping with Gaga.” The film for "Lady Gaga Fame", directed by Steven Klein, will also be unveiled during the evening. INVISION — Photo by Evan Agostini Read more here.

VMA winner Rihanna to play Tampa Bay Times Forum

Live Nation announced this morning that the "Rihanna Diamonds World Tour" will launch March 8 in Buffalo, N.Y.  The tour is scheduled to stop in more than 27 cities across North America including  the Tampa Bay Times Forum on April 19. 

Tickets go on sale Sept. 21.

Rihanna won the night's biggest prize, video of the year for "We Found Love," on Thursday at MTV's Video Music Awards. 

Citi is the official credit card of the U.S. leg of Rihanna’s upcoming world tour. Citi card members will have access to pre-sale tickets beginning 10 a.m. Sept. 10 through Citi's Private Pass Program. For complete pre-sale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com. 

Information: 813-287-8844 or www.ticketmaster.com.

—Rihanna performs at the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, in Los Angeles. INVISION — Photo by Mark J. Terrill/AP

Country singer Gretchen Wilson to play Manatee County Fairgrounds near Bradenton

"Redneck Woman" Gretchen Wilson has a date at the Manatee County Fairgrounds in Palmetto, according to the country singer's official website.

More details to follow.


—Photo of country singer Gretchen Wilson by Tami Chappell / Reuters.

The Who announce U.S. tour; band visits Orlando in November

The Who's lone original members, chief songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Pete Townshend and lead singer Roger Daltrey, are taking "Quadrophenia" and other favorites from the band's rich past on the road this fall.

The U.S. tour will follow a performance at the Olympic Games in London.

Townshend and Daltrey made the announcement Wednesday during an online video conference.

The Who's classic 1973 album "Quadrophenia" will be played in its entirety.

The tour kicks off in Sunrise on Nov. 1 and then visits the Amway Center in Orlando Nov. 3, a Saturday, before heading north through Georgia.

American Express presale for the U.S. dates runs July 23-26 and July 23-25 in Canada before the general public on sale 10 a.m. July 27.

Tickets for the tour will be available at www.aeglive.com

It will be The Who's first North American tour in four years. The band played a rescheduled date at Ford Amphitheatre in Tampa in 2007, after a cancellation during the first song.   

Townshend on “Quadrophenia”

Why do you think the music, the themes of “Quadrophenia”–both the album and film adaptation–resonate so strongly today? 

In 1972 I was twenty-eight, writing about London and Brighton in 1963 and 1964 when the band was just starting. I was still young enough to remember how it felt to be sixteen or seventeen, and at war with my parents, bosses and authority. I could still remember that feeling of struggling to fit in, something that happened to me when I was even younger, around fourteen, and everyone around me seemed to have got their lives on track. This is such a universal experience for young people that it has echoed. 

Read more of the interview/official press release.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/07/18/4118839/the-who-plan-us-tour-talk-olympics.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

—Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who are shown (top) during their performance at the Hyde Park Music Festival, in London in this July 2, 2006 file photo. MAX NASH, FILE — AP Photo

Fiona Apple coming to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater

Brilliantly moody piano woman Fiona Apple, whose new album "The Idler Wheel" comes out Tuesday, had added a Sept.29 date at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater to her tour schedule, which also includes an Oct. 1 stop at Hard Rock Orlando.

Tickets for both shows go on sale June 23, according to her website. 


—Publicity photo.

Elton John to play USF Sun Dome 'Grand Opening' in Tampa

Sir Elton John will piano-rock the newly renovated USF Sun Dome at the Tampa venue's Sept. 14 Grand Opening.

The Friday evening concert features the singer/pianist with a five-piece backing band and promises "all the hits."

Tickets are $39.50-$139.50 and go on sale 10 a.m. June 15.

“We are absolutely thrilled that Elton John will be performing live at the newly renovated Sun Dome for our Grand Opening.” said USF Sun Dome General Manager Trent Merritt, in a statement. “Elton John is one of music’s most legendary performers. He is a master musician, vocalist and an icon the likes of which will never be seen again. His timeless music and unparalleled live performances have entertained fans all over the globe for the last 5 decades. This is one concert not to be missed!”

John last played Tampa in 2009 with Billy Joel at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Show details. 

—Photo: Elton John by Chris Pizzello/Associated Press.