Tampa, FL

Sitting between Gainesville and Miami on the long Florida spine, Tampa is a welcome stop between all the holiday resorts and retirement towns that look into the Gulf of Mexico. Straight down I-75, the city is about seven hours from Atlanta, and just over four hours to the southern-most tip of the panhandle. With a constantly changing live scene full of new venues quickly replacing the old, Tampa’s music culture is strongest in the historic district of Ybor City, where clubs attract artists from all over the Tampa Bay area. The city is also home to Fueled By Ramen, the independent record label responsible for Less Than Jake and Jimmy Eat World, the drummer for the former being a founding member of the company. Nowadays the city is known for acts like Yo Majesty and Windsor for the Derby.

Guide to Gigging in Tampa

Book a Gig: Venues

Crowbar
1812 North 17th Street
Ybor City, FL 33605
(813) 241-8600
www.crowbarlive.com
Sitting just a few minutes away from Tampa’s city center in Ybor City, this relatively new venue opened in 2006 and is already a popular spot for catching buzzing indie rock acts. Founded by ex-Atlanta native Tom DeGeorge, who worked at The Masquerade before relocating to Tampa to run the Florida version of the franchise, the venue can fit a few hundred concertgoers. Contact them through the website for booking information.

Skipper’s Smokehouse
910 Skipper’s Road
Tampa, FL 33613
(813) 971-0666
www.skipperssmokehouse.com
Walking an odd line between indie rock haven and Jimmy Buffet-themed restaurant, Skipper’s Smokehouse is much more than it seems. With a capacity of 800 and a family-friendly vibe (kids 10 and under get into shows for free), the restaurant’s outdoor venue welcomes everything from zydeco to punk. For bookings, first send a press kit, CD and availability to the venue, and then follow up with a phone call Tuesday through Thursday, between noon and 4 p.m.

The Orpheum
1902 Republica De Cuba Ave.
Tampa, FL 33605
(813) 248-9500
www.statemedia.com
With a satisfying indie mix of local and national acts, The Orpheum’s roster is almost always an impressive one. Housed in the shell that Fortune One left behind, the venue is run with precision by the folks at No Clubs Productions, the company that has been presenting shows at Tampa venues since 1985. To get booked, visit the company’s website and fill out the form under the “Booking” tab.

New World Brewery
1313 East 8th Ave.
Tampa, FL 33605
(813) 248-4969
With The Orpheum right across the street, New World Brewery’s placement, along with its covered patio, wide range of clientele and great local and national indie acts, makes for a rocking night out. Call after 3 p.m. for booking info.

The State Theater
687 Central Ave.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 895-3045
www.statemedia.com
A State Media venue, this 500-capacity space has been around for over 10 years and has spent the time wisely, building up a solid reputation for bringing in national punk acts, as well as nurturing a wide variety of genres in the local scene.

Promote a Gig: Media

WMNF 88.5 FM
1210 East Martin Luther King Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33603
(813) 238-8001
www.wmnf.org
With a stunning array of music programs, this community-owned station does plenty to keep up with under-the-radar sounds. The station also presents local concerts, such as July’s Annual WMNF Americana Festival. Shows like Florida Folk promote local music, and the DJs are always happy to give a new band a listen. Call or email one of the program directors to discuss getting airtime.

Creative Loafing,
Tampa edition
810 North Howard Ave.
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 739-4800
www.tampa.creativeloafing.com
Though it has only technically been a Creative Loafing publication since 2006, this free weekly rag has been singing the praises — and disapprovals — of everything local since the late ‘80s. Contact Events Editor Leilani Polk (leilani.polk@creativeloafing.com) to get your gig listed, or staff writer and music critic Wade Tatangelo (wade.tatangelo@creativeloafing.com) to get reviewed.

Gear/ Repairs

Sam Ash Music Store
13133 No. Dale Mabry Hwy.
Tampa, FL 33618
(813) 908-5556
www.samashmusic.com
Sam Ash offers electric and acoustic guitars, basses, amplifiers and accessories, as well as pre-owned vintage instruments. The store also offers in-house repair, and has additional locations in nearby Clearwater and Sarasota.

Paragon Music Center
2119 W. Hillsborough Ave.
Tampa, FL 33603
(813) 876-3459
www.paragon-music.com
Servicing Tampa for more than 25 years, Paragon’s specialty is Peavey equipment — guitars, amps, mixers and more.