From the large scale arenas to the more intimate settings, the Tampa Bay area is never lacking when it comes to drawing grandscale musical acts. Now that summer is fast approaching, it's time for concert season to kick in full force. Whether it be an old or new act, there's something out for everyone this concert season. Here's just a sample of what to look forward to.
1. Modest Mouse with Brand New July 9, 2016 at Tampa’s Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheater.
Alt-rockers Modest Mouse rarely venture to the bay area, so the show they're co-headlining with Brand New won’t be one you want to miss. The tour features no opening bands and, interestingly enough, both bands will be rotating as to which act will play first throughout the tour. The Tampa show will follow through with Brand New playing first, followed by Modest Mouse who are currently supporting their most recent release "Strangers to Ourselves."
2. Twenty-One Pilots Presents The Emotional Roadshow World Tour February 28, 2016 at Tampa's Amalie Arena.
Touring in support of their massively successful "Blurryface" album and after a stellar headlining spot at last years Next Big Thing, Twenty-One Pilots announced a Tampa stop nearly nine months in advance. While this large of a time gap may seem rather daunting to many (after all who can plan that far ahead)? Tickets are selling fast. Other stops in Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale sold out long before the scheduled dates arrived. With many nostalgia acts and rising artists on the platform, seeing Twenty-One Pilots live brings the rare chance to see a band live that’s currently in their prime.
3. Steven Tyler - ...Out on a Limb Tour August 29, 2016 at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall.
Ruth Eckerd Hall stands as Clearwater’s home gem for attracting the likes of legendary acts such as Bob Dylan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eddie Vedder, and Janes Addiction. Tyler’s August gig at the hall is his only Florida stop. The unexpected is certainly a big draw for this show, as he has never performed solo in bay area before. It should be noted that he is in fact touring with a Nashville based band that he orchestrated in tribute to country music. Hence, attendees should be forewarned that not many Aerosmith tunes are likely to make it into the set list.
4. Counting Crows with Rob Thomas July 23, 2016 at Tampa’s Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheater.
The Counting Crows are playing Tampa for their third year in a row, this time disavowing intimate theaters for arena sized crowds. The band has been supporting their 2014 release "Somewhere Under Wonderland" heavily during their past few tours, so a varying set list can be expected. You may get the hits, or you may get new tunes and deep cuts. That’s part of going to a Counting Crows show. Songwriter Rob Thomas will serve as an interesting addition to the mix, as both acts embark on a 40-date summer tour.
5. Slipknot with Marilyn Manson July 2, 2016 at Tampa’s Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheater.
Duo from hell? The past few years have seen Manson performing solo and with other big acts including Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, and The Smashing Pumpkins. However, supporting one of metals most notorious bands may be his biggest challenge yet. He is currently supporting his 2015 release "The Pale Emperor." Slipknot has been a touring powerhouse since the release of ".5 The Gray Chapter" in 2014. Tampa stops have served them well, as last years Summers Last Stand was one of the most successful tours of the year. Although no easy task to open for two of metals most daunting names, Of Mice and Men will take the helm.
http://www.slipknot1.com
6. Guns N' Roses - Not In This Lifetime Tour July 29, 2016 at Orlando’s Citrus Bowl Stadium.
Not a Tampa gig, but Orlando is the closest any Floridian will be getting to the much anticipated reunion. The 70,000 capacity stadium has already sold out a majority of its seats, where ticket prices range from $160 to a well over $1000. That very well may be the price that people will have to pay in order to see Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan onstage again for their first tour in over twenty years. Although not confirmed for the Orlando gig, opening acts for the first half of the tour have been revealed to be Alice In Chains and Lenny Kravitz. All the more reason to not miss the most hyped show of the year.
