Sunshine City Magazine

Q&A: Before Clearwater show, Joe Bonamassa discusses new album and Mark Knopfler collaboration | Tampa

Published

8 months ago

March 11, 2024

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Photo by Josh Bradley

Joe Bonamassa, who plays The Sound in Clearwater, Florida on March 16, 2024.

Joe Bonamassa doesn’t know how much longer he’ll be in the music industry, but he’s enjoying the hell out of his current era. The 46-year-old blues guitarist released Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 last fall, a follow-up to his third studio album Blues Deluxe that explores how he has improved as a musician since his mid-20s.

“The first one is literally just a three-piece band, hot off the road, bash it out in the fucking room, shout in key, the end,” Bonamassa told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay during a recent phone call.

He says that while there are melodies on Vol. 2 that he couldn’t have pulled off writing earlier in his career, it was the way his singing voice has improved that stands out most significantly to him. “I couldn’t sing ’24 Hour Blues’ 20 years ago,” he added.

Earlier this decade, he was also asked to play a guitar part for Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits’ upcoming, guitar hero-loaded single, “Going Home,” which releases this Friday. The track—which has been compared to “We Are The World” in terms of its lineup—features contributions from David Gilmour, Ronnie Wood, Eric Clapton, and, in his final studio recording before his death last year, Jeff Beck. It was a bit of a confusing venture for Bonamassa, though. Producers told him to play along with a recorded part and just “do his thing.”

“And then I realized that everybody’s going to interpret this thing differently, and then, the producers are going to wave through all these takes to get everybody on,” he told CL Tampa.

His gig at The Bayfront Sound comes after years of playing electric mini-residencies in town, and even a socially-distanced power trio performance just as COVID-19 vaccines were first distributed.

“I’ve been working with those guys over at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Bobby [Rossi], and everyone, forever,” Bonamassa recalled. “As long as there’s no like, freak snowstorm in March, I think we’re gonna be good.”

Tickets to see Joe Bonamassa play The Baycare Sound in Clearwater on Saturday, March 16 are still available and start at $73.75.

Read our full Q&A with Joe Bonamassa below.

Thanks for letting me pin you down for a chat today, Joe. Are you in California?

No, I’m in Nashville right now. We have rehearsals starting this week, so I’m just here getting the band ready.

Anton Fig is still in the band, right?

No, Lemar Carter plays drums. Carter, Calvin Turner on bass, Reese Wynans on keyboards, Josh Smith on guitar, Jade MacRae on vocals, and Danni DeAndrea on vocals. It’s a mighty seven-piece.

Definitely, and I’m glad to hear that Jade is still in the band. She’s an amazing vocalist.

She is an amazing vocalist and amazing musician honestly, because she plays keys, she writes killer songs. Same thing with Danni! Danni DeAndrea. I’m lucky to have solo artists in my band, you know what I mean? They’re not just background singers, they’re fuckin’ solo artists like me. They’re just nice enough to come and help me out.

Totally. And it’s crazy, but I remember a guy named Steve Mackey used to play bass for you. Last year, he gave me a hell of a scare because Pulp’s bassist, who was also named Steve Mackey, died. And it was really early in the morning when I heard that news, so the first thing I did was check your social media to see if you had written a tribute or anything. A few hours later, I learned that they were two different guys.

There were two Mackeys, that’s right. And they both played bass. Odd world. I knew he didn’t die because we were on a session when it happened. I was like, “Steve was just here.”

Did you freak out for a second when you heard the news?

No. I mean, obviously, when anyone passes away, it’s bad, but I knew it wasn’t our Mackey.
Gotcha. So, this venue you’ll be playing in Clearwater is called The Sound, and it opened less than a year ago. Do you remember the last time you played a venue’s opening season?

Not offhand, but I’m sure I have. But the weirdest one was when I was the first show back at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, which was celebrating their 90th season, which turned out to be the 91st season because there was the lost year where they didn’t have shows. So I was the first to reopen the Greek after whatever that thing was in 2020. So, no, I’ve never been part of an opening season, but I will say this: I’ve been working with those guys over at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Bobby [Rossi], and everyone, forever. We’ve done tons of shows at Ruth Eckerd, and this is their sister venue. I think they also have something called the Capitol Theatre as well.

That’s right.

And they’re like, “Hey, let’s try one outside.” I’m like, “come on, it’s Florida.” As long as there’s no like, freak snowstorm in March, I think we’re gonna be good.

If only.

You never know, though. I mean, Nashville got eight inches of snow, and my house in California? Last week, we got a year’s worth of rain in 36 hours. When you get 12 inches of rain in Laurel Canyon, you’re like, “Uh, this is not good.”

Definitely. So, you’re promoting Blues Deluxe Vol. 2, an album that you describe as a way of seeing how far you’ve come as a musician in the last 20 years. What are some things that you managed to accomplish on that album that you can’t see yourself having done really well 20 years ago?

Singing. You know? Singing, straight up. I couldn’t sing “24 Hour Blues” 20 years ago. Couldn’t do that, and…just, straight up. I mean, I recorded Vol. 2 when I was 45, I’ll be 47, so it’s been a year-and-a-half. And, I recorded Blues Deluxe, the first one, when I was 25. The first one is literally just a three-piece band, hot off the road, bash it out in the fucking room, shout in key, the end. I couldn’t ever have pulled off some of the melodies and kinds of things I did on the second one, and that’s what I was trying to prove to myself. You know what I mean? Like, “Am I a better singer? Am I a better guitar player?” And I think the answer is yes.

Cool. What drove you to select Josh Smith to produce and even write something on this album?

Josh and I produced a lot of records together. We did two of Joanne Shaw Taylor’s, we did Reese Wynan’s solo album, we did Mark Broussard’s solo album, Eric Gales’ solo album, Joanna Connor…there are probably a dozen records that we’ve done together. We’ve done Mike Zito, we did the Blood Brothers, but anyway. I had a very specific vision of what I wanted to do, blues-wise.

I’ve been working with Kevin Shirley for almost 20 years, and I had this very, very specific vision. And if I know anything about making records, it’s that when you have a very specific vision of what you want, it is much easier to do it yourself than try to explain to someone what you’re not hearing. It’s nothing against Kevin because Kevin and I work great together. But I could hear it and I could envision the cover, so I was like “Josh, just come and let’s do this,” you know what I mean?

And we did. The weird thing about it was I would always brag that Blues Deluxe only took seven days, right? Well, this one, Blues Deluxe Vol. 2, took six. It was done in six days. I mean, there was an extra horn day, but that was light. But we could have released it on the seventh day, and that was a really cool experience.

Well, when you have the right people around…

Yeah, and it’s just one of those things where I’m just thrilled that it worked out. And originally, we were gonna put it together as a compilation and make like, a Blues Deluxe 20th anniversary remastered package. But the record was so strong that we decided to put it out on its own, and I think it’s one of the best things we’ve ever done.
There are some really deep cuts on this album too. I mean, “Lazy Poker Blues” isn’t really a track that comes to mind when you think of Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac. Could you hear your own version of that song, or anything really, in your head before you record it?

Oh absolutely, but I also know how to do British blues pretty well. I speak that language. And one of the greatest shuffle blues drummers you’ll ever find on this earth is a guy named Mick Fleetwood. His shuffle is second to none, and that was pretty much how it works. You know? And I mean, just break out the Les Paul and the Marshall, and that’s the sound.

Sweet. Do you remember off the top of your head what guitars you used on Vol. Two?

That was two years ago, I don’t remember. It’s probably listed on the album.

When you’re in the studio, or even in rehearsals, how do you select which guitar you’re going to use for your song? Like, do you just go through as many as possible until find a tone you like?

No. It’s like when you’re fixing your house. It’s like, “I need a flathead screwdriver, I need a Phillips screwdriver and a hammer. I need a drill.” It’s like, what approach do you want to take? An approach for a Strat, or a full-on Les Paul? Do you want a cleaner Fender tone with the amps, or do you wanna make it thick and brown? You know, maybe use a thimble or something like that. That’s just kinda like, “What character do you want to be in this play?”

That makes sense. Do you think we’ll hear a Blues Deluxe Vol. 3 in 19 years? Kinda like how Paul McCartney released his self-titled trilogy during years that ended in zero.

Well, then that’ll make me 65. I don’t know. AARP version, maybe. But I don’t think so. I don’t think I’ll be doing this when I’m 65. But you know, you never know. Some people get a second wind.

We’ll play it by ear.

We’ll see. Let’s just get through this bit of an era.
On another note, can you tell us anything about this new Mark Knopfler single with like 60 guitarists that everyone’s been talking about?

Yeah, I did it a while ago. It was in New York, and I did it at The Power Station maybe in 2021, or early ’22. We were on tour, so I remember Josh was there when I did it. I was given this instrumental and nothing else, and I was told, “Hey, I want you to do this thing with Mark Knopfler.” And I said “Great. What do you want me to do?” And the producers said, “Aw man, just do your thing!” And I’m like “Let’s narrow that down to some specifics.”

And so, I’m told to just play through the whole track, and they’re going to cut it up. I didn’t realize it was going to be every single guitar player currently holding a union card. I think it’s really cool, but I didn’t have an idea of what they were going for. And then I realized that everybody’s going to interpret this thing differently, and then, the producers are going to wave through all this takes to get everybody on. My hats off to whoever edited that thing, because that takes a lot of work. At least a lot of wading through and storyboarding things. So, yeah, that was it. But, it’s out…the worldwide release is March 15.

Cool. And I guess that answers my next question because it’s being compared to “We Are The World” a lot, but I guess you guys weren’t all actually in the same room at the same time.

No, I was at The Power Station in New York with a Les Paul and a Twin Reverb, calling this guy in London going “What the hell you want me to do?” *laughs* None of the collaborations man, it’s not like it was before. I mean, it totally started in the ’90s. They had the “fast ethernet” whatever thing, that was like, Bono could be in L.A. and sing on Sinatra’s record in New York, or vice versa, in real time. The days of the “We Are The World Video?” It’s so hard to line everybody up.

Sure. I want to give you a little bit of breathing room here, so I have one more question. When you were a kid opening for B.B. King and jamming with Crosby, Stills, and Nash, you were pretty much living the dream. But what’s one piece of advice you wish someone had given you as a kid that you learned a harder way later in life?

There are no guarantees that any kind of success will happen by a certain time, OK? The worst thing you can do is say, when you’re like 18—or in my case, 12—“Well if I’m not a success by 30. I’m just gonna quit and do something else.” Well, my biggest moment that launched my entire modern career for the last 15, 16 years was May 4, 2009, which was four days before my 32nd birthday. Now, we’d had some success when I was in my early-30s, but not to the point where we are now, still struggling to pay the bills.

If you put those time limits on things, you’re never gonna get to where you want to be, especially if you bail too soon, because you’re just gonna spend the rest of your life going “What if?” There’s a lot of soul-searching internally when it feels like nothing’s transpiring, or nothing’s going to transpire, and you either get really, really down on yourself and never recover from that, or you go “fuck it, I’m gonna make something that kills me,” and that’s kinda what I did.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

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Sunshine City Magazine

Tampa Shuffle’s six-year anniversary weekend kicks off with Women In Music showcase | Tampa

Published

8 months ago

March 13, 2024

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Photo by Camren Meier

Ari Chi, who plays Shuffle in Tampa, Florida on March 15, 2024.

Kicking off Shuffle’s weekend-long, six-year anniversary party, Seek the Light Media—a woman-owned media company run by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay contributor Yvonne Gougelet—is hosting its first-ever Women In Music Showcase this weekend.

A press release notes that along with March being National Women’s Month, the acoustic-based event—which includes a set from uke-weilding songwriter Ari Chi—was partially inspired by the need to raise awareness around a constant lack of diversity on gig lineups.

There’s no cover to get into the Women In Music Showcase happening on Friday, March 15, but donations to keep Tampa’s beloved woman-owned shuffleboard hotspot up and running will be greatly appreciated.

To close out its anniversary weekend, Shuffle—located at 2612 N Tampa St.—welcomes Lauris Vidal, his one-man band, a special “Tom Waits giving a hug to Paul Simon” vocal style, along with Tribal Style—the reggae roots outfit that came up in the Southern California scene before becoming a staple in the Bay area.

There’s no cover for any of the Shuffle six-year anniversary concerts happening Friday-Saturday, March 15-16 at Tampa Shuffle.
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Sunshine City Magazine

Congresswoman secures $5.5 million for St. Pete projects • St Pete Catalyst

Published

8 months ago

March 13, 2024

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Six local projects that encompass everything from uplifting South St. Petersburg communities to clean energy initiatives will benefit from U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor’s federal appropriations success.

The congresswoman recently secured $14 million in area Community Priority Grants, with $5.5 million directly benefitting St. Petersburg organizations. Castor was particularly proud of receiving $1.5 million – her full ask – for the Enoch Davis Center.

The facility at 111 18^th Ave. S. is named after a prominent local civil rights activist. Mayor Ken Welch called the center “vital but dated” when he announced plans in May 2023 to transform it into a state-of-the-art community hub.

“I love that one because I’m at the Enoch Davis Center a lot,” Castor told the Catalyst. “Those modern, up-to-date community centers are more important than ever.”

The federal grant will fund assessment, pre-construction and energy-efficiency costs. Welch previously noted the facility’s expansive upgrades will support neighborhood health and safety and provide “technology and tools to excel in our competitive 21^st-century economy.”

Castor explained that the Inflation Reduction Act also allows local governments and organizations to receive rebates for sustainability efforts, like solar panels. “When you help the city save money, you help our neighbors save money, too,” she said.

“So, you’re going to see those kinds of investments … really ramp up,” Castor added. “And boy, do we need it – because our electric bills are out of sight.”

She also secured over $1.1 million for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. The agency will use the money to convert its bus fleet to electric motors.

The federal funding will also help PSTA electrify its St. Petersburg Pier tram system. Castor called it a “great demonstration” of clean energy benefits due to the vehicles’ “high profile.”

“I was out there on The Pier about a week and a half ago, and they run all the time,” she said. “They’re gas-powered. And if you’re sitting behind the engine, it’s not great.”

From left, PSTA CEO Brad Miller and Congresswoman Kathy Castor discuss the SunRunner service with local resident and frequent rider Christopher Winters. Photo by Ashley Morales.

The University of South Florida St. Petersburg emerged as a big winner in the grant cycle. The Coastal Resilience Data Visualization Center at the College of Marine Science and the Disrupt Human Trafficking Data Project will each receive $963,000.

Coastal Resilience Center officials will use the funding for scientific planning, threat simulations and public outreach activities. Castor noted the city and state are particularly vulnerable to more frequent and intense storms and sea-level rise.

In addition, the nation experienced the hottest February in recorded history. Castor said people need up-to-date information on where to build and live safely.

“Hopefully, this informs policymakers to help them steer development away from the most dangerous areas,” she said. “It comes back to how people are feeling in their pocketbooks, with insurance costs. We really have to give people better tools and a better understanding of what a changing climate will mean for them.”

USFSP’s Trafficking in Person’s (TIP) Risk to Resilience Research Lab will use the Community Grant funding to develop a statewide data repository called TIPSTR. The program will assist law-enforcement investigations, mitigate gaps in victim services, develop prevention programs and help discern the problem’s magnitude.

An $850,000 grant will support the Deuces Rising development, formerly the Sankofa project. It will provide 24 homeownership opportunities along the 22^nd Street South (the Deuces) corridor for those earning below 80% of the area median income.

The public subsidy for each unit in the long-discussed development is just under $500,000. Castor said she “thought it was worthwhile to try to help lower the cost of the affordable housing portion.”

“This may turn out to be a one-two punch,” Castor added. “It (funding) is not at the level I sought. If it will qualify next year, I may come back and try to do another tranche for that.”

The Pinellas County Urban League will receive $81,130 for new computers and updated technological infrastructure. The goal is to increase reliable digital access to bolster economic opportunities in underserved communities.

Castor called the Urban League one of her “most valuable partners” in St. Pete. She said organizational leadership relayed their struggle to keep pace with continuously evolving technology.

Castor said securing the funding was easy as it aligned with congressional economic development initiatives. She also noted that the Urban League plays a prominent role in lowering local electricity costs by helping low-income residents weatherize their homes.

“The summers are so hot and go on for a longer period of time, and that impacts you if you work outside and want to enjoy our beautiful Sunshine City,” Castor said. “I don’t hear the climate skeptics that I used to … because the economics of it are right in front of them.”

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor was named the American Council on Renewable Energy’s Renewable Energy Champion in March 2023. Photo provided.

Sunshine City Magazine

Over 20 St. Patrick’s Day parties happening in Tampa Bay in 2024 | Tampa

Published

8 months ago

March 12, 2024

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Over 20 St. Patrick’s Day parties happening in Tampa Bay in 2024

St. Patrick’s Day is around the corner once again, and it’s always the best excuse to get a little buck-wild in between the forced romance of Valentine’s Day and the moral obligation of Easter and Mother’s Day. Dozens of bars, restaurants and other venues throughout Tampa Bay are throwing a wide range of parties, street festivals, brunches and even kid-friendly festivities to celebrate the beloved drinking holiday—and here are the best 20-ish celebrations we could find.

Did we miss your St. Patrick’s Day party? Submit your event to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s calendar, then email [email protected] to be added to this event roundup.

The ‘Biggest’ St. Paddy’s Day Party Palm Harbor’s go-to deli hosts a full week of food specials and live entertainment to commemorate its favorite holiday—from drinking tunes from The Irish Ramblers to bagpipe performances and traditional Irish step dance. Indulge in classic Lucky Dill dishes like its reuben egg rolls, hot pastrami sandwiches and corned beef and cabbage, plus whiskey tastings and giveaways on select days. Tuesday-Sunday, March 12-17. No cover. Various times. Lucky Dill Deli, 33180 US Highway 19 N, Palm Harbor. @LuckyDillDeli on Facebook

21st Annual MacPatrick Fest South Tampa hotspot MacDinton’s Irish Pub has been hosting its multi-day St. Patrick’s Day celebration for the past 21 years, and that just may be the median age of partygoers at 2024’s installment this weekend. Each day features its own drink specials, themes and giveaways, but Sunday’s “Green Kegs” breakfast, open bar and live entertainment is certainly the fest’s finale. Thursday-Sunday, March 14-17. 11 a.m.-3 a.m. $15 & up. MacDinton’s Irish Pub, 405 S Howard Ave., Tampa. macdintons.com

St. Paddy’s Punk & Roll Cage Brewing hosts its own mini-fest featuring over 15 local musicians that will take turns sharing its outdoor stage this weekend, plus booze-friendly eats courtesy of Kraken Joe’s Pizza. Friday-Sunday, March 15-17. Various times. No cover (RSVP encouraged.) Cage Brewing, 2001 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg. cagebrewing.com

St. Patrick’s Weekend & Irish Coffee Stout Release Move over green beer, there’s a new holiday brew in town. Crooked Thumb Brewery releases its exclusive Irish Coffee Stout, plus live music and food trucks all weekend-long. Friday-Sunday, March 15-17. Various times. No cover. Crooked Thumb Brewery, 555 10th Ave S, Safety Harbor. crookedthumbbrew.com.

Sips & Shenanigans Brunch Get some grub before Tampa’s River O’Green festival at Melting Pot Social’s special holiday brunch, complete with bottomless green mimosas, corned beef and cabbage and other classic brunch fare. Saturday, March 16. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $40. Melting Pot Social, 105 West Tyler St., Tampa. meltingpotsocial.com

Corey Avenue Street Party 2024’s rendition of this annual block party coincides with one of its longtime sponsors, Swigwam Beach Bar, but this all-day St. Patrick’s Day gig will definitely continue throughout Corey Avenue’s 300 Block. Soggy Bottom Boys, Beach Rats and Full Throttle provide entertainment. Saturday, March 16. 10 a.m.-11 p.m. No cover. 300 Block of Corey Avenue, St. Pete Beach. @SwigwamBeachBar on Facebook.

St. Patrick’s Day Party & Mini-golf Tournament Largo’s resident farm and petting zoo hosts way more than kid’s birthday parties, as evidenced by its debut St. Patrick’s Day celebration this weekend. Flex your putting skills at its mini-golf tournament or relax with a beer and plate of corned beef and cabbage. Saturday, March 16. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. No cover (farm tours cost $10 per person). DK Farms & Gardens, 1750 Lake Ave SE, Largo. dkfarmsandgardens.com

Get Lucky Block Party Whiskey shots out of an ice luge and an open bar from 5 p.m.-7p.m. are the main draws of Bar HWRD’s holiday banger, which can either be a launching pad or end cap for a night of partying in South Tampa. Saturday, March 16. 5 p.m.-3 a.m. $10-$20. Bar HWRD, 302 South Howard Ave., Tampa. barhwrdtampa.com

River O’Green The City of Tampa’s family-friendly river-dyeing party returns to Curtis Hixon Park this weekend with kid activities, live entertainment, food trucks and green beer (for the parents.) Saturday, March 16. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. No cover. Curtis Hixon Park, 600 N Ashley Dr., Tampa. tampasdowntown.com

St. Patrick’s Day Bash by the Beach This beach-adjacent hotel hosts a night filled with whiskey tastings, perfectly poured pints of Guinness, live music and Irish-themed cocktails. 7Saturday-Sunday, March 16-17. Noon-8 p.m. No cover, Eventbrite RSVP recommended. Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach, 100 Coronado Dr.,Clearwater. wyndhamgrandclearwater.com

2nd Annual Paddyfest Perhaps one of the most—if not the most—kid-friendly St. Patrick’s Day celebrations returns to the heart of St. Pete this weekend, with tons of activities and entertainment in tow. Paddyfest St. Pete hosts a multitude of festivities including dozens of local vendors, food trucks slinging both Irish and American fare, whiskey tastings, a dedicated kids zone, live music and dancing, a wide variety of brews on tap and athletic performances from FSA Highland, a Florida-based organization that specializes in traditional Scottish sports like shot put, caber toss and sheaf toss.
Saturday-Sunday, March 16-17. Noon-9 p.m. No cover. Williams Park, 330 2nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. paddyfeststpete.com

Mary Margaret’s St. Patrick’s Weekend This Central Avenue-adjacent bar offers Irish vibes year-round, but they’re usually kicked up a notch during its weekend-long party, which includes live music, bagpipers, specials like corned beef and cabbage and tons of Guinness to wash it all down. Saturday-Sunday, March 16-17. 9 a.m.-3 a.m. No cover. 29 3rd St. N, St. Petersburg. marymargarets.com

St. Patrick’s Weekend Both days of Slizzy Mcgees’ annual party features live music from Flo-Raw and Stealing Crowns, local food trucks, specials on traditional Irish fare and of course, tons of booze. Saturday-Sunday, March 16-17. 11 a.m.-3 a.m. No cover. Slizzy Mcgee’s, 1159 62nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. @Slizzymcgees on Facebook

St Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl This bar crawl throughout The ‘Burg kicks off at Welcome to the Farm and continues at various neighboring bars in downtown St. Pete. Ticket holders get drinks at each stop, access to food specials and specialty, holiday-themed cocktails. Sunday, March 17. $9.99 & up. Welcome To The Farm, 242 1st Ave. N St Petersburg. pubcrawls.com

St. Patrick’s Day Open Mic Night A nice, sober or low-key option for St. Patrick’s Day if barhopping and late nights isn’t your jam. RSVPs are recommended for this free-to-attend open mic night with craft beer, wine and kava available for purchase.
Sunday, March 17. 3 p.m.-8 p.m. No cover. The Village Courtyard, Beach Boulevard South Gulfport. @villagecourtyard on Facebook

Flanagan’s St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival Billed as one of the “largest St. Patrick’s Day festivals in Florida,” Flanagan’s annual party features a full lineup of music and entertainment from noon-8 p.m. and lots of flowing green beer. Sunday, March 17. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. No cover. Flanagan’s Irish Pub, 465 Main St., Dunedin. @flanagansirishpub on Facebook

8th Annual Block Party If you aren’t ready to stop drinking after Paddyfest at Williams Park, then head to The Galley’s annual festivity complete with live music, plenty of Guinness, whiskey and Irish food specials. Sunday, March 17. 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m. No cover. The Galley, 27 4th Street N , St. Petersburg. @TheGalleyDTSP on Facebook

Sober St. Patrick’s Day No hangover, no problem. This Clearwater kava house hosts a laid-back holiday party filled with N/A drink specials and screenings of St. Patrick’s Day-themed movies. Sunday, March 18. 8 p.m.-midnight. No cover. Kava House Brand, 11141 US Highway 19 N #408 Clearwater. kavahousebrand.com

St. Patrick’s Day at Caddy’s on the Beach Caddy’s locations on Indian Rocks Beach (20025 Gulf Blvd.), Madeira Beach (14080 Gulf Blvd.), Treasure Island (9000 W Gulf Blvd.) and Johns Pass (190 Boardwalk PI.) all host their own holiday parties with cheap drinks, raffles, giveaways, live entertainment and free green tea shots for anyone rocking the color of the evening. Sunday, March 17. 11 a.m.-1 a.m. No cover. Various locations. caddys.com

O’Briens Irish Pub’s annual St. Patrick’s Event Step dancers, bagpipers and local acts like Noodles Magoo, The Headbang, Wyndbreakers and Nicaea provide the entertainment this weekend at Carollwood’s O’Briens Irish Pub, which just celebrated its 33rd anniversary. Sunday, March 17. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. $20. O’Briens Irish Pub, 15435 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa. obrienspubstampa.com

O’Maddy’s Annual Waterfront Party Waterfront gulfport pub O’Maddy’s hosts one of the most popular St. Patrick’s Day parties each March, and 2024’s rendition offers plenty of flowing green beer, Irish fare and music from Pete & Dean Trio, Horses Wild and The Horny Toads. Sunday, March 17. 10 a.m.-midnight. No cover. O’Maddy’s Bar & Grille, 5405 Shore Blvd. S, Gulfport. @omaddys on Facebook

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