From tiny to giant, here are seven Tampa Bay music venues to visit this summer

It can be hard for a newcomer to get acquainted with their local live music scene, and in the new issue of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay on stands now, we mention must-visit rooms of every size from tiny, to giant.

Here's what the scene looks like at seven venues on both sides of Bay. Click through each venue to get the scoop and peep each spot's upcoming calendar.

Far Forest Comfy couches and lounge chairs rearranged to surround the artist performing on a large tabriz-style rug at this Seminole Heights newbie. The backdrop for a show at this vintage shop is a curated bookshelf, house plants and classic furniture all lit through old windows that let the sunlight dramatically dim as the show goes on. Concert goers (usually no more than 25, if that) come from around the shop’s Seminole Heights neighborhood, include other shop owners and almost always other local musicians and in-the-know scene champs who play in the Bay area’s best new bands.
Crowbar Just under 300 people are allowed in Crowbar on any given night, and the venue with walls plastered in concert posters has long been a rock in the local scene. The room features two bars inside, a pretty cool “Merchland” area where bands can meet fans and an outdoor patio that’s home to a bar, DJ booth, art installations, and almost always a local cook making late night snacks. Concertgoers include a diverse spread of local music junkies across literally every scene and the occasional we-got-a-babysitter crowd that makes it out for a national act playing an intimate sold-out show.

Skipper's Smokehouse After keeling over in the first year of the pandemic, 40-years-running Bay area live music staple Skipper’s Smokehouse came back to life less than a year later under the same ownership which couldn’t let the cathedral of live music disappear (the oak canopy is known as the “Skipperdome”). The restaurant still serves dinner-worthy Floribbean fare (and has been lauded by the Food Network) while beers at the oyster bar rank as an important rite of passage for any self-respecting Tampeño. College kids and hippies alike frequent the 700-capacity space for nighttime shows while daywalkers include families and folks who accidentally drive up on the joint that’s played host to bands well before they make it big (read: The Black Keys, Avett Brothers, and Mofro).

Hard Rock Event Center This 1,500-capacity, indoor venue tends to draw a more mature audience, perhaps folks that would enjoy the casino’s amenities before the gig or book a hotel room after the show. Its carpeted floors give it a hotel conference room vibe, but the room’s sound system makes up for the expected lack of ambiance.

Jannus Live A 2,000-person capacity, open-air venue with a large tree in the back of its courtyard (and yes, it’s much worse than getting stuck behind that tall guy at a show). Multiple bars line the outside of the standing area, adjacent to the merch tables. Street parking is virtually non-existent, so parking garages are usually your best bet.

The Sound Simply put, there’s no other venue like The Sound. Opened late last month after a two-year renovation of its home, Coachman Park, the waterfront venue (which is not an amphitheater, people) offers ocean breezes and ​​views of ​​Old Clearwater Bay. There’s a VIP, elevated viewing area and ample amenities (read: no porta potties), plus 4,000 covered seats and room for 5,000 more people on the lawn. The venue draws from the downtown Clearwater neighborhood and surrounding beaches, plus folks from Pinellas and even Tampeños who’re now forced to make the drive for shows they can’t see in the 813 (read: Charley Crockett in November).

MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre The amp, along with Amalie Arena and RayJay are the place for giant concerts. Whatever you call it will show your age (it opened in 2004 and has worn many monikers), but the outdoor venue has 9,900 covered seats (in addition to a small pit area in front of the stage) and an outdoor lawn that holds 10,000 people. Located at the Florida State Fairgrounds, this venue has a large parking area that’s free if you self-park (although valet and premium parking are available, too).

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