MUSIC SCENE Summer Concerts – Paradise News Magazine

By Nanette Wiser

CJH EXPERIENCE

We caught up with Clearwater Jazz Holiday CEO Steve Weinberger to talk about this summer’s CJH Experience concerts all around town leading up to the Clearwater Jazz Holiday in October “Back To Our Roots,” in Coachman Park, Clearwater. Cancelled in 2024 due to hurricanes, the 2025 line-up will be announced soon. Enjoy the CJH Experience concerts/festivals including an Evening in New Orleans at downtown St. Pete’s Floridian Social 5:30 to 9:30 on June 18. “Joe Marcinek is a great friend of the jazz holiday family, and when he puts a band together, it’s never the same. He always pulls on musicians that he either brings in or from the surrounding areas,” says Weinberger. “We have John “Papa” Gros from New Orleans coming in on keys and vocals, a horn section from Gainesville, plus a local band, the Family Funk with their New Orleans tribute that night. If you love Bourbon Street, this concert is for you!”

The Ultimate Summer Jam is next up on July 19 from 5:30-9:30 at the Central Park Performing Arts Center in Largo. Says Weinberger: “It’s a great tradition of ours. We’re taking over the whole facility. So in the main theatre, we have all these amazing musicians – Fred Johnson, Belinda Womack, John Lamb, Pete Carney, Trace Zakur, James Suggs, Robert Carmichael, David Manson, James Wall, Simon Lasky, Joe Porter, Peter Mongaya and more, hosted by La Lucha’s Mark Feinman. In the adjoining Parkview room, we will have a Young Lions Jubilee Jam featuring a lot of the young musicians we support through the CJH Foundation.” Additional CJH Experiences: August 22 – Palladium Theater, St Petersburg, Sept. 18 – Evy’s Terrace Bar & Bistro / Hampton Inn & Suites, Clearwater Beach, December 6 – Station Square Park, Downtown Clearwater. TICKETS ClearwaterJazz.com

SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS

In June, enjoy the St. Pete Pride Festival: A month-long festival, celebrating its 23rd year, with music and other events. Best bets include Womyn in Comedy – Saturday, June 21 headlined by Chaunte Wayans, with special guest Paris Sashay, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Museum of Fine Arts. On June 27, catch singer-songwriter Durand Bernarr, whose En Route received a 2025 Grammy Award nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album, from 6 to 10pm at Jannus Live. St. Pete Pride Grand Central Street Fair is noon-5pm June 27 in The Grand Central District with vendors, live music and roaming street performers.

Also in June is the Reggae Rise Up Florida Festival: A large and anticipated reggae festival at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg. In Pinellas Park, catch the The Movement and Tribal Seeds Tour: A show at England Brothers Park. July is just as tasty with the Tampa Bay Ice Cream Festival: At the St. Pete Pier, celebrating National Ice Cream Day, the Sunset Music Festival: An EDM event and in Pinellas Park, the 6th Annual Cornhole and Cocktails Festival and theSouthern Soul Rib & Seafood Festival.

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