And now, from famine to feast. As the holiday season closes and the New Year kicks off, the Pinellas arts and culture scene goes back into overdrive, forcing us to make some hard decisions äóñ and push more events than ever before into our äóìHonorable Mentionäó extended list. Now, without a doubt, is the time to grab the rest of your life by the horns, and kick off the future with some spectacular music, storytelling, and art.
The 5th Dimension–Friday January 6
Part of the lighter side of the soundtrack of the 1960s, The 5th Dimension are known for huge, enduring hits including äóìAquarius/Let the Sunshine Inäó and äóìUp, Up and Away.äó Though the group now features only one founding member, Florence LaRue, theyäó»re still in full force musically.
$52-72
8:00 p.m.
Mahaffey Theatre
400 First Street South, St. Petersburg
Tickets and Info Here
Elizabeth A. Baker Concert and Florida International Toy Piano Festival–Friday, January 6
Elizabeth Baker is Pinellas Countyäó»s avant-garde music hero of the moment. She has been on a tireless run of workshops and concerts in recent months, all centered around her daring choice of the toy piano as her primary compositional and performance muse. For this performance, she will mix the humble childäó»s plaything with electronics, Indian harmonium, and electronics.
The concert coincides with the Florida International Toy Piano Festival, a series of performances, lectures and workshops that runs through January 8.
$10
8:00 p.m.
COVE Creative Opportunities & Visual Entertainment
5705 Park Blvd. Pinellas Park, Florida 33781
More Info Here
Peter Meinke at Lectores–Monday, January 9
Meinke, Poet Laureate of Florida, represents Pinellas County at a week worth of readings presented by the University of Tampa. Other readers next week include Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Jason Ockert, and Kevin Moffett. It’s worth crossing the bridge.
Free
7:30 p.m.
Falk Theatre, University of Tampa, 428 W. Kennedy Blvd, Tampa
More Info Here
Henry Rollins–Wednesday, Jan 11
Henry Rollinsäó» career as a seminal punk musician is now, weirdly, practically a footnote to his decades-long run of spoken word performance. He has shifted gears many times, and his latest run (this appearance is rescheduled from last October) encompasses everything from meeting his musical idols to the dangers of climate-change denial.
8 p.m.
Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland Ave, Clearwater
$30-$50
Tickets and Info Here
Lewis Black–Thursday, January 12
Whether youäó»re an angry lefist or an apolitical curmudgeon, Lewis Black speaks your language. Perhaps ironically, heäó»s been way angrier than Henry Rollins over the last 15-plus years, and our new political era is guaranteed to give him even more to tee off on.
8 p.m.
$60-80
Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland Ave, Cleaerwater
Tickets and Info Here
Honorable Mentions
Neon Dreams, a Whitney Holbourn Art Show, January 7, 8 p.m. A local, gone to California, returns with new work. The Blue Goose, St. Petersburg.
The Sh-Booms, The Jackettes, the Sad Shibas, Jan 7, 7:30 p.m. Three great (and offbeat) local Soul, rock and Surf bands. Green Bench Brewing Co., St. Petersburg.
True Stories Open Mic, January 11, 9 p.m. Community members telling stories on the theme of music. Iberian Rooster, St. Pete.
MFA Book Club, January 12, 6:30 p.m. Reading and discussing Jane Lotteräó»s The Bette Davis Club. The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Pete.
