Music and theatre and comedy, oh my! Itäó»s another packed week of events here in Pinellas, but weäó»ve once again picked the five that you absolutely have to do.
Clearwater Jazz Holiday–Coachman Park, 301 Drew Street, Clearwater–October 13-16
Though focused on jazz, this four-day festival stretches out to include soul, funk and even country, from classic stalwarts like Kool and the Gang to electric upstarts like Trombone Shorty. Other major highlights include New Orleansäó» Preservation Hall Jazz Band Friday Night, and the Bon Iver-evoking Houndmouth on Sunday. Like any good festival, thereäó»ll be plenty of food, fireworks äóñ and even satellite events, with after-parties at local studios and restaurants.
Tickets and Packages from $16-70.
Amy Schumer–Amalie Arena, Sunday–October 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Despite critics from left, right, and center (or maybe thanks to them), Amy Schumer is now officially the Biggest Female Comedian Of All Time. She recently come in near the top of Forbes list of Americaäó»s highest paid comedians. Sheäó»s also, if you havenäó»t heard, notoriously sexually frank, and skewers the worst habits of men and women alike.æ(Youäó»ll have to cross the bridge for this one, but itäó»s being produced by Ruth Eckerd Hall, so itäó»s still technically a Pinellas event!)
Tickets $39-109 at Ticketmaster
Staged Reading: A Bicycle Country, by Nilo Cruz–Museum of Fine Art. St. Petersburg–October 18 at 7 p.m.
In 2003, Nilo Cruz became the first Latino to win the Pullitzer Prize for Drama, for his play Anna in the Tropics, which was written in Coral Gables. Cuban-born and Miami-raised, Cruzäó»s works have been produced by companies from New York to Oregon. A Bicycle Country tells the story of three Cuban exiles, their trip to their new home and the quest to fulfill their dreams. This production is presented by A Simple Theatre, and kicks off a season of staged readings by the group.
Tickets are $20, and include admission to the MFA.
The Psychedelic Furs–The Palladium, St. Petersburg–October 20, 8 p.m.
One of the godfathers of what became alternative rock, the Psychedelic Furs were founded in London in 1977, and are probably still best known for the title song to John Hughesäó» Pretty in Pink. They survived the transition from punk to New Wave in style, and scored a half-dozen hits in the U.S. and England. If youäó»re a fan of Oasis, the Stone Roses, or more recently, the Arctic Monkeys, this oneäó»s got your name all over it.
PS äóñ Check out our interview with the Furs if you want to learn more about the band!
Tickets $35-$65
Yaguchi Shinobuäó»s Wood Job–Eckerd College International Cinema Series, Miller Auditorium–October 21, 7 p.m.
Japanese cinema has had a rough time of it internationally for the past few decades, living in the shadow of Kurosawa as filmmakers from Korea and China garnered accolades. But beneath the headlines, a nation once known for epic drama has developed an increasingly robust sense of humor, particularly about its own economic struggles. Wood Job is a goofy but thoughtful take on struggles of a young man who whiffs the most important step on the path to a professional lifeäóñhis college entrance examäóñand winds up chopping down trees in the countryside. It showcases (and mines for laughs) an urban-rural divide thatäó»s even more stark in Japan than in the U.S., while tackling issues of underemployment and education that are increasingly relevant worldwide.
Free. Find more info here.
Honorable Mentions:
Black Crow Open Mic Poetry, Thursday October 20 7 p.m.
Through Our Eyes: Midtown and Beyond photo and story exhibit, October 21 at 5 p.m.
