This week in Pinellas just about has it all – hip hop, blues, and a huge art party. And if you’ve got the ambition, you might even make it over to Tampa for some high-octane pop-culture indulgence at Comic Con. Go for it!
Selwyn Birchwood
July 28æ& 29
Born and bred right here in central Florida, Birchwood has been praised by the likes of Rolling Stone as a herald of the next generation of the blues. In our profile of Birchwood, he told us about moving from Orlando to Tampa Bay, because this is where the music was thriving. Now heäó»s helping keep that tradition going strong.
8 p.m. both nights, $19-$38
The Palladium at St. Petersburg College, 253 FifthæAve. N., St. Petersburg
Shuffleboard Boot Camp
Saturday, July 29
Culture comes in all styles, and in St. Pete, a humble shipboard game of sliding discs has held disproportionate sway in the arts. Hereäó»s your chance to get the basics down, so that the next time St. Pete Shuffle throws one of its rock näó» roll game nights, youäó»ll know which end of the stick to use.
10am, free for club members, $10 for non-members.
St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, 559 Mirror Lake Drive, St. Petersburg
Cage Brewing Summer Art Show
Saturday, July 29
Cage has been on real a tear lately when it comes to providing a great venue for emerging St. Pete visual artists. This go-round promises to be both extensive and raucous, featuring edgy lowbrow pop-art and a great representation of local women artists (including Huong-Nam Duong, pictured). Thereäó»ll also be music from folk-rockers The Royal Vynes and Avenue Icon.
FREE, 7pm
Cage Brewing, 2001 FirstæAve. S., St. Petersburg
Tampa Bay Comic Con
July 28th äóñ 30th
This yearäó»s Comic Con features some of the usual suspects, including killer vampire Kate Beckinsale, Star Trekäó»s Nichelle Nichols, and generally creepy Rose McGowan. But wait äóñ is that famed playwright and Princess Bride costar Wallace Shawn on the bill? A Harry Potter musical? Acres upon acres of books and toys? Truly, thereäó»s something for everybody (unless youäó»re a Val Kilmer fanatic).
Worth crossing the bridge.
Various times, $30-$60
Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa
Times, Info, and Tickets Here.
Cambatta
Wednesday, August 2
Anytime a rapper references shamanism as a frame for his work, theyäó»ve got my attention. Cambatta makes muscular trap rap with a psychedelic fringe, somewhere in the neighborhood of Schoolboy Q labelmate Ab-Soul äóî and heäó»s a local, stopping by during his first national tour.
8:30 pm, $5
Fubar, 658 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
Honorable Mentions:
The Southern Belles, Saturday, July 29. Psychedelic southern rock ala Fleet Foxes, at Dunedin Brewery. More Info Here.
Rick James Tribute, Thursday, Aug. 3, Dunedin Brewery. More Info Here.
Coming Up:
Beres Hammond at the Capitol Theatre, Friday, Aug. 4. One of the all-time reggae giants. Info and Tickets Here.
