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Music Planner: 311 cruises in, plus Justin Hayward, Lee Greenwood and more

 
The annual 311 Cruise leaves Tampa for Cozumel on March 2. Before that, there will be pre-parties across Ybor City, including a private concert at the Ritz Ybor on Feb. 28, during which 311 will celebrate the can release of 311 Amber Ale, a collaboration with Tampa’s Rock Brothers Brewing.
The annual 311 Cruise leaves Tampa for Cozumel on March 2. Before that, there will be pre-parties across Ybor City, including a private concert at the Ritz Ybor on Feb. 28, during which 311 will celebrate the can release of 311 Amber Ale, a collaboration with Tampa’s Rock Brothers Brewing.
Published Feb. 22, 2017

COME ORIGINAL: 311 Cruise

If you're floating around Ybor City next week, keep an eye out for seafaring reggae-rock fans. They're in town for the annual 311 Cruise from Tampa to Cozumel and likely hitting up a handful of pre-parties in Ybor. The two biggest — concerts at the Ritz Ybor by alternative heavyweights 311, above, on Tuesday and reggae-rock group Rebelution on March 1 — are private gigs. The deadline to win tickets has passed, but you never know; stand outside the venue looking sad, and someone might take pity and let you in. If not, you can find 311 Amber Ale and Rebelution Feeling Alright IPA at three free parties March 1: Rock Brothers Brewing (8 to 9 p.m.), Crowbar (8:30 to 11:30 p.m. with the Movement and Bumpin' Uglies) and Big Easy (10 p.m. to 1 a.m.). If that's not enough, comic Doug Benson, who's also on the cruise, has a show at 8 p.m. March 1 at the Improv. $20. rockbrothersbrewing.com or 311cruise.com/preparty.

HAVE MERCY:Lordi

Long before American Idol and The Voice, there was the Eurovision Song Contest, a six-decade staple that features singers representing European nations competing for glory on live television. The contest usually celebrates pleasant pop music; among winners who've gone on to worldwide success are Celine Dion and ABBA.

And then, in 2006, came Lordi. The Finnish shock-rockers — picture a less-gross Gwar, with a sound more akin to Alice Cooper — stunned the world by winning Eurovision with Hard Rock Hallelujah. It made them instant stars and set them on a path of serious success. Well, maybe "semi-serious" is a better descriptor — how seriously can you really take a song called Let's Go Slaughter He-Man (I Wanna Be the Beast-Man in the Masters of the Universe)? It's all in grand, grisly fun, so check them out at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Orpheum, 1915 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. $22 and up. theorpheum.com.

SINGING THE BLUES:Justin Hayward

Eligible for nearly three decades, British prog-rockers the Moody Blues haven't even been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, despite selling tens of millions of records and cultivating a rabid fan base. Last fall, the Blues were the runaway winner of a goldderby.com fan poll of the hall's biggest snubs, crushing Bon Jovi, Iron Maiden, Tina Turner and the Smiths. "I think it would be really difficult for the board of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to include us now because there's been so much pressure from fans," singer Justin Hayward, above, told Billboard last fall. "I'm not saying that hasn't helped — but maybe I am saying that hasn't helped. I just can't see it, to be quite honest. I think it's too late now." Regardless, Hayward is still on the road singing classics like Nights in White Satin and Tuesday Afternoon, and he'll be at the Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater, at 7 p.m. Sunday. $35 and up. (727) 791-7400. atthecap.com.

AT LEAST YOU KNOW IT'S FREE: Lee Greenwood

It's the last week of Busch Gardens' Real Music Concert Series. And while it may not have the same star power as the park's upcoming Food and Wine Festival, we'll proudly stand up and defend her still today. That's right, it's Lee Greenwood's turn to rock the Stanleyville Theater with God Bless the U.S.A. Greenwood takes over from Monday through March 4, performing daily at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. It's free with park entry, though you do need a ticket (available near the front gate or theater) to ensure a seat. And wearing red, white and blue probably won't hurt. buschgardens.com.

PICK 'EM: Alt-Country Hoedown

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Tropical Heatwave may be gone, but listener-supported station WMNF-FM 88.5 is still bringing eclectic music to town. Case in point: the inaugural Alt-Country Hoedown on Saturday at Skipper's Smokehouse. Florida-born witchy woman Elizabeth Cook, left, brings a songbook full of sultry, swampy twang; her 2016 album Exodus of Venus could be a companion piece to Miranda Lambert's The Weight of These Wings. Joining her is deep-voiced Texas twangsmith Dale Watson, touring behind a new album of classic country covers and originals, including Feelin' Haggard, a tribute to the late Merle Haggard. The Eilen Jewell Band, the Whiskey Gentry and the Sara Rose Band round out the bill. 6 p.m. at 910 Skipper Road, Tampa. $20 and up. (813) 971-0666. skipperssmokehouse.com.