Our Side Door cabaret has become the go-to spot for book launch parties this year and we’ve got a great one this Sunday at 4 p.m. Author Bill DeYoung is celebrating his new book, Phil Gernhard, Record Man (University Press of Florida), by bringing one of the Gernhard’s hitmakers, The Royal Guardsmen, out of retirement. […]

I made sure I flew home from an extra-long weekend of food and music in New Orleans in time for tonight’s concert by the Palladium Chamber Players (Wednesday, April 25). It’s an all-Schubert program and there are still some fine seats available.   For tickets and information call our box office at 727-822-3590 or follow […]

My pal, the rock ‘n roll troubadour, Ronny Elliott takes the mic in the Palladium’s Side Door for a show that celebrates “the magnetic seabreeze that brings hepcats” to our humid hunk of Florida coastline. Ronny didn’t have to ride the breeze, he was Tampa-born (he saw Elvis at the Armory) and as a kid […]

There is so much to tell you about Sunday’s Madonna/George Michael show “Something Sacred” featuring the 18-piece Florida Bjorkestra and a special choir from One City Chorus.   If you haven’t seen a Bjorkestra show, what are you waiting for? Both Creative Loafing and TB Times are raving. Here’s what the Loaf said:   Florida […]

The loss of David Warner as editor of Creative Loafing is a big blow to our arts community. Every week David proved the value a good editor brings to a publication. His sign-off was pure David – classy and insightful. As a fictional character I like once said: “Our (arts) world will be a poorer […]

All of us at the Palladium were so proud to be the site for the Dr. Martin Luther King memorial event Wednesday evening with One City Chorus, The Dr. Carter G. Woodson African-American Museum and lots of our city’s leaders and finest performers.   In case you missed it, I’m sharing some pictures from the […]

I’ve been enjoying The Chopin Project website for a few years now, since my friend Fred Slutsky launched his passion project and shared it with me.   Along with bringing together all things Chopin, Fred has branched into concert production and this weekend is one of his most ambitious yet. Fred and the Chopin Project […]

When Synia Carroll takes the Side Door stage this Friday night for her “Synia Sings Sarah (Vaughan)” concert,  it will represent the completion of a personal journey for the Sarasota-based jazz singer.   “I felt called to do this show,” Synia told me during a phone interview this week. “Sarah’s essence, whatever that spirit is […]

Palladium favorite Nate Najar is back on his home turf this Friday night (March 30) with The Bossa Nova All-Stars, a band of musical luminaries that includes the Brazilian singer Maucha Adnet who toured for 10 years with the bossa nova legend Antonio Carlos Jobim.   The rest of the band includes two of the […]

After a stunning performance on March 14, Our Palladium Chamber Series returns on Wednesday, March 28, with another very special program.   Jeewon Park will be performing Bach’s Goldberg Variations and Jeewon, Jeff Multer and special guest Julian Schwarz, will play the Brahms’ Piano Trio No. 1 in the second part of the program. We’ll […]

One of my dreams for the Palladium is that we’d be the site of a Florida Orchestra Masterworks concert. This Saturday, March 24, that dream is coming to fruition when the orchestra takes the stage to perform a program that includes the music of Mozart, Haydn and Schubert.   Tickets are almost gone, so call […]

If you’re like me, you don’t really see the point of this whole Saint Paddy’s day thing. Green beer? Yeech! Irish drinking songs? Thank you, no!   So for this year’s St. P’s day on Saturday, March 17, we’re doing something a little different. We’re welcoming back Uncle John’s Band, the band that carries forward […]

The Travelin’ Man, Roy Book Binder, is back at the Palladium’s Side Door tonight (Friday, March 16) for a night of acoustic blues, stories and an opening set by his buddy and fan – Damon Fowler.   For tickets and info, call our box office at 727-822-3590 or follow this link for on-line tickets and […]

I hope you can join me Wednesday night at 7:30 when the Palladium Chamber Players return to our main stage with another stirring musical adventure.   This time Artistic Director Jeffrey Multer has created a program featuring Mozart, Rachmaninoff and Schumann. And our regular players – Multer, Park, Arron and Farina – will be joined […]

Hard to believe it’s been nine years since our first Boogie Woogie Blues Piano Stomp. And it is always a favorite with Palladium audiences.   Liz Pennock brought me the idea for the Stomp and has been our talent coordinator for all the shows.   Tonight she and her musical and life partner, Dr. Blues, […]

The Palladium has become Tampa Bay’s home for jazz and that continues this Thursday night in the Side Door. We are welcoming Bill Cunliffe, a Grammy winning pianist and arranger, to our intimate nightclub.   Mike Cornette, jazz director of WUSF Radio, will be doing a interview with Cunlife, on his show this week. Keep […]

I always start my Monday checking on ticket sales for upcoming shows, and what struck me was how few tickets are remaining for the five nights of the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival that opens this Wednesday, Feb. 21.   Four of the shows are in the intimate Side Door, which means tickets are already limited. […]

We are excited to welcome the Grammy-winning pianist and arranger, Bill Cunliffe to the Side Door on March 1. You can follow this link for more info and tickets to what promises to be one of the best jazz shows of the year.   Leading up to that show, I’m going to be sharing some […]

I love the One City Chorus and I think you will too.   One City is a true community chorus and their first Palladium show was a very special night. Creative Loafing has called the group’s performances “joyous, uplifting and beautifully sung,” and presented One City Chorus with a Best of the Bay Award.   […]

The Palladium’s Side Door has become to go-to-venue for CD release parties by the top talent in our area. This Friday night we’re excited to host another CD release for the Backtrack Blues Band. And all the music was recorded live at the Palladium!   The group has established a strong reputation for creative songwriting […]

There is real magic in the air and on the stage with the current St. Petersburg Opera production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.   Tampa Bay Times Music Writer Andrew Meacham penned a rave review, which I’ve attached below. Tonight is your last chance to see this production and tickets are going fast.   Here’s […]

I stopped in the Mahaffey Theater Thursday evening for the first (annual?) Besties Awards, presented by the folks at Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, the local tourist development shop. I thought I’d mingle a bit, enjoy the free drink coupon, and slip away.   But no, this was a very fun night and I was still there […]

If you want to see the St. Petersburg Opera Company production of The Magic Flute, you don’t have time to wait!   The Sunday matinee is sold out and only a handful of tickets remain for tonight’s opening night performance. Palladium Box Office Manager Megan Byrne told me that Tuesday’s show will likely sell-out by […]

So great to hear Selwyn Birchwood today on Sirius XM Radio’s Bluesville channel.   The tune was Guilty Pleasures from Selwyn’s new release, Pick Your Poison. The album debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Blues Chart.   We consider Selwyn our own down here at the Palladium. The one-time Tampa resident has been playing […]

In my 10 years here at the Palladium there have been a lot of musical highlights, but I have to say the top was seeing Chester Gregory perform as Jackie Wilson in the concert show, The Eve of Jackie.   The show was so good, we decided we had to bring it back. The Eve […]