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Six stages of eclectic entertainment in the Cuban Club and surrounding area in Ybor City. The annual rite of spring for music lovers in Tampa Bay. Our talents scouts have discovered extraordinary live performers from all genres; many of these bands and artists have never played here before, awaiting your discovery.


Sonny Landreth - Steeped in the music of Louisiana, Landreth first gained attention as Clifton Chenier’s guitarist, and later went on to play in John Hiatt’s best band. On his own he has developed a reputation a guitarist with amazing textures and finger dexterity. On the slide guitar, nobody makes sounds like Sonny Landreth. Audiences watch him with their mouths open, unable to comprehend his prowess and the effects he achieves .


Del Castillo - The music of this Austin, Texas band sizzles with tight musicianship, passionate showmanship from lead singer Alex Ruiz, and an electrifying combination of flamenco, Latin, rock, blues and world music. Del Castillo has become a symbol of the cross-cultural power of music. They have won many Austin music awards including Best Live Act, Band of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Traditional Latin Band.

Gandalf Murphy and the Slamovian Circus of Dream - Fresh from their sellout WMNF show in Sarasota, these psychedelic pranksters return for the audiences who cannot get enough of the music that can 'heal what ails ya!' The Circus’ music is very familiar yet strangely unique and transporting. These good thieves steal freely from the music they love, all kinds of music. They write great stories and know how to paint the scenes with their respective instruments. You feel instantly at home with them in other worlds of hope and possibility. As earthy as the music seems, The Circus has a spiritual side; dancing freely between existing religious and philosophical mythologies. Their music is not only uplifting and empowering but fun, a lot of fun.

Brave Combo - Brave Combo returns for their third Heatwave (1994, 2005) because they just may be the best party band in the world. Over the last 28 years, Brave Combo has collected a dizzying array of descriptive musical pegs, boldly going where few bands have gone before, and even fewer could (or would) dare to venture. Brave Combo is America's premier contemporary polka band, and a Grammy winning one at that. In the same breath, one can describe them as a groundbreaking world music act, a hot jazz quintet, a rollicking rock'n'roll bar band, a Tex-Mex conjunto, a sizzling blues band, a saucy cocktail combo, a deadly serious novelty act, a Latin orchestra, and one of America's dance bands par excellence.

The Soul Rebels - Louisiana’s Soul Rebels play a unique blend of hip hop and jazz., managing to craft a sound based on the structure of a hip hop song while maintaining the soul of a brass band.

Scissors for Lefty - Like their clever moniker, Lefty’s campy writing is a perfect complement to their unique mixture of electro-punk and Brit-pop. The San Francisco band offers a dark, urbane sensibility, complete with minimalist synth, driving guitar., and the cynically proto-punk vocals of Peter Krimmel. Their live shows are witty and campy and eventful.

Mighty Lester - We booked Mighty Lester for Heatwave after they stole the show at the Sarasota Blues Festival. Solid senders of jump, swing and rock n’ roll, with big vocals, spot on horns and stinging guitar.

Atlas Soul - A North African-Mediterranean world music outfit who incorporate many genres including Rai, Funk, Afrobeat, Gnawa, Jazz and Arabic grooves. Philosophically and politically, Atlas Soul’s goal is to inspire world peace through a fusion of music and culture that gets people to the dance floor.


Amanda Shaw and the Cute Guys – Seventeen year-old New Orleans-based fiddler and singer Amanda Shaw brings exciting new energy to roots-based Louisiana music. For several years as a fiddle playing prodigy she has been drawing record crowds and been among the top sellers at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Now with her new CD Pretty Runs Out on Rounder Records, Shaw is poised take her dazzling showmanship to the national stage. We have wanted to bring her here for several years; this is her first time in Tampa Bay.


Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band - A trio from rural Indiana whose original music harkens back to vintage Mississippi Delta blues, they have quickly risen from hometown blues clubs to touring and playing festivals all over the U.S. and Europe. Indianapolis's Nuvo Newsweekly called their sound "Robert Johnson on crack." But there are no edgy substances, just a naturally infectious energy, love for traditional blues and animated delivery that appeals as equally to indie, jam banders and punk rock fans as it does blues fans.

The Zydepunks - Yiddish riddles, Irish war songs, Cajun punk, and original songs in seven languages. The high-energy folk-punk dance craze that is a Zydepunks show astounds new audiences. For fans of the Pogues and Gogol Bordello.

Peter Mulvey -Mulvey, who paid his dues busking in streets and subways, excels as a live performer. He’s a terrific guitarist who writes great songs and also does amazing covers. Immersed in language, art, and poetry, his playing styles range from tender acoustic picking to rootsy blues & jazz.
Hoots & Hellmouth - Blending soul, folk, country, gospel and rock with the sounds of classic Americana, Philadelphia's Hoots & Hellmouth crafts fiery, cathartic roots-rock that the band describes as "new music for old souls.” Their star is quickly rising as people get to experience their revival-like live shows.

The Shackeltons - WMNF talent scouts at the 2008 SXSW picked out this young Chambersburg PA alternative band as the most Heatwave-worthy band at the music conference, with an amazing live show.

Still Alive(Aun Viven) - Coming directly from Cali, Colombia for one of their first US gigs, Still Alive plays reggaeton, the mix of reggae with Latin styles, rap and hip hop. After becoming huge in their home country, they are primed to break into the US market with some predicting they may the next big artist out of South America.


The Oaks - A unique alt/folk/indie rock band from Orlando, their instrumentation includes marimba, vibraphone, accordion, trumpet, bells guitars and electronics. With their upcoming February release, The Oaks are primed for national attention. They have already been selected for the CMJ 2007 marathon, SXSW 2008, a major Paste magazine feature, and as a CMJ-Sonic Bids spotlight artist.

Soulphonics - The Soulphonics aren't trying to re-invent soul music, but keep the torch going from the originators; James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Dyke & The Blazers and '60s Motown. The nine-piece troupe keeps it old-school, with horns, an organ, and dapper suits, while the two lead singers (male and female) take turns belting out the soul. The band isn't just striking a nostalgic pose. It offers an authentic tribute to the roots of R&B and Soul.

Before Dawn - an Austin, TX. based, crowd pleasing, fun having, wall of sound, disco/altrock duet with electro backing tracks. Before Dawn makes danceable guitar driven electronic music that satisfies indie rockers and beat hungry club goers simultaneously.

The Actomatics - The Four Shames were rapidly building a buzz in Central Florida as the garage band to see. Just as they were beginning to make waves, they disbanded. The Four Shames keyboardist and vocalist, Shadow Pearson is not one to let things die. The Actomatics are Shadow’s other band! The Actomatics blend Delta blues with 70’s metal, mountain music and indie rock for a fresh blend delivered up with at garage velocity.

King of Spain - One-man-band Matt Slate (aka King of Spain) has accumulated nearly 15 years of history as a guitarist and songwriter in Tampa bands (Pohgoh, Chester, The Maccabees, etc) but his newest project is creating music in his home studio. His debut release Entropy is ambitious and textured and reveals influences from Brian Wilson, Brian Eno and Mark Kozelek. His live show is a multi-media experience.

Julie King - Julie Black a.k.a. "Angel for Blues" is one of the most exciting new singer/ songwriters in the Blues & Jazz genres, who has taken off from her New Port Richey base to get airplay and positive reviews from all over the world with her debut CD. Julie’s rich and soulful voice conjures up raw emotions, commanding your attention with deep and powerful tones one minute, then seduces you with velvety steam-soaked sounds the next. She’s also a prolific songwriter, who finds inspiration everywhere.

“Poetry Is” Showcase - The special guest is Miami-based poet ASIA who performs internationally. WMNF programmer Lizz Straight gathers the best local poets and national poets for a Heatwave def poetry showcase.


Rocket 88 - Our favorite rockabilly band comes back to fill the ballroom with dancers.


A New Personality - They played Heatwave #1 and #2 and now Tampa’s original new wave band has reformed to play Heatwave #27.

Acho Brother - Acho Brother -- singer/guitarist Hector Mayoral -- blends breathy, impassioned vocals and aggressive acoustic six-string work . The Puerto Rico-born, Florida-raised Mayoral alternate between singing in English and Spanish; there are melodic ballads and experimental noise excursions. Few other Tampa Bay acts are making music this challenging, varied and rewarding.

Have Gun Will Travel - After several years with Florida indie-rock trio The Chase Theory, M. Burke began writing songs for his first ever solo project. Working under the assumed moniker Have Gun, Will Travel, Burke combines elements of folk, rock, bluegrass, and traditional country music with an indie sensibility. What began as a solo, mostly accoustic project has since evolved into a full-band effort. HGWT has begun building a grassroots network of friends and fans, young and old, with their energetic live performances.

Nervous Turkey - More or less a blues trio (harp/guitar, organ, & drums), but definitely not your average blues trio - more along the lines of Capt Beefheart, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, & Tom Waits, Jon Spencer Blues . Their set ranges from straight up blues to old school rock ‘n roll, gospel, carnival, etc...

Win Win Winter - “…for my money Win Win Winter is the best local act going right now, and they are just getting started. Last night at New World was amazing, and they were playing for a half-filled room if that in a small (albeit legendary) venue. -James Ferreira REAX MUSIC MAGAZINE

The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn - The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn are an early jazz, swing, and blues band, composed of guitar/vocals, upright bass, washboard percussion, trumpet and saxophone. Their repertoire is full of witty songs from 1920's and 30's and original tunes with moving yet often bawdy lyrics and 4 part vocal harmony. They are coming to Florida for the first time to make the Heatwave swing dancers happy.
Baye Kouyate - Originally from Bamako, Mali, talking drum master Kouyate has performed globally. His performances are a journey through a world of highly complex polyrhythms fusing traditional sounds of Mali with influences such as jazz, reggae, and Latin grooves, all delivered by a highly spirited crew.

Tribal Style - Tribal Style is a mainstay on the Tampa music scene with their original roots reggae.. Their Jamaican upbringing of the three Tenn brothers allowed them to be naturally influenced by pioneers such as the Wailing Souls, Joe Higgs, Noel Thaxter, 'Farma',the Rastafarians and Black Uhuru.

Jarvik 7 - "Jarvik 7 is a true 'under-the-radar' act that has existed locally in the Tampa Bay area in some form or another since the mid 1990s. Their music is complex, layered, and so deliciously thick that it can't help but leave a lasting residue in its magical, muddy wake. What they are creating is original, unfettered, and superbly well-crafted. An extremely talented group of musicians, Jarvik 7 is on the verge of something marvelous with their boundary-crashing, progressive sound.