Shemekia Copeland
BLUES, SOUL, AMERICANA
“Award-winning blues, soul, and Americana singer Shemekia Copeland possesses one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time…winner of the 2021 Blues Music Award for B.B. King Entertainer of the Year”
Seratones
FUNK, SOUL, ROCK
Shreveport, Louisiana-based funk-soul-rock group Seratones’ forthcoming third album, Love & Algorhythms emerges from a duality of desire: urging the listener to start repair their world and being part of that artful change itself.
GA-20
TRADITIONAL BLUES REVIVAL
“…a new traditional blues revival. The dynamic, throwback blues trio are disciples of the place where traditional blues, country and rock ‘n’ roll intersect…since they first formed in 2018. It’s no wonder they skyrocketed to the top of the Billboard Blues Charts.”
Eilen Jewell Band
EARLY BLUES & ROCK, COUNTRY
“As the reigning Queen of the Minor Key, Jewell leads a tight quartet that blends influences of surf-noir, early blues, classic country, folk, and 1960s era rock ’n’ roll.”
Glove
“Glove are at the forefront of cutting-edge new aged nostalgia. Funneling the feeling of a seedy nightclub into a well-polished package, the pure magnetism and style of the group won them early attention from Spotify’s New Noise playlist for their single “Behaviour.” Continuing that momentum with each subsequent release, Glove is penning the soundtrack to dystopian rapture.”
Laura Rain & The Caesars
“…a hard driving soul singer who uses the power and finesse of her own voice to inspire and electrify your spirit. Born and raised in Detroit,… she delivers her original music with fearless emotion and excitement. Along with her creative partner George Friend, the pair have released five albums and seven singles with a unique blend of contemporary funky soul, blues and R&B worthy of Detroit’s rich history of musical innovators.”
HGWT (Have Gun, Will Travel)
Florida’s Have Gun, Will Travel have a knack for blending musical influences and shifting between genres while maintaining their own distinctive sound. Their songs run the gamut from foot-stomping front-porch spirituals to strum-punk rave-ups, hill-country historicals and indie-rock anthems.
The Snozzberries
“The Snozzberries are a
hi-energy psychedelic rock band based in Asheville, NC. Since their formation in fall of 2017, The Snozzberries have quickly gained notoriety for their electrifying live performances where melodic songcraft is interwoven with wild improvisation and technical wizardry.”
Rocket 88
Orlando’s Rocket 88 returns with their original line-up!
“Gene Vincent-inspired rave-up rockabilly with the wardrobe and mile-high pompadours to match. Toe-tappin’, fingersnappin’, hand-clappin’, don’t-let-me-catch-you-nappin’ rockabilly, dressed to the nines and ready to rock.”
–Focus Entertainment Magazine
Vodkanauts
Now entering their third decade of entertaining and confusing Tampa Bay audiences, proud purveyors of “power lounge” Vodkanauts continue to work their magic in a musical parallel universe, paying respectful tribute to musical masters while answering never-asked questions like, “What would Judas Priest sound like as a Mel Tormé tribute act?” Following a six-year semi-hiatus, the quintet (including new drummer Johnny Zoom) are swingin’ back into action and eager to rock the rafters at this year’s Tropical Heatwave.
LPT
“LPT is a 10-piece orchestra delivering salsa music with their high-energy live shows. Formed in 2015, the crew realized that playing salsa music was a way to share the diversity of the area with a new, young audience, while still giving the seasoned salsa veterans a taste of that old school. LPT are becoming the new ambassadors of Salsa…”
Talk To Mark
“By equal turns both raucous and melodious, St. Petersburg, FL quartet Talk To Mark mix power guitars, impassioned vocals and pop songwriting into a straight-ahead rock style all their own.
…During a set break an enthusiastic fan inquired as to the band’s name, to which Young replied, ‘I don’t know, talk to Mark’” –NPR
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063694771428&sk=videos
Cottondale Swamp
“Cottondale Swamp is a Florida based Swamp Rock and Outlaw Country Band. Weeki Wachee, FL is our ground zero. Mermaid Shows and the Gulf of Mexico, it doesn’t get anymore “Old Florida” than that. We play original Florida swamp rock with authentic country sensibilities and the heart of rock ‘n roll.”
Magadog
Magadog reunites for Tropical Heatwave after 10 years! The Tampa band, formed in 1992, are regarded as the pioneering Florida ska band of Ska’s Third Wave.
“Magadog has had countless U.S. tours along with bands such as The Skatalites, The Toasters, and The Pietasters.”
Synergy In a Cup
“Soul, funk, blues, energy and harmony all describe the band: Synergy In A Cup.
“Originating from the Tampa Bay area in Florida, this band will give you the sounds of backwoods mixed with a drop of the big city.”
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063466694820&sk=videos
The Gulfport Gecko Amalgamated Marching Band
“By putting up amazing performances in a variety of settings, Gulfport Gecko Band is building a reputation of being wildly entertaining. The talented group follows a long track record of traditional band experience, but their knack for inventiveness and their commitment to respecting tradition while also staying funky and fresh is quite impressive.”
https://www.facebook.com/GulfportGeckoAmalgamatedMarchingBand/videos
Saturday, May 6, 2023
Cuban Club | Ybor City
Sponsorship opportunities available!
Tropical Heatwave sponsorship opportunities are available!
Contact Development Director Shari A. at [email protected].
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