We’re resting over Labor Day, but the Palladium swings into action for the rest of September

Your favorite local venue has become one of the busiest places in Tampa Bay over the past 10 years. The Palladium at SPC now produces a season of shows that run virtually non-stop from late September to mid-June.

And we don’t really rest in the summer, we just produce a special season of shows in our Side Door nightclub. This year’s theme – Summer of Soul – has resulted in an unprecendented number of sold-out Side Door nights.

So this is all to let you know why we are talking off the entire Labor Day weekend. Our staff needs to rest up and get ready for the coming season.

But right after Labor Day, the Palladium heats up with some of our best shows of the year, including the last shows in our Summer of Soul promotion. O Som Do Jazz and special guest Francois de Lima perform Brazilian music on 9-6, an album release by La Lucha on 9-16. We sing the blues downstairs when blues star Selwyn Birchwood returns for two nights on 9-7 and 8, and Palladium favorite Lauren Mitchell takes the stage on 9-15.

And for you classic rock fix, we are partnering with Sun Events to present American Made – a hard rockin’ band that delivers several decades of rock hits on Sunday, Sept. 9.

The month ends strongly with the return of the St. Petersburg musical Webb’s City for three shows on Sept. 21, 22 and 23. If you have seen this classic show, filled with memorable songs, you are already making plans to come back. If you haven’t, you should make plans to join us in Hough Hall for this one.

The Florida Orchestra, now a regular at the Palladium, performs a full evening of music including Beethoven’s Fifth under the baton of Michael Francis on Thursday, Sept. 27. Valentina Lisitsa will play Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2.

And we squeeze in one last Side Door jazz show on Friday, Sept. 28 with the Phil Magallanes Trio. Phil is just back from touring as pianist with Al DiMeola, and he’s toured on keys with Arturo Sandoval, Blood Sweat and Tears, and other top acts. He is also the pianist and arranger for Show Biz Kids, the Steely Dan cover band. Michael Ross, one of the finest bass players our area has produced, will play bass, and James Varnado rounds out the band on drums. James has played with George Porter, Dickie Betts, Jon Cleary, Tab Benoit and Charmaine Neville, among others. It’s going to be a top flight night of Bill Evans influenced jazz.

And finally, September roars out with Buffyfest. This show sold-out last year and this year should be even bigger. The full Florida Bjorkestra (18-plu pieces) will perform the entire Buffy musical episode, Once More With Feeling, plus other hits from the show. And Zander, AKA Nicholas Brendon, will be on hand for meet and greets and autographs. And the Side Door will again become The Bronz, a full Buffy market and art space. This is a DON’T MISS night for music lovers and Buffy fans.