Growing up and becoming a musician in Chicago gave Steve Arvey a Ph.D in blues music – learning on the job with some of the great players from the Chicago blues heyday. Playing with guys like Hubert Sumlin, Johnny Littlejohn, Honeyboy Edwards, and a host of others, Arvey knows[…]
Taking their name from the title of their favorite Waylon Jennings song, The Only Daddys play country-western music they way it used to be played in taverns and honky-tonk bars across America just before and immediately after WWII, into the 1950′s, and on through the ‘outlaw’ artists of the 1960′s and ’70′s.[…]
You probably heard about the guy who was banned for life – then unbanned – from Starbucks for insisting the only people with handicapped tags actually use handicapped spaces outside a south Tampa Starbucks. Robert Rowen is familiar to a lot of Palladium jazz fans as the man[…]
St. Petersburg’s own Helen Hansen French, is working this weekend in Umbria, Italy as part of Buglisi Dance Theatre‘s Table of Silence performance. And you can watch it has it happens on Aug. 1. Helen, who will be performing and choreographing work on the Palladium stage on Nov. 14,[…]
Before taking on the PalladiumPaul job, I was a journalist and was lucky enough to spend time with some amazing people. Up at the top of that list was one of my teenage heroes – Frank Zappa. Twice, in advance of his concerts, I interviewed him. I’m not sure[…]
Our jazz fans who moved here from bigger cities say the Palladium is their favorite jazz venue – and our nightclub, the Side Door, reminds them of their favorite jazz clubs in New York, Chicago or wherever their called home. And they know our musicians are the best in[…]
Growing up in Tampa in the late ‘60s, the nights were alive with rock ‘n roll. We got a few big name concerts – at the old Curtis Hixon Hall – but mostly we heard hot local bands every weekend at rec centers and teen clubs. Riding the wave[…]
Comic and actor Ward Smith is back with more laughs in the Side Door this Saturday night. Hopefully, you caught one of our great Sunday night comedy shows last summer – all hosted by Ward. We decided for this summer we’d put a bunch of funny folks together on[…]
If you’ve attended a Palladium Chamber Players concert, you know that our ensemble is composed of some of the country’s finest chamber musicians. But just to prove it, please pick up this week’s New Yorker magazine. There on Page 6 is a full page photo of two members of[…]
Thanks to the good folks at Tampa Bay Magazine who again included the Palladium in their annual “Best of the Bay” awards. The awards were announced in the current issue of the magazine. The Palladium was named “Best Community Performing Arts Center.” And they said this: “As part[…]
Kym Purling, the popular pianist who once called our town home, is coming back to help raise money for the earthquake-ravaged country of Nepal. Until he left for the west coast and gigs that have taken him around the world, Purling was one of our Side Door stars. He’ll[…]
Spent about five days in New Orleans, hearing bands at Jazz and Heritage Fest (first weekend) and around the city. It’s an annual trip for me and a chance to hear lots of different bands both on festival stages, but also on smaller stages around the city. Weather was[…]
Tickets are going fast for Damon Fowler’s live recording session in the Side Door on Saturday, May 9. Damon says his Side Door shows are his favorites and he’s wanted to do a live album for a while, so doing it in our place was an easy decision. […]
The best album I heard all last year was René Marie’s tribute to Eartha Kitt “I Wanna Be Evil.” It wasn’t just me. The album earned René a Grammy nomination and brought a lot of new fans. She is playing bigger rooms now, but we are so lucky to[…]
Friends tell me I have a great job – being around music and great musicians and getting paid for it. Today, I think they are probably right. I’m working in my office but also listening to a rehearsal of the Palladium Chamber Players – the notes wafting down from[…]
Our annual Boogie Woogie Blues Piano Stomp was another one for the memory books. Rockin’ music, some great personalities on stage and a full-house in our big room. The show featured our own Liz Pennock and Dr. Blues, the legendary Bob Seeley, Ann Arbor’s Mr. B, and the showman[…]
The wonderful performer CJ Harding is back at the Palladium this Saturday (March 28) for the third time with her great Patsy Cline show – Sweet Dreams. And she’s paired with my favorite classic country band – The Only Daddys. They’ll be backing her up. CJ has performed this[…]
Our show season is going non-stop this spring, but I wanted to take a minute to tell you about a very different kind of event. “Discover DaVinci & Michelangelo: Side by Side” – an original, national touring theater performance – is coming to our mainstage on Friday, March 27. […]
We’re so proud to announce another musical coup for the Palladium. The Grammy nominated jazz singer, Rene Marie, is bringing her Eartha Kitt tribute show to the Side Door in April. René Marie brings her trio to the Side Door, in support of her new album – I Wanna[…]
I’m still feeling great in the afterglow of our kickoff concert Wednesday by the Palladium Chamber Players. A record crowd of over 400 fans heard great works by Mozart, Piazzolla, Enescu and Schumann. The three string players – Jeff Multer, Danielle Farina, and Ed Arron – were[…]
We’ve got a great weekend of shows coming up. Friday night it’s the most acclaimed and interesting Beatles tribute act in the biz – The Fab Faux, which brings the band to life without the Beatle wigs. The group includes Will Lee (bassist for Paul Shaffer’s CBS Orchestra[…]
Outside the weather is chilly, but the weather report inside our intimate Side Door Cabaret tonight is warm and inviting. Nate Najar is bringing in a special quartet for tonight’s 7:30 show. We are down to just a handful of tickets, so if don’t want to be frozen out,[…]
Damon Fowler is an important part of the Palladium Family, and it’s with real sadness I have to report that Damon lost his Mother, Connie Fowler, this week. Damon had hoped to be able play tonight’s sold-out Side Door show, but he decided Friday morning he would not[…]
We’ve got the Rat Pack coming back this Sunday afternoon at the Palladium. You can see and hear Tony Sands, who has done several sold-out shows as Frank Sinatra in our Side Door, Johnny Petillo as Dean Martin (he has appeared on the The Tonight Show and Late Night with David[…]
You have one more chance to catch St. Petersburg Opera’s hit production of The Barber of Seville. The show played to capacity crowds over the weekend and it proved to be a favorite with audiences and with TBTimes Performance Critic Stephanie Hayes. To get your ready for Tuesday’s show,[…]
Stan Hunter, the great pianist and B3 player, landed in the hospital this week and won’t be out in time for tonight’s show in the Side Door. But his wife Pam thinks one way to get Stan feeling better is for the show to go on. We’re going to be[…]
If you are already a fan of our Side Door Cabaret, then I’m sure I’ll see you at one of our eight Side Door shows coming up in January. If you haven’t visited the nightclub that made the Creative Loafing’s “Best of the Bay” list yet – what are you[…]
We’re diving headlong into 2015, but I couldn’t start the year without a quick look back at one of our favorite shows of 2014. Nate Najar’s annual jazz holiday show was a best-seller this year -drawing the biggest crowd in its 9-year history. The band featured New York sax[…]
We’re excited to have Seasonal Sparkle, St. Petersburg Opera’s annual holiday musical extravaganza, back at the Palladium. This year’s version features Elizabeth Futral as a featured performer. Learn more about this Metropolitan Opera veteran by reading this preview from the Tampa Bay Times. You can read the entire article[…]
We’re not completely sure, but this is perhaps the ninth year in a row that Nate Najar has brought his holiday jazz show to the Palladium. It has had various names but it has always featured great players, the best holiday jazz tunes and there’s always been a sampling from[…]
Many thanks to John Collins and the folks at the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance for making PalladiumPaul the inaugural artist in their MUSE promotion. The photos of artists hands and a few words about their personal muse, will be featured weekly, leading up to the Arts Alliance fundraiser on Jan.[…]
Ms. Lauren Mitchell is returning to set the Palladium’s intimate Side Door Cabaret on fire once again. She and her band – which now features the great guitarist Billy Seward – take the stage this Saturday (11-22) at 8:30. Lauren’s star continues to rise, with more touring and a[…]
We’ve got a special treat for you this Thursday in the Palladium’s Side Door. Join us for a Louisiana-style night of dancing and great Cajun and zydeco music featuring Tom Rigney and Flambeau. Based in San Francisco, Rigney’s band specializes in fiery Cajun and zydeco two-steps, low-down blues, funky[…]
Our little theater has seen plenty of remarkable jazz shows over the years. This weekend’s concert featuring the legendary Dick Hyman and the great young jazz band, La Lucha, promises to be another one of the great ones. You can get tickets for Generations of Jazz – Saturday, 11/15[…]
Richard Blanco is coming to the Palladium as part of St. Petersburg College’s Plume Poetry Series on March 23. A Miami native, Blanco has just publised a collection of stories about his childhood in that city. Blanco has been getting plenty of attention since he was asked to read at[…]
I caught Rod Picott at last year’s Americana Music Conference in Nashville. My friend Sylvia Rusche made sure we caught some of Rod’s show amidst all the other performances that week. I’m glad she insisted. His songs are all gems and he is a very soulful singer. And as[…]
I’m excited that Have Gun, Will Travel, the great Americana band from Bradenton, is making its Palladium debut this Saturday in the Side Door. If you haven’t seen and heard this band yet, don’t miss this show. I’ve loved the band in outdoor settings but I’m anxious to hear them[…]
Trumpeter James Suggs brought his Miles Davis tribute to the Side Door last week. The show sold-out and the audience and the band appeared to have a great time. I love Miles’ music, but I didn’t know we had so many Miles Davis fans out there. What we do[…]
Our beautiful, historic theater has transformed into a Neapolitan Market for St. Petersburg Opera’s current production of Pagliacci. Audiences are loving this production and so did Tampa Bay Times arts critic, Stephanie Hayes. The final production is tonight at 7:30 and there are some good seats remaining. Visit our[…]
Pieces of a Dream have been part of my personal soundtrack since the 1980s, when I discovered this Philadelphia-based ensemble that managed to be soulful, jazzy and funky all at once. I’m counting the days until they bring their eclectic show to the Palladium. Showtime is Friday, Oct. 24 at[…]
Wanted to share this article about some local favorites – Calidore String Quartet. These talented young artists have played two Palladium shows to much acclaim. Violinist Ryan Meehan grew up in St. Petersburg and his proud parents are residents of Allendale. Calidore has been making very big waves around[…]
Two of our favorite guitar-slingers – Sean Chambers and Damon Fowler – are headed to the Side Door this weekend and next weekend. We start off Friday night (9-26) with the return of Sean Chambers at 8 p.m. Here’s what the Suncoast Blues Society said about this show:[…]
Lots of good Palladium news came out of Creative Loafing’s “Best of the Bay” awards party at the Coliseum Wednesday night. Where to begin? How about with our artists who won lots of honors. Selwyn Birchwood and Betty Fox both got nods in the blues and soul categories. Both[…]
We’re wrapping up our Side Door Summer series this Friday with a great double-bill – La Lucha with Jun Bustamante. Jun sings with the jazzy guys of La Lucha – a trio that puts a jazz spin on pop hits, Brazilian tunes and standards. Jun is also a unique[…]
I hope you’ll join us Saturday August 16 for a very special show featuring five of St. Petersburg’s best bands: Steve Connelly & The Lesser Gods, The Ditchflowers, Ricky Wilcox & The Moonsnakes, Ed Woltil & The Loaded Question and Steve Robinson. This show marks the return of both The Ditchflowers and[…]
My buddy Richard Gilewitz has been traveling round the world a lot – playing his music and doing guitar workshops for fans all over and down under. So if you haven’t seen him around Florida – which is still mostly his home – then you need to get down[…]
No one ever said Kenny Drew Jr. was easy to work with. He was quirky and temperamental. His moods would swing unexpectedly. But when he was seated on a piano bench he was a man who could do no wrong. Kenny served up lyrical, classically inspired phrasing. He was[…]
Our friends at Creative Loafing launched their 2014 music issue this week. It’s billed as a comprehensive guide for music lovers. Along with listings, the Loafers focused on a handful of their favorite music spots – including my personal fave – the Side Door at the Palladium. CL Editor[…]
I was down in Sarasota for some beach time on Longboat Key and there was our favorite R & B gal, Lauren Mitchell, staring out from a news rack in downtown. Lauren and the band were featured on the cover of the July issue of West Coast Woman. Lauren[…]
Got nice coverage of our summer renovation from the Tampa Tribune this week. Staff Writer Kate Bradshaw used the expansion of our bathrooms as a jumping off point for a feature about the venue. For more check out the Tampa Tribune website. And check out the story here: BY[…]
