As we planned out Summer of Soul program I knew we needed to give our patrons a “religious experience.” So of course, I had to call Rev. Billy C. Wirtz.  He’s the Master of The 88 Key Disaster, King of the Atomic Boogie, the paino man who can make you[…]

Just a quick update on Saturday’s show featuring Little Jake Mitchell and his large band, The Soul Searchers. I just found out St. Pete’s own Frankie Gearing, another veteran of the classic soul era, will join Little Jake for several songs during the Side Door show Saturday night.   Both[…]

Wow.  I knew I liked our great summer lineup for soul, jazz and comedy – a series we’re calling the Summer of Soul – but it’s great to know our audiences agree with me.   Last weekends shows were both sold out. Jeremy Carter brought a killer band and great[…]

Little Jake Mitchell couldn’t help himself, he was always going to be a singer.   Born in Tampa, he was discovered  when a man heard him singing in the background of a telephone call and had to know “that singer.”   Henry Urso, a Tampa businessman, immediately got him down[…]

We’re kicking off our Summer of Soul series this weekend with two “must-see” shows in our intimate Side Door Cabaret.   Saturday night we’ve got a powerful R&B double-bill featuring The Dukes of Juke and the big horn band, Blue Dice. I’ll be writing about that show later this week.[…]

I’m very happy that the Palladium is one of the venues chosen for the Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival. The Piano Ambassadors cxoncert, featuring two stellar young artists,happens Sunday at 2 p.m. I can’t think of a better way to spend a steaming hot July afternoon than in the cool comfort[…]

You’ve got three more chances to see St. Petersburg Opera’s delightful production of The Music Man at the Palladium. I saw the show with a very happy crowd on Tuesday night and it’s been playing to full houses all weekend.   Final shows are Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. You can[…]

I don’t know how many rap music fans will be in the audience for the upcoming run of The Music Man, but maybe they should be.   The Meredith Willson show, being produced at the Palladium by St. Petersburg Opera, earns some street cred for the being the first Broadway[…]

I’m so excited to have G. David Howard headlining our Saturday night comedy show. It’s the first time at the Side Door for this local and national legend who owns the title: “Funniest Man Alive.”   The show, which is selling fast, got a big thumbs up from the Tampa[…]

We’ve got a very special jazz concert coming up for Father’s Day in the Side Door this Sunday. Our own Nate Najar is back with two of the best side men in the business – clarinetist Dan Levinson, and bassist Tommy Cecil. Nate’s calling this his “Swing Trio” and I[…]

Is anybody funnier than G. David Howard? Not according to his loyal fans and the Guiness Book of World Records.   G. David, who has been the top comic in the Tampa Bay area since before lots of his audiences were born, was named Funniest Man Alive by Guiness after[…]

Last night the graduation for St. Petersburg’s MYcroSchool, which happened in the Palladium’s Hough Hall, was featured as the closing story on ABC Nightly News.   You can see the piece by clicking on this link.   You can read more details about this touching story in this report from[…]

We had so much fun last fall with the kickoff party for John Capouya’s book, Florida Soul, that we decided we’d make our summer season one big soul party in the Side Door Cabaret.   We’re calling it “Summer of Soul,” and our focus, like John’s book, is on some[…]

OK, occasionally Palladium Paul slips away from his desk and returns to doing some performing.   And I’m really excited about what I’m doing this Friday, June 8. I’m one of four storytellers chosen to share a revealing personal story for the RISK podcast, during a live show.   What’s[…]

I was in WUSF Radio studios taping an arts podcast on a stormy afternoon last week when I noticed Mike Cornette, WUSF’s jazz director on the other side of the glass.   After I finished my podcast, he hopped into the interviewer chair and we chatted a bit about our[…]

We’ve got a very special jazz concert coming up in the Side Door on June 17th. Our own Nate Najar is back with two of the best side men in the business – clarinetist Dan Levinson, and bassist Tommy Cecil. Nate’s calling this his “Swing Trio” and I can guarantee[…]

Our new development manager, Monica Kile, and her family are the main feature in this week’s issue of Creative Loafing.   It’s the first public sharing of what Monica and Jon’s friends all know – that Jon’s genetic condition is life-threatening and that the family of four has vowed to[…]

Back in my days as a reporter I was lucky enough to spend time with lots of talented people, like Maya Angelou, Frank Zappa, Nat Adderly and dozens more. One of my favorite afternoons was spent at Kitty Daniel’s Tampa house talking about music.   After we talked, she played[…]

The editors at Tampa Bay Magazine have again named The Palladium at SPC to their “Best of 2018” list.   The “Best” list is included in the current May-June edition and it honors the Palladium as the “Best Community Performing Arts Center.” Here’s what they said:   “A part of[…]

Hard to believe we are coming to the end of another wonderful Palladium Chamber Players season. The final concert, featuring Jeffrey Multer and the Mile-End Trio, is Wednesday, May 9 at 7:30.   Marika Bournaki, piano,  and Julian Schwarz, cello, wowed our January audience and this program, with works by[…]

I got to New Orleans just before Jazz Fest and saw the posters for the annual WWOZ Piano Night show, which happens at the House of Blues between the two festival weekends.   I was thrilled to see a name that all our Palladium audiences are familiar with – Bob[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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 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)[…]

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[…]

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.[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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 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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

All of us at the Palladium are so proud to be the performance home of Beacon 2018.   Our artistic directors, Helen Hansen French and Lauren Ree Sloane, promise another an evening of dance, film and performance that will inspire and entertain you. It seems like were just only yesterday[…]

Palladium Paul is no dummy. He has figured out that picking good partners is the key to success. And 15-years-ago in Los Angeles I started a new partnership (she likes to call it a marriage) with Eugenie Bondurant, an actor and acting teacher.   Now, we’ve won the MUSE Arts[…]

Martin Luther King Day is officially Jan. 16, but at the Palladium we are celebrating all month with a diverse collection of shows that celebrate the sound and spirit of soul.   The party starts Friday, Jan. 5, when we present Soul Party, a double-bill featuring two of St. Pete’s[…]

As we look forward to 2018 and a year-long celebration of the Palladium’s 20th anniversary, it’s good to remember how we got here.   We are able to balance our budget each year thanks to the endowment created by our founders and the generous donations of our friends and supporters.[…]