Eighteen years ago, in the depths of an economic collapse, I was in my first year as executive director of the Palladium and I was desperately searching for ways to bring in new audiences. I inherited jazz from my predecessors, and we were already busy expanding our jazz offerings in the Side Door and Hough Hall.
But I knew there’s was a big audience for the blues.
I called Damon Fowler, then a young blues guitarist, who had built a strong local following. We booked his trio in the Side Door, and if that show didn’t sell out, it almost did. And the Palladium has leaned hard into blues, R&B and soul ever since.
In February and March, we got a virtual traffic jam of blues shows in the Side Door and upstairs, in Hough Hall.
The lineup starts with our original bluesman, Damon Fowler. Damon has gone on to become a major name in the industry, touring with the supergroup Southern Hospitality, collaborating with various members of the Allman Brothers Band, and leading his own trio. Now, he’s touring with a new project called DeSoto Tiger’s Testimony:
Desoto Tiger’s Testimony, Feb. 6, 8 p.m. Hough Hall
This is a supergroup that features Fowler, Jason Ricci (four-time Blues Music Award-winning harmonica master), and Jonathan “Boogie” Long (Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductee).
Jason and Damon have shared our stage before and audiences loved the combo. Now, these three road-hardened musicians channel the raw soul and fire at the heart of American roots music – where blistering guitar, searing harmonica, and heartfelt vocals meet. Expect deep grooves, dazzling musicianship, and the kind of spontaneous magic that only happens when masters share the stage. For tickets and more info: https://mypalladium.org/events/desoto-tigers-testimony/
Backtrack Blues Band with the Annika Chambers Band Feb. 17, 7:30. Hough Hall.
Another way we established the Palladium as a blues music destination was by partnering with Chuck Ross and the Tampa Bay Blues Festival. For several years the Palladium was home to the festival after-shows. And at least a decade ago, Chuck started launching the festival with a kickoff party on Thursday night. The party returns in April.
In February we’ve got a double bill of Chuck’s Backtrack Blues Band, and the singer Annika Chambers and her band.
Backtrack is Florida’s longest running blues band, and a three time winner of the Tampa Bay Music Awards for “best blues band.” The group has released eight albums of original music and has played festivals and concerts around the world, appearing with such artists as Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Gregg Allman, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and many more. Featuring stellar guitar, blues harp and vocals, over a seamless rhythm section, these guys deliver Chicago style blues at its finest.
Chambers, a Houston native, began her vocal journey in church and served 7½ years in the U.S. Army, where she completed two tours of duty. It was during her military service that she discovered the blues — a genre that would soon guide her career. Her debut, Making My Mark, earned her a Blues Foundation nomination for Best New Artist. Since then, she’s released several acclaimed albums and earned three Blues Music Awards for Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year (2019, 2022, 2024), with a fourth nomination in 2025. Annika’s voice carries the depth of lived experience and the joy of musical liberation. “Every note I sing carries the weight of my journey,” she says.
For tickets and info: https://mypalladium.org/events/backtrack-blues-band-with-annika-chambers-band/
Sue Foley, March 4, Doors: 7:30; Show: 8:30. Side Door
Early on we also partnered with WMNF-88.5 for shows. And this year the radio station is bringing in the star of 2025’s Tropical Heatwave, Sue Foley, for an intimate evening celebrating the power of women in music. The show is part of WMNF’s Women’s Month Celebration.
ONE GUITAR WOMAN is Sue Foley’s GRAMMY®-nominated, solo acoustic tribute to the female pioneers of guitar. Far from just a cover set, Foley brings these groundbreaking artists to life with a deep reverence and fiery skill that only she can deliver. Her 2025 album One Guitar Woman won Best Album at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis and continues to earn praise for its soul-stirring performances.
With 13 albums to her name and five consecutive Traditional Female Artist of the Year awards (2020–2025), Foley is a force in blues and roots music and One Guitar Woman is her most personal, powerful work yet.
For tickets and information: https://mypalladium.org/events/wmnf-presents-sue-foley-one-guitar-woman/
EG Knight w/Greg Nagy. March 5, 7:30 Side Door
One night later, the Georgia songbird, EG Kight visits the Side Door with special guest Greg Nagy for an intimate evening of soulful blues.
Kight is an award-winning blues artist internationally recognized for her soulful voice, masterful guitar work, and deep roots in Southern country blues. Hailing from Georgia, she blends traditional blues with contemporary songwriting, creating a sound that is both timeless and distinctly her own.
A multiple Blues Music Award winner, Kight is known for her powerful storytelling and emotionally rich performances. Whether on a major festival stage or in an intimate listening room, she connects deeply with audiences through songs that are raw, honest, and filled with Southern spirit.
For tickets and more information: https://mypalladium.org/events/the-georgia-songbird-eg-kight-with-greg-nagy/
Boogie Blues Piano Stomp. March 7. 8 p.m. Hough Hall
The boogie pianist Liz Pennock came to visit in 2010 and proposed the Boogie Woogie Blues Piano Stomp, a night of rockin’ boogie on two pianos, featuring the best players from around the world. The debut, in 2011, sold out. The show has been a Palladium mainstay ever since.
For 2026, we’re bringing back an all-star lineup led by Victor Wainwright, the six-time Blues Award-winner and GRAMMY nominee known as “The Piana from Savannah.” Joining him are three Stomp favorites:
- Rob Rio, the “Boss of Boogie,” and member of the Boogie Woogie Piano Hall of Fame, returning for his fifth Stomp appearance;
- Henri Herbert, back by popular demand following last year’s Stomp and his sold-out Side Door performance this summer;
- Liz Pennock & Dr. Blues, longtime hosts of the Boogie Woogie Piano Stomp and members of the Boogie Woogie Hall of Fame.
This year’s stomp will honor Bob Seeley, our headliner for the first 10 years, who passed away in 2024. As always, the Palladium’s two grand pianos take center stage, and we will project images of the players’ hands as they do their eight-to-the-bar magic.
Tickets for this show are going fast. Get yours at: https://mypalladium.org/events/boogie-woogie-piano-stomp-with-victor-wainwright/
We also lost another blues show in February when Roy Book Binder called to say he was dealing with some health issues. That Feb. 27 show was a double bill with Palladium favorite, Rev. Billy C. Wirtz. We’re working to reschedule that show in some form in the spring or summer.
Also coming up in March:
Guitar hero Sean Chambers returns to the Side Door with the Savoy Brown Rhythm Section on March 14. And another great guitar slinger, Albert Castiglia, returns to the Side Door on March 27.
For tickets and information on all our upcoming shows visit www.mypalladium.org.
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