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Weekend blues

Looking for something to do? Here's a super calendar, ranging from jazz to food.

By Times Staff Writer
Published March 18, 2005

In its 11th year, the three-day Tampa Bay Blues Festival has a roster of big hitters in the music world, including Savoy Brown, Jimmie Vaughan, Coco Montoya and Shemekia Copeland. As a founding member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jimmie Vaughan was one of the leading guitarists in Austin, Texas, in the late 1970s and '80s.

One of the earliest British blues bands, Savoy Brown was first called the Savoy Brown Blues Band. With guitarist and longtime member Kim Simmonds at the helm, the group helped launch the UK blues/rock movement that paved the way for such acts as Led Zeppelin.

The daughter of renowned Texas blues guitarist Johnny Copeland, Shemekia Copeland fashioned herself a powerful, soul-inflected singer in the tradition of Koko Taylor and Etta James.

The festival starts today and continues through Sunday at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg. Tickets cost $20 to $25, or $40 for a three-day pass. For information, call 727 502-5000 or go to www.tampabaybluesfest.com

FRIDAY

1 to 2 p.m. Damon Fowler Group

2:30 to 4 p.m. Janiva Magness

4:30 to 6 p.m. Tinsley Ellis

6:30 to 8 p.m. Coco Montoya

8:30 to 10 p.m. Jimmie Vaughan

SATURDAY

11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Jimmy Griswold

12:30 to 2 p.m. Tab Benoit

2:30 to 4 p.m. Roy Rogers

4:30 to 6 p.m. Billy Branch

6:30 to 8 p.m. Savoy Brown

8:30 to 10 p.m. The Robert Cray Band

SUNDAY

1 to 2 p.m. Tommy McCoy

2:30 to 4 p.m. Lavay Smith

4:30 to 6 p.m. Eric Sardinas

6:30 to 8 p.m. Shemekia Copeland

8:30 to 10 p.m. Little Feat

FRIDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Old Hyde Park Village will host the Friday Night Jazz concert with Eric Darius performing in the main fountain area. Wine sales benefit St. John Greek Orthodox Day School. The concert series is the third Friday of each month through April. 6 to 9 p.m.; Old Hyde Park Village, Swann and Dakota avenues; free. Call 251-3500.

PAUL ANKA: Since the 1950s, Paul Anka has penned songs including Put Your Head on My Shoulder, Diana and You Are My Destiny. 8 p.m.; Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; $39-$75. Call (727) 791-7400.

BEST OF TAMPA BAY: The 20th anniversary of the Tampa Bay area's premier food event, Best of Tampa Bay, benefits the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Enjoy live entertainment and sample food and drinks from local restaurants and caterers. 7 p.m.; Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and riverfront; $65-$75. Call 229-7827.

BEACH BOYS: Beginning their career as the most popular surf band in the nation, the Beach Boys emerged in 1966 as America's pre-eminent pop group. The three Wilson brothers, Brian, Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine constructed some of the most intricate harmonies ever heard from a pop band. 8 p.m.; Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; $43-$70. Call (727) 791-7400.

INTERPOL: Interpol became popular outside the New York indie rock scene after releasing its first album Turn on the Bright Lights in August 2002, garnering acclaim for its 1980s postpunk inspired sound. The five-member band of 20-somethings, known for its moody and atmospheric music, released its second album, Antics, in September. 7 p.m.; Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg; $23. Call 287-8844.

FLORIDA ORCHESTRA: As part of the Masterworks Series, conductor Stefan Sanderling leads violinist Amy Schwartz Moretti and the Florida Orchestra for "Bruckner's Symphony No. 7." 7:30 p.m., Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg. Also 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa; $22.50-$50.50. Call 286-1170.

"SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS': Trouble brews after someone steals King Neptune's crown in the 2004 film SpongeBob SquarePants. The show is part of the Free Family Flicks series on Saturday mornings at Sunrise Cinemas through April 23. 10 a.m., doors open at 9:30 a.m.; Sunrise Cinemas, 1609 W Swann Ave., Tampa. Call 251-3500.

FRESH MARKET: More than 20 local authors will attend the Ybor City Fresh Market to sign their books, including children's books, coffee-table books, mysteries, cookbooks, fiction and nonfiction. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Centennial Park, at Eighth Avenue and 19th Street; free. Call 241-2442 or go to www.yborfreshmarket.citysearch.com

BLACK 47: With rockin' Irish-political punk rhythms, Black 47 returns to Tampa's Four Green Fields. This motley crew of Irish expatriates and New Yorkers is sure to fill the room to its thatched-roofed rafters with its rousing lyrics and rip-roaring accompaniment. 8 p.m.; Four Green Fields, 205 W Platt St., downtown Tampa; $10. Call 254-4444.

MERCEDES-BENZ TENNIS CLASSIC: Andre Agassi, James Blake, Jim Courier and Mardy Fish compete in the second annual Mercedes-Benz Tennis Classic. Proceeds benefit Raymond James Courier's Kids Foundation. 7:30 p.m.; St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa; $16.75-$76.75. Call 301-2500.

SUSAN ANTON: Making her debut at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Anton has performed for three decades in movies, television, theater and song. 1 p.m.; Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; $15. Call (727) 791-7400.

SLIPKNOT: Since its inception in 1995, alternative metal group Slipknot became known to perform in identical industrial jump suits and homemade Halloween masks. Adding to their mysterious anonymity, they adopted the numbers 0 through 8 as stage aliases. 7 p.m.; USF Sun Dome, Tampa; $35. Call 287-8844.

SAMUEL BECKETT: USF College of Visual & Performing Arts presents Samuel Beckett: Four Plays, a series of plays by the Irish playwright and novelist. Performances are 8 p.m. Thursday through March 26 and March 30, and 3 p.m. March 27 and April 3; Theatre Centre, Studio 120, Tampa Campus. $6-$12. Call 974-2323 or go to www.arts.usf.edu

BAY AREA SAXOPHONE QUARTET: The hourlong show features a range of musical styles and announces the release of the group's second CD, As Time Goes By. 7:30 p.m.; University of Tampa, Plant Hall Grand Salon, Tampa. Call 253-6212.

The Upside of Anger

The Ring 2

Ice Princess

Rory O'Shea Was Here

Miss Congeniality 2 (March 24)

Armed and Fabulous (March 24)

Guess Who (March 25)

Born Into Brothels (March 25)

Beauty Shop (March 30)

MAROON 5 WITH THE DONNAS: March 25, St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa.

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED): March 25-26, TECO Theater, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa.

EGG HUNT AND BUNNY HOP: March 26, Old Hyde Park Village, Tampa.

EGGSTRAVAGANZA: March 26, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa.

EASTER EGG HUNT: March 27, Coachman Park, Clearwater . THE KINGSTON TRIO: March 31, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater.

KEB' MO': April 14, Tampa Theatre, Tampa.

AIDA: April 29-May 1, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa.

[Last modified March 17, 2005, 08:40:12]