This Week in Tampa Bay: Dirty Heads, On High Fest, Off Shore, and More (August 26 – September 1)

This Week in Tampa Bay: Dirty Heads, On High Fest, Off Shore, and More (August 26 – September 1)

The stretch between late August and the first of September tends to sneak up on people. Summer isn't over yet, the crowds are still out, and this week Tampa Bay has a few things worth planning around. From a reggae-meets-hip-hop pier festival to a massive amphitheatre show and a two-night EDM blowout on the water, there's a lot happening before Labor Day weekend arrives.

Thursday, August 28: On High Music Festival at the St. Pete Pier

The St. Pete Pier turns into an outdoor festival grounds Thursday evening with On High, a reggae and island music festival that's been building a following along the Gulf Coast. This year's lineup features Pepper, The Movement, Surfer Girl, and Brother Ali, which is a surprisingly strong bill for a one-day waterfront show.

Pepper has been a staple of the surf-rock and reggae circuit for two decades. The Movement is one of the better live reggae acts in the country. And if you know Brother Ali, you know he plays differently in a festival setting than on record, in a good way.

The Pier is a nice venue for this kind of thing. Waterfront air, easy parking in the garage, and you can catch the sunset if you get there early. Doors open at 4:00 PM.

Tickets at onhighfest.com.

Saturday, August 29: Dirty Heads + 311 + Atmosphere + ROME at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

This one's a big show. Four headliner-caliber acts on one bill at the amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Dirty Heads and 311 have been touring together on and off for years, and they fit together naturally. Both bands built their audiences through the live circuit and both still draw well. Atmosphere rounds out the lineup on the hip-hop side. If you grew up listening to indie hip-hop in the 2000s, Slug and Ant are still doing it, and doing it well.

ROME (Jerome Mazzucchelli) opens the night, which is a solid warm-up act for anyone who knows his catalog.

This is a seated amphitheatre show on a Saturday night, so expect a full house. Get there with time to park and settle in.

Tickets and details on Songkick.

Saturday-Sunday, August 30-31: Off Shore Music Festival at the St. Pete Pier

Back at the Pier, but a completely different vibe. Off Shore is an EDM and electronic music festival running both Saturday and Sunday, turning the waterfront into a two-day outdoor dance event.

The EDM festival calendar in Tampa Bay has gotten crowded, but Off Shore specifically uses the Pier's location well. There aren't many places in Florida where you can watch the sun drop into the bay while a DJ plays to a few thousand people. If that sounds like your weekend, both days have separate tickets so you can pick one or commit to both.

Details at edmtrain.com.

Tuesday, September 1: Blues Traveler + Gin Blossoms + Spin Doctors at Ruth Eckerd Hall

Tuesday doesn't usually feel like a concert night, but this bill makes a case for it. Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater is hosting Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms with Spin Doctors as a special guest, which is about as 90s as a lineup gets.

If you want to argue about which of these three bands had the better decade, you'll have to have that argument in the parking lot, because all three are still active and playing full sets. Blues Traveler in particular is a strong live act. John Popper's harmonica playing is one of those things that doesn't translate on a recording the way it does in a room.

Showtime is 6:00 PM, which is an early start but makes sense for a Tuesday. Ruth Eckerd Hall is one of the better mid-size venues in the bay area, so the sound and sightlines will be good regardless of where you sit.

Tickets at rutheckerdhall.com.

A Good Week to Be Around

The week of August 26 packs in more than most. On High on Thursday, the Dirty Heads and 311 show on Saturday afternoon, Off Shore running through the weekend, and Blues Traveler to close it out Tuesday. That's five distinct options across seven days, covering reggae, rock, hip-hop, and electronic.

If you're a local business owner and all you can think about is how much foot traffic flows through this area on a week like this, that's a fair observation. Venues, parking, restaurants, and late-night spots all benefit when the Pier and the amphitheatre are both busy on the same weekend.

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