This Week in Tampa Bay: Mötley Crüe, Joke Wrld Fest, and an 80s Legends Night (August 12-18)

This Week in Tampa Bay: Mötley Crüe, Joke Wrld Fest, and an 80s Legends Night (August 12-18)

Mid-August doesn't slow down around here. This week has a little of everything: a comedy festival bringing 80+ standups to St. Pete, a massive hair-metal reunion, a stacked 80s night, and one of rock's heaviest live shows closing out the week. Here's what's worth knowing about.

Wednesday, August 12: 80s Night at Ferg's Pavilion, St. Pete

If you have a soft spot for synthesizers and shoulder pads, this is the show for you. Ferg's Pavilion in St. Petersburg is hosting a full 80s legends lineup: Thomas Dolby, A Flock of Seagulls, Men Without Hats, The Producers, Animotion, The Escape Club, Tommy Tutone, and Martha Davis and The Motels. That's not a radio station shuffle. That's a real bill.

Doors are at 7 PM. If you're going, get there a little early. Shows like this move fast and the crowd tends to get into it from the jump.

Friday-Saturday, August 14-15: Joke Wrld Fest at Coastal Creative, St. Pete

This is the first-ever Joke Wrld Fest, and they're not starting small. Two days, 80+ comedians, and a venue in downtown St. Pete that's built for this kind of thing. The lineup includes Tommy Pope, Dylan Carlino, Joe DeRosa, Greg Fitzsimmons, Tim Butterly, and a long list of others.

It runs noon to 11 PM both days. Comedy festivals are hit or miss, but this one has a good mix of names with real followings and newer acts you'd want to catch before the tickets cost twice as much. Whether you go for one session or both days, it's a good excuse to spend an afternoon in downtown St. Pete.

Saturday, August 15: Mötley Crüe "The Return of the Carnival of Sins" at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

Mötley Crüe is back on tour and the Tampa date lands this Saturday at MIDFLORIDA. Show starts at 6:30 PM.

This is the "Carnival of Sins" run, which is a callback to their 2005 world tour that did something like 150 dates. For a band with a history as messy and entertaining as theirs, a Crüe show is a full production: pyro, giant stage, the whole thing. If you've been on the fence, this is probably the kind of show you'll wish you went to afterward.

Tuesday, August 18: Avenged Sevenfold and Good Charlotte at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

One more at MIDFLORIDA to close out the week. Avenged Sevenfold and Good Charlotte are on their North American tour together, hitting Tampa on Tuesday night. Doors at 6 PM.

A7X has put on big production shows for years, and Good Charlotte as the opener is a genuine get for anyone who grew up in the early 2000s. This one's a Tuesday, which makes it a little harder to justify on a work night, but the lineup is strong enough that plenty of people will figure it out.

Tampa Bay is not short on things to do this week. From a comedy festival to back-to-back nights at MIDFLORIDA, there's something here for most music and entertainment tastes. Go enjoy it.

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