November brings the return of Sting, plus rising country star Lainey Wilson, hot comedian Nate Bargatze, a genuine former member of Talking Heads and a solemn but beautiful work by Leonard Bernstein, performed by The Florida Orchestra.
Seeing as we’re gearing up for the holiday season, November’s a big month for the arts, performing and visual.
Here are a few hand-picked highlights. Your results may vary.
Sting (center) and his 3.0 bandmates. Publicity photo.
Rock legend Sting is in concert Nov. 10 at the Seminole Hard Rock Event Center. The ex-Police man was here in February, sharing the Rise Up stage with Jamaican reggae singer Shaggy. In February 2024, Sting and Billy Joel co-headlined at Raymond James Stadium.
And let’s not forget his two (or was it three?) concert appearances with The Florida Orchestra in recent years.
The Nov. 10 show is in the trio format (echoes of the Police), with Sting on bass and vocals, along with guitarist Dominic Miller and drummer Chris Maas. The tour is called Sting 3.0.
Lainey Wilson was named Entertainer of the Year by the Country Music Association in 2023. Her show is Nov. 7 at Benchmark Arena.
“Things a Man Oughta Know” was Wilson’s first hit; her other biggies include “Heart Like a Truck,” “Watermelon Moonshine” and “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.”
Wilson’s duets with Cole Swindell (“Never Say Never”) and Jelly Roll (“Save Me”) were million-sellers.
Comedian Nate Bargatze plays Benchmark Arena on two consecutive nights, Nov. 13 and 14. The Tennessee native is filming a “new comedy game show” at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium this week and next (Nov. 1-4). Bargatze hosts as three contestants battle it out to prove they’re “anything but average.” One winner will take home the “average American salary” of $67,920.
We’re not making that up.
Talking Heads keyboard and guitar player Jerry Harrison is touring along with a remastered 4K video of Jonathan Demme’s classic 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense. At his Nov. 22 Capitol Theatre stop, Harrison will talk, intro the film and take questions from the audience.
Leonard Bernstein’s Kaddish Symphony, with text by Holocaust survivor Samuel Pisar, is performed by The Florida Orchestra, and the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Nov. 7 at the Straz Center’s Morsani Hall, and Nov. 8 at the Mahaffey Theater. Pisar’s widow, Judith, and daughter, Leah, provide special narration. The concert also includes Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy.
The November calendar
Rock & pop
Nov. 1 The Mars Volta, Jannus Live
Nov. 5. Live Dead (with Les Dudek), Capitol Theatre
Nov. 8 Tribute to Jimmy Buffett feat. Members of the Coral Reefer Band, Palladium Theater
Nov. 8 An Evening with Emerson, Lake & Palmer (Carl Palmer band plus film footage), Ruth Eckerd Hall
Nov. 8 The Wallflowers, Capitol Theatre
Nov. 9 Thomas Dolby, Capitol Theatre
Nov. 10 Sting, Seminole Hard Rock Event Center
Nov. 10 Bryan Adams, Pat Benetar, Benchmark Arena
Nov. 12 Piano Men: Generations, Palladium Theater
Nov. 15 All Time Low, BayCare Sound
Nov. 15 America, Ruth Eckerd Hall
Nov. 16 Fran Snyder, Palladium Side Door
Nov. 22 “Stop Making Sense” screening with Jerry Harrison, Capitol Theater
Nov. 25 Jason Bonham, Seminole Hard Rock Event Center
Nov. 25 Lindsey Stirling, Ruth Eckerd Hall
Nov. 30 Jagged Edge, Mahaffey Theater
Tampa saxophone artist Jeremy Carter and his Group have two theater shows in November. File photo.
Jazz & blues
Nov. 4. Helios Jazz Orchestra with vocalist Kasondra Rose, Palladium Side Door Cabaret
Nov. 7 Markus Gottschlich, Imagine Museum
Nov. 7 Jeremy Carter Group: My Favorite Things, Palladium Side Door
Nov. 8 Jeremy Carter Group: My Favorite Things, Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement
Nov. 13. Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Skipper’s Smokehouse
Nov. 14 James Suggs, Palladium Side Door
Nov. 14 The Fractal, WADA ArtsXchange
Nov. 15 Damon Fowler, Palladium Side Door
Nov. 21-24 Suncoast Jazz Festival, Sheraton Sand Key
Nov. 23 MJR Latin Project, New Tampa Performing Arts Center
Nov. 30 Nashville Brass, New Tampa Performing Arts Center
Conductor Michael Francis is musical director of The Florida Orchestra. Photo provided.
Classical & opera
Nov. 1. The Florida Orchestra (with aerialists): Troupe Vertigo, Mahaffey Theater
Nov. 1 & 2. Opera Tampa with Tom Sivak’s Love V Death, Straz Center Jaeb Theater
Nov. 4. Tampa Bay Symphony, Straz Center Ferguson Hall
Nov. 7. Tampa Bay Symphony, New Tampa Performing Arts Center
Nov. 7 The Florida Orchestra Kaddish Symphony, Straz Center Morsani Hall
Nov. 8 The Florida Orchestra Kaddish Symphony, Mahaffey Theater
Nov. 8 Stardew Valley Symphony of Seasons, Straz Center Morsani Hall
Nov. 9 Tampa Bay Symphony, Palladium Theater
Nov. 9 The Rodin Trio, Peace Memorial Church, Clearwater
15-23 St. Petersburg Opera Co. Pinocchio, Opera Central
Nov. 15 The Florida Orchestra Disco Inferno, Mahaffey Theater
Nov. 22 The Florida Orchestra, Mozart & Handel, Centro Asturiano
Nov. 23 The Florida Orchestra, Mozart & Handel, Mahaffey Theater
Nov. 26 “Twilight” in Concert, Ruth Eckerd Hall
Country & bluegrass
Nov. 4. Hayes Carll, Skipper’s Smokehouse
Nov. 7. Lainey Wilson, Benchmark Arena
Nov. 9 WQYK Guitar Pull, Mahaffey Theater
Nov. 14 Russell Dickerson, BayCare Sound
Nov. 13 Greensky Bluegrass, BayCare Sound
Nov. 15 Del McCoury Band, Capitol Theatre
Nov. 20 Carly Pierce, Seminole Hard Rock Event Center
Nov. 20 Zach Deputy, Bayboro Brewing
Nov. 21-23 St. Pete Country Fest, Vinoy Park
Bluegrass great Del McCoury and his band are booked at the Capitol Theatre Nov. 15.
Comedy
Nov. 7 Kevin Bridges, Tampa Theatre
Nov. 13 & 14 Nate Bargatze, Benchmark Arena
Nov. 14 Phil Rosenthal, Mahaffey Theater
Nov. 14 George Janko, Tampa Theatre
Nov. 15 Ali Siddiq, Straz Center Morsani Theater
Nov. 15 Shayne Smith, Straz Center Jaeb Theatre
Nov. 22 Sarah Millican, Mahaffey Theater
Nov. 28 Hannah Berner, Mahaffey Theater
Nov. 12 Trey Kennedy, Seminole Hard Rock Event Center
Nov. 21: Michael Blaustein, Tampa Theatre
Holidays
Nov. 13 Mannheim Steamroller, Ruth Eckerd Hall
Nov. 16 A Magical Cirque Christmas, Ruth Eckerd Hall
Nov. 29 Cirque Dreams Holidaze, Mahaffey Theater
Nov. 29 Dave Koz Xmas, Ruth Eckerd Hall
Natalie Symons and Eric Davis appear in the thriller “Deathtrap,” at freeFall Theatre. Image: Thee Photo Ninja.
Theater
Powerstories Theatre: Cadillac Crew is Nov. 6-16 at The Studio@620.
ThinkTank Theatre: A Midsummer Night’s Dream is Nov. 6-16 at JCC on the Cohn Campus.
Straz Center Broadway Series: Water For Elephants continues through Nov. 2 in Morsani Hall. Kimberley Akimbo is Nov. 18-23 in Morsani Hall.
The Off-Central: Art is Nov. 13-23.
LAB Theatre Project: So Long Life is Nov. 20-Dec. 7.
freeFall Theatre: Deathtrap continues through Dec. 7.
Jobsite: Ghost Brothers of Darkland County continues though Nov. 9.
American Stage: Hundred Days continues through Nov. 16.
Stageworks: Evil Dead the Musical continues through Nov. 16.
From “Edward S. Curtis: Photographer of His Time,” opening Nov. 8 at the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art.
Visual art
SHINE Mural Festival 2025 is Nov. 7-16
James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art: Edward S. Curtis: Photographer of His Time opens Nov. 8
Dali Museum: Alberto Giacometti & Salvador Dalí: Through & Beyond Surrealism opens Nov. 15
Websites
Palladium Theater/Side Door Cabaret
Seminole Hard Rock Event Center
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