A full-length promo photograph by Joey Clay showing four members of the band Soft Cuff standing side-by-side against a white brick wall. From left to right: Christina Sanchez stands with one hand in her coat pocket wearing a black blazer over a floral collared shirt, dark patterned skirt, and tights; Michael Bostinto stands in a mustard-yellow button-down shirt with a dark neck scarf, dark trousers, and tinted sunglasses; Brian Schanck stands with long shoulder-length hair and a mustache wearing a gold patterned short-sleeve button-down shirt tucked into dark pants; and Shane Shuch stands on the far right wearing sunglasses, a peach short-sleeve collared shirt, dark pants, and displaying sleeve tattoos on his arms under bright, even daylight.(L-R) Soft Cuff’s Christina Sanchez, Michael Bostinto, Brian Schanck and Shane Shuch. Credit: © Joey Clay Studio Professional, Photographer, Commercial Photographer,

There’s a very good chance that the Florida air will still be summery-thick in early September, and Soft Cuff has the perfect soundtrack.

The homegrown instrumental quartet announced the release of its debut full-length, Thick Heat, along with plans for a release party at St. Pete Shuffleboard Club this fall. Bay area indie-pop favorite The Jackettes plays support.

Soft Cuff was listed among the Bay area’s best instrumental bands in the summer of 2024, just ahead of a self-titled debut EP, which was followed by the July 2025 single “Dennis Quaalude.”

Those records quickly drew in fans prone to spending too much money on Daptone and Linear Labs releases.

Due on Aug. 28, Soft Cuff’s 10-track LP spans 37-minutes, and finds the band—made up of scene lifers Christina Sanchez, Shane Shuch, Brian Schanck, and Michael Bostinto—letting itself stretch out, especially on the title track where almost Dilla-esque off-beat drumming floats along layers of synth, trippy guitars and  omnichord texture.

Limited numbers of eco-cherry and opaque yellow vinyl—all wrapped in artwork by the crew at Brooklyn’s Morning Breath design studio—are available on pre-order via softcuff.bandcamp.com.

Tickets for Soft Cuff’s Thick Heat album release party at St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club on Friday, Sept. 4 are still available and start at $15.

See Josh Bradley’s weekly rundown of new concerts coming to Tampa Bay below.

Thick Heat by Soft Cuff

Eric Johanson Thursday, Aug. 20. 8 p.m. $19.75. Skippers Smokehouse, Tampa

OG Nixin Saturday, Aug. 22. 9 p.m. $23.18. Zodiac Live, Ybor City

Not Another Emo Show Friday, Aug. 28. 6:30 p.m. $28.69. Orpheum, Tampa

YSL Records & Young Thug Wednesday, Sept. 23. 8 p.m. $52.40. Yuengling Center, Tampa

EMMMA (opening for Suki Waterhouse) Thursday, Oct. 1. 7 p.m. $63.15. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Mariachi El Bronx w/Bedouine Soundclash/Max Diaz Saturday, Oct. 3. 7 p.m. $39.45. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Thundercat w/Kitty Ca$h Wednesday, Oct. 7. 7 p.m. $58.06. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Elena Rose (opening for Karol G) Friday, Oct. 9. 7 p.m. $138.50 & up. Raymond James Stadium, Tampa

The Linda Lindas Sunday, Oct. 25. 7 p.m. $39.52. Orpheum, Tampa

Gym Class Heroes & Lupe Fiasco w/B.o.B Sunday, Oct. 25. 5:30 p.m. $59.81. England Brothers Park, Pinellas Park

Alice Cooper Tuesday, Oct. 27. 7 p.m. $79 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Heart To Gold & Stereosity (opening for Sweet Pill) Monday, Nov. 9. 7 p.m. $30.56. New World Music Hall, Tampa

Zauntee w/Skeema Boy Wednesday, Nov. 11. 7 p.m. $24.30 & up. Orpheum, Tampa.

Rett Madison (opening for Paula Cole) Wednesday, Nov. 11. 8 p.m. $45 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives Friday, Nov. 20. 7 p.m. $46 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

Buzzcocks Tuesday, Nov. 24. 7 p.m. $38.69. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

The Stray Cats Tuesday, Nov. 24. 6:30 p.m. $70.25 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Olga Tañón & El Gran Combo Saturday, Nov. 28 8 p.m. $93.60 & up. Yuengling Center, Tampa

Croce Plays Croce Monday, Nov. 30. 7 p.m. $34.50 & up. Tampa Theatre, Tampa

Zingara: The Girls Are Making Riddim Tour w/Machaki/Wiley Friday, Dec. 18 & 19. 7 p.m. $43.07. Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Jim Messina and The Road Runners Thursday, Jan. 14. 7 p.m. $50 & up. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater

Get The Led Out Tuesday, Mar. 16. 7 p.m. $54.25 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

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This article appears in Jul 30 – Aug 05, 2026.

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