Blast Friday Returns to Downtown Clearwater This Month

The 7th Annual Season of Blast Friday comes to a close with free, live Home Cookin' music from local favorites The Greg Billings Band and The Black Honkeys on Friday, May 26 from 5:30 to 10 pm on the Tampa Bay Times Stage, which will be located on Osceola in downtown Clearwater facing the Capitol Theatre. Food trucks and vendors will be serving a wide variety of freshly prepared specialty food and beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages that will be available for purchase. Concert goers are welcome to bring their lawn chairs to watch the concert. For more information, please visit: blastfridayclearwater.com.

Other activities on Cleveland Street will include:

• Blast Bingo in the Capitol Theatre from 5:30-7pm with tickets to upcoming shows as prizes - open to the general public - must be 18 years or older to play and win.
• 611 Brewery will be offering free beer samples throughout the night.

The Greg Billings Band is a continuation of a phenomenon that began when popular '80s Florida band Romeo signed to Epic Records and released its first album after a name change to "Stranger". The band features two members of Stranger, lead vocalist Greg Billings and bassist Tom 'King' Cardenas and also includes lead guitarist George Harris, drummer Mark Busto, guitarist Kyle Ashley and Rob Stoney on keyboards.

Known for their soul, funk and rhythm 'n' blues music, The Black Honkeys have won awards in multiple categories for three years running in Creative Loafing's Best of the Bay Reader's Choice Awards. Front man, Brother Phil Esposito, is supported on vocals by the lovely Nicole Simone, with guitarist Greg Czinke, Will Harris on bass, Steven Tanner on drums, John "Dash" Dixon on keyboards, along with the fabulous Ebony & Ivory Horn Section with Scott Myers on trombone and Terry Clark on trumpet.

A limited number of VIP packages priced at $29 are available for all Blast Friday concerts, which includes a general admission ticket starting in the fourth row in the reserved seating section in front of the Tampa Bay Times Stage and two complimentary beers. In addition, a limited number of SUPER VIP packages for all Blast Friday concerts, priced at $49 are also available, which includes a ticket with seats in the first three rows of reserved general admission seating directly in front of the Tampa Bay Times Stage, a meet and greet opportunity with band members and two complimentary beers or wine and access the Dress Circle Lounge inside the Capitol Theatre, which includes snacks.

VIP and SUPER VIP packages are on sale now. Packages are available in advance at the Ruth Eckerd Hall Ticket Office located at 1111 McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater or by calling 727.791.7400. The Ruth Eckerd Hall Ticket Office is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. Patrons may also purchase tickets at www.AtTheCap.com 24/7. Packages may also be available the day of each concert at the Capitol Theatre Box Office.

Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, owned by the City of Clearwater, manages and operates 2,200-seat Ruth Eckerd Hall, the 200-seat Murray Theatre, the Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts, the 750-seat Capitol Theatre and Ruth Eckerd Hall On The Road. Our mission is: Changing lives through the performing arts.

Ruth Eckerd Hall On The Road books and produces a number of off-site events including Friends of Music Member Appreciation Concerts, Blast Friday, the Tampa Bay Rays Summer Concert Series, the Clearwater Jazz Holiday and events in other partner venues including the Palladium, the Tampa Theatre and the Amalie Arena. In 2016, industry trade publication Pollstar named Ruth Eckerd Hall On The Road #34 in the world and #19 in the United States of concert promoters.

Blast Friday is produced by Ruth Eckerd Hall on the Road and proudly sponsored by Bank of America, WTSP-TV, the Tampa Bay Times, Cox Media Group, Hyatt Regency of Clearwater Beach, the Clearwater Threshers and is supported by the City of Clearwater, the Cleveland Street District, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and the Downtown Development Board.

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