u/ActNaturally

Is it just me, or is live music in St. Pete or Tampa Bay taking a real hit lately?

It feels like so many touring acts, especially mid-tier bands are skipping Florida entirely now. I know the whole "geography tax" of driving all the way down the peninsula has always been a thing, but it seems like tours just stop in Atlanta and call it a day.

Even more concerning, though, is the local scene. It feels a lot harder to find active local lineups or solid DIY shows than it used to. Maybe I'm just old but for local musicians and frequent concertgoers:

* Are you seeing this too, or am I just missing where the good shows are happening?

* Is this a local issue or is touring just broken nationwide right now?

* If the local scene is still thriving, where are you actually going? Drop some local spots or bands I should check out

EDIT: Love the discussion and suggestions that came out of this. I wholeheartedly agree supporting local music and bands and venues