Woody, 18, of St. Petersburg, organized last weekends’ Woodystock, an annual punk/ska show at Transitions Art Gallery (at the Skate Park of Tampa) for 3 years running. I was there for part of the show and collected soundage and interviews for my upcoming ska show on WMNF (first Monday of the month, 4-6AM, beginning in February. Archives available for one week following every show.)
Transitions, owned by admirable local Matt Welch, is an alcohol-free, all ages venue that has big plans for its future. Matt is in the process of applying for non-profit status and would like to offer classes from music production to bass lessons. Area artists and the new media saavy have already lined up to volunteer and help him in his causes - among which are encouraging kids to stay in Tampa once they’ve come of age by giving them something to stay for.
This weekend another ska show happens over the bridge at the Garage. The St. Pete Ska Explosion! is a production of Skacore Records, which was founded almost 2 years ago by Tampa native Matt Turner (who was in high school at the time), and former Florida resident Nick Zipeto, who has moved to Colorado and is expanding the reach of the Skacore brand.
Young bands find it difficult to be booked in Tampa because of the limited amount of nonalcoholic establishments, but they stick to it because they know they’ve got an audience in need of socialization, entertainment and of course, skanking.
dcdave
3 years ago
ska is dead, long live ska.
Nina
2 years ago
“Transitions, owned by admirable local Matt Welch, is an alcohol-free, all ages venue.”
It’s really not alcohol-free, because kids who play there can freely drink alcohol if they bring it. I know a band that played there and they were all underage, they brought beer with them, kept it in a cooler in the little room that’s off the main room, and they were drinking before and after the show.