WMNF-FM 88.5 Community Radio turns 27 this year - same age as Kate Hudson, incidentally - and throws a party to celebrate and raise money for the station. Three stages, 13 bands and a gigantic birthday cake underscore the WMNF 27th Birthday Bash on Saturday (9/16) - which, considering its Ybor venue, will remind many of that other station shindig: Tropical Heatwave.
"This is the biggest birthday party; yes, kind of a mini-Heatwave," WMNF program director Randy Wynne says.
"Some people complain about Heatwave as too many choices, too many people. So this is like what Heatwave was back in the late '80s. Should be a ton of fun for everybody who loves WMNF and has eclectic taste in music."
The appearances of erstwhile local bands the Headlights, the Shakes and Bohemian Swingers add to the '80s flashback feeling of the event.
Heatwave 2006 headliner Chuck Prophet returns, and a bevy of acts all up and down the stylistic scale are playing. Here's the lineup:
Upstairs bandshell
Dr. Lohertz and the Soul Survivors, R&B, at 7 p.m.
Randall Bramblett Band, blues, rock, folk and soul, at 8:20.
The Hacienda Brothers, "Western soul," country and old-school R& B, at 9:50.
Chuck Prophet at 11:30. Prophet bridges a generational gap between boomers and younger folks with his bar-band earthiness and stylistic talent. His talky low voice, guitar meanderings and clever, heartfelt lyrics combine with sweet keyboard touches to lure anyone who enjoys singer-songwriter music off the Dave Matthews-beaten path.
Cuban Club Cantina
Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles, rockabilly and roots rock, at 7 p.m.
Tampa Band Reformation Showcase at 8:15. Featuring popular Tampa Bay bands from the '80s reuniting for one show. Starting out the set will be the Headlights, who packed Club Detroit back in the day with jangly pop rock. Tie-dye-wearing-folks favorite Bohemian Swingers offers up its eclectic instrumentation at 9:15 p.m., and at 10:15, the Shakes performs its power pop recalling a long-ago era of rockers in suits and skinny ties.
Giddy-up Helicopter! at 11:15 p.m. This young all-female band has been around a short time but has gotten a lot of buzz. Their melodic and entertaining tunes get kudos for their refreshment factor.
Seahorse Orchestra at 12:15 a.m. Layered and psychedelic retro pop outfit headed up by fancy prose-ifier-in-paisley Robert Davis.
Ballroom
Can't Do It at 7:30 p.m. It's the most ironically named eight-piece collective comprising accomplished ska-punk musicians from St. Pete. Good thing the spunky act performs where there's more space for folks to skank and boogie.
Freddy Montes Y Su Son at 8:50 p.m. Montes and his band perform the evening's most setting-appropriate music: Cuban jazz and dance tunes.
Juke Joint Kings at 10:40 p.m. Jump blues, swing and rockabilly from five music vets who claim to have a total of 100-plus years' experience among them.
