Music Lovers Unite!

WMNF 88.5 FM proudly presents our annual music celebration with unforgettable performances in Ybor City.
Tickets $50 advance, $60 day of. Ride the Wave ticket $150
More at TROPICALHEATWAVE.ORG
📅 April 25th
📍 The Cuban Club | Ybor City
Get ready for an electrifying night featuring incredible artists!
🎸 Cracker
Alt-rock icons Cracker bring their unmistakable blend of Americana, roots rock, and sharp songwriting to Heatwave. With decades of hits and a reputation for dynamic live shows, they’re a perfect fit for a night built on musical discovery and nostalgia alike.
🎸 Keller Williams
Multi-instrumentalist and genre-bender Keller Williams returns to Heatwave with his high-energy, improvisational live shows. Known for his looping and live sampling, Keller blends rock, jazz, funk, bluegrass, and more into a unique sound that always keeps the crowd on its toes.
🎤 Eilen Jewell
With nine albums and a voice praised by Rolling Stone, Eilen Jewell brings a raw, vintage roots-noir sound to the stage. Her newest album, Get Behind The Wheel, expands into psychedelic territory, making for a captivating live performance that’s sure to convert first-timers into lifelong fans.
🎸 Have Gun, Will Travel
Hailing from Florida’s Gulf Coast, Have Gun, Will Travel delivers a unique fusion of alternative rock, folk rock, and Americana that’s both thoughtful and electrifying. Formed in 2006, this Bradenton‑based band draws on wide‑ranging influences, from punk and country to reflective narrative songwriting, to create songs full of texture and storytelling.
🎸 McKinley James
A rising star of modern blues-rock, McKinley James delivers searing guitar work, soulful vocals, and old-school grit with a fresh edge. His performances channel classic blues influences while sounding firmly rooted in the now.
🎤 Betty Fox Band
Get ready for soul‑stirring blues and electrifying stage presence from the Betty Fox Band, a powerhouse R&B/Soul and contemporary blues group with deep roots in Tampa’s music scene. Led by the charismatic Betty Fox, a vocalist known for her rich, passionate delivery and gospel‑inspired energy, the band blends heartfelt lyrics with gritty grooves and dynamic performance flair.
🥁 Sonora Tukukuy
Representing powerful Latin and Indigenous rhythms, Sonora Tukukuy brings high-energy percussion and deep cultural roots to the Heatwave stage, a vibrant, rhythmic experience that connects tradition, movement, and community.
🎸 Greg Roy
Jamaican-born roots reggae artist known for his fiery stage presence, uplifting lyrics, and poetic performance style. Raised in Montego Bay and later honing his craft in New York and Boston, he blends traditional reggae influences with a modern, conscious voice.
🪩 Hex Appeal
Expect something delightfully different with Hex Appeal, an all‑female punk/rock collective conjured from the spirit of Florida’s music community. Born out of Ladies Rock Camp and quickly gaining a local following, Hex Appeal blends swampy melodies, haunting harmonies, and high‑voltage punk energy.
Mark your calendars and get ready to groove under the stars. Tropical Heatwave 2026 is not to be missed!

SCHEDULE
Doors open at 5pm. Music begins at 6 pm
Gulfport Marching band patio – 5:30
PATIO stage:
6:15-7:15 Sonora Tukukuy
7:45-8:45 Eilen Jewell Band
9:15-10:15 Cracker
10:45-11:45 Keller Williams
CANTINA stage:
6:00-6:45 Hex Appeal
7:15-8:15 McKinley James
8:45- 9:30 Betty Fox Band
10:00- 10:45 Have Gun Will Travel
11:00-11:45 Greg Roy
THEATRE stage:
8:00-11:15 To be announced
BALLROOM:
Silent Disco 8-11:30

Ride the Wave ticket includes express entry at the Oasis/Band Entry gate. Oasis tent will have seating, food and beverages with 1 drink ticket, redeemable in OASIS tent.
More information at TROPICALHEATWAVE.ORG

This event is also posted on Random Fun Stuff.