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Blast Friday with Greg Billings and The Black Honkeys

Bonnie Walters
Bonnie Walters
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.